Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 12/11/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Frances and I'm from Texas. I'm catering my first event and am serving Rib Eyes, Baked Potatoes and Green Beans. My question is in regards to the potatoes. I read your response to Mary regarding whether or not 375 potatoes could be baked in two ovens, but you didn't tell her how MANY could be baked in each. Can I use one rack, two racks or maybe even three? I'm cooking everything in my home kitchen and could REALLY use your help. Thank you so..much and I look forward to your response. God Bless you and Happy Holidays.

Answer
It is impossible for you to have a party of this size and do all the cooking yourself at your home unless you have LICENSED commercial facilities or are going to call a catering company to come and help you.  Let me give you a few things to consider because I know you haven't realized the magnitude of what you are thinking of doing and it is not possible for you to have a party of this size outside of a commercial venue. I know you aren't using a commercial venue because they DO NOT ALLOW food to come in from an unlicensed kitchen and the reason for that is to prevent food poisoning. Also, in virtually every jurisdiction, it is illegal to use a home kitchen for catering. Where are you storing all these steaks? The average home refrigerator does not have enough space to store the food you will need for this party which means you are risking food poisoning. Do you think you can cook food and have it ready for all these people?  You can't fit the meat for 375 in your fridge let alone all the OTHER FOOD!! You are talking about nearly 200 POUNDS OF MEAT.  Where are you going to store this?  A RESTAURANT would have a hard time feeding 375 people that came in all at once and you are not going to be able to do this by yourself.
Do yourself a giant favor and get some help from a professional caterer. Do you realize that you are looking at about $2500 just for the food ingredients to feed this many people?