Graduation Party Menu...any experienced caterer please respond!!!?

Question

I am throwing a graduation party in Ohio for my nephew for a group of 75 people. I need to know how much food to cook.
There are 4 of us making all the food. Our menu is Rigatoni, Meatballs, Baked Chicken Thighs-Wings-Breast, Baked Beans, Fruit Bowl, Deli Tray with Meat/Cheese...Pasta Salad and Potato Salad....HOW MUCH DO I MAKE and DO YOU HAVE ANY BETTER MENU IDEAS FOR FOOD THAT STAYS A LONG TIME OUTDOORS?

Answer 1

i just have to say that i completely disagree with the first statement about having too little food! The WORST thing at a party is to have too little food! People come for a party and then aren't even served anything!!! I always get plenty of extras... sure, you might be eating pasta and chicken for a couple days later (or have a freezer full of delicious food), but is that a bad thing?!?

Now you say 75 people... are these family members that are only coming to this party or are these other graduates and friends who will be going to 4 other parties that day?

If it's just going to be people who come to this party and stay all day, make sure that you have enough for each person to have a portion. If it's a party day where people will be in and out of other parties, you might want to have a few more "munchie" foods and you don't need as much of the real food...

Answer 2

I hope you have means to keep the foods hot,you don't want food spoiling and people getting food poisoning. You did say it was outdoors. What about making your own submarine sandwiches or whatever you call them in Ohio. Get lots of coldcuts,potato salad,chips,pickles,mustard,coleslaw,onions,lettuce and sub rolls and let everyone make their own.Still have fruit bowls,maybe have appetizers first like chicken wings ,dips meatballs etc,by the way baked beans sound good too.

Answer 3

It is always better to have too much food than not enough. For this many guests, I would either have a good old fashioned pig roast with all the traditional bbq sides or else a New England clam bake with crab, shrimp, red potatos, clams, corn on the cob & other assorted ingredients. Build the pit & layer each ingredient with a topping of damp seaweed for an authentic flavor....Serve with big pots of clam chowder & fresh sourdough rolls......Quick & easy - great party food!

Answer 4

say take the potato salad, i'd think you'd get to finish a small bowl of potato salad if you eat it with the other food item. take that small portion and gauge that to fit 75. say a small potato is good portion for someone. then more or less get 75 small potatoes.

with chicken, it will depend on how much chicken pieces you'll cut per whole chicken. you can cut it in quarters and extend it up to 12 pieces per whole chicken. say portion, 2 pieces per person. it will really depend on you.

for me, when it comes to a party, it's better to serve less food than have a lot of food that nobody will want to take home or eat the next day.

Answer 5

I few years in the past i become privileged to pass to the Claiborn (sp) congregation in New Orleans and that i went out in service with them. They instructed me they do no longer even pass out in service in the time of Mardi Gras because of the fact many human beings view it as an afternoon you're able to do something (at the same time with homicide) and be forgiven with a pristine clean slate by ability of praying for forgiveness while the festivities are over. Witnesses of Jehovah might in no way take part in this variety of occasion.

Answer 6

For a finger food, try Mamie's Famous Cheese Wafers. Go to mamieswafers.com

They are so good!

Answer 7

I can link you to some sites that may help...

http://www.hungrymonster.com/recipe/Food_Planning_Guide_For_A_Crowd.cfm
http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/content.cfm?series=3&item=302&Parents=0%7C27%7C53
http://entertaining.about.com/cs/recipesandmenus/a/foodquantity.htm
http://www.almanac.com/food/partyplanner.php

I hope that helps a little! Good luck!