Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 4/21/2009

Question
I have been asked to cater a graduation party for 120 people, but i'am unsure on how much to charge, can you give me a general idea on what I should be charging? I already have the menu and they are willing to pay me whatever it cost, but i would like to know how much per person. thanks Annette

Answer
The going rate is 4x the cost of ingredients for the labor for expensive ingredients and at an hourly rate if the ingredients are cheap but labor intensive--but there ARE some amazing shortcuts if you are as shameless as I am. I can send you recipes for everything you need if you email me directly.
With people on a health kick and diabetes at epidemic proportions, you absolutely MUST have a veggie tray, but try one that's a little different with a baugna cauda--easy to make and cheap.
I don't know how much equipment you have but chocolate fountains with fruit are all the rage and Walmart has some really nice chocolate fountains for under $50--a good investment.  Chocolate dipped strawberries sell in shops for $4 each but you can dip them yourself for MUCH less.  The key is to use big ripe berries and do this when they are in season!! Out of season fruit is insanely expensive and your clients won't appreciate being raped for fruit in today's economy! A chocolate fountain with angel food cake (doesn't crumble as it's very elastic) is the way to go in the winter!
Deviled Eggs are always popular and with a sprinkle of black caviar they can be a very elegant way to serve caviar--and make a little go a LONG way!  Personally I loathe caviar but the deviled egg cuts the nasty salty fishy taste!
Finger sandwiches are red hot right now--use some original fillings or old standbys with a new twist.  Filling, cheap and easy--just remember to cut off the crusts BEFORE assembly and cut into diamond quarters or fingers AFTER assemby and use a serrated knife.
Meatballs in a spicy BBQ sauce can a real winner--or put the Costco frozen ones in a crock pot and cover with Chinese sweet/sour sauce that you can buy at any Chinese joint--let them simmer for a couple of hours before the party--people will fight over them.
Bacon Candy--messy to make but first to go and people will also fight over them!!
Desserts--make whole cakes and pies and preslice them in SMALL wedges, they can go back and get another and you won't be pissed off when you see plates of half eated desserts being thrown away.  I recommend Key Lime pie (cheap and easy to make) and Amaretto cake (ditto) and you can BUY a Frozen Cheesecake factory cheesecake for $10 for a 4lb cake at Costco and it's presliced into 12 pieces--buy 4 and make a topping bar with blueberry pie filling, strawberries (frozen) and cherry pie filling. Can't beat it--and  you can just mark up the desserts 200% and be done with it.