Entertaining Ideas
TarHeels&Rebels
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Professional (or nearly so) catering/entertaining ladies
How much meat per person for a dinner?
My hand-me-down vintage BHG cookbook says 1/4 lb per person. I've seen that figure elsewhere on the internet, as well as 1/3 lb per person. There's an extensive list of sides (8) and desserts (3), so no one's going hungry.
I'm having 50 people, so with those figures I'd get either 12.5 lbs or 16.6 lbs. Which would you get? Thanks.
Re: Professional (or nearly so) catering/entertaining ladies
I'd do 14.5 or 15 to make it even. With the amount of sides, you're sure to have extra. But I'm of the opinion that it's better to have too much than too little. (I've been the wedding guest who got no meat because they ran out. It stinks.)
74 books read in 2011
I'd go with a 1/3 of a pound. The modern portion size is much bigger. From drinks to coffee and dinner plates...You'll probably have a lot left over... but you can sleep at night if you buy more. (16 lbs.). Leftovers can be frozen in individual meals and re-heated. Its also nice to send them home with guests - especially those who helped you with you party in any way.
Good Luck with your LSAT's and your event.
You mention 8 sides.... will there be only 1 meat course or a few? When I plan menus, I tend to have at least 2 meat/seafood courses. How many meats you offer is a factor to consider when purchasing enough.
If you're going to only serve 1 meat course, I would err on the side of 1/2lb per person. Better to have more than not enough.... also are there any vegetarian guests attending? (Another point to factor in.)
If you're going to serve 2 meat courses, I would err on the side of 1/4 - 1/3 per person. I've found that the more options you offer guests, the less they are to eat a full serving (think of those buffet restaurants where most people get enough for a taste versus a full serving of each offering.)
Also, what kind of sides are you offering? Is there a good balance of light (veggies) and heavy (starches)? (Another thing to factor in.) If you're planning more heavy starches, you can get away with less amount of meat. If you've got a more balanced menu, I'd stick with the recommendations I noted above.
What kind of meat are you planning on serving? Red meats tend to be a heavier menu on the stomach than poultry so you can get away with a little less red meat than say, chicken.
Is this dinner going to be served buffet style, family style or plated for each guest? This again is another thing to factor in. Buffet style may require a little more ... where as family style and plated may require less, (all depending on how many meat courses you're serving).
Lots of things to consider and sometimes a simple X amount of meat isn't the best answer to a catering/menu planning question...
I would also add that the weight changes with bone-in versus boneless. If it is boneless I think you are fine with 14.5-15lbs. You know your guests better than we do, my experience is that men take more meat, and woman less, especially if there are so many delicious sides. Will one of the sides be a more substantial vegetarian entree? If you are doing to different meats I usually make 1/4 lb per person for 60% of the guests for both meats (chicken/beef). I do the same percentages if I am making a veggie entree as well.