Make the food for your party, or have it catered so you can relax and enjoy your guests?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$13 Answers
But I guess most of us are cost conscious these days so unless there is a special need for a caterer, such as a wedding party that could make it difficult to do all the catering yourself, then homemade makes sense.
If you have plenty of freezer space you can plan ahead for several weeks, cook all the party food that can be frozen, then on the day of the party all that is left to do, is to make sure everything is defrosted properly, heated thoroughly, if required and prepare anything which could not be frozen.
This is assuming that you feel confident enough to make a whole range of party foods, most of us have a few specials that we do pretty well and are not so good at others.
To avoid too much work, expense and maybe indifferent results with some items of the party food, the solution is to arrange with all your guests that they will each bring something to the table that is their own best make, you can check what everyone is bringing, (10 lots of sausage rolls might not be a great idea) no one has a lot of work or cost and then you are free to mingle.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
If it is a holiday meal, like Thanksgiving (yes, we frequently get two main families plus sundry friends who tag along) we break it up. The host does the turkey and usually potatoes, and guests bring salads and casseroles (all of our favorites - asparagus, green bean, etc.) and my ex always brings pies. Someone brings rolls, others bring drinks, appetizers, etc. We always enjoy visiting, and we enjoy comparing recipes, and I always have good take-away containers so people can take home leftovers. After many years of doing these things, we tend to have our niche dishes, but if someone wants to bring something new, that is never a problem. And the pleasure of these kinds of meals are that we all make a point of bringing along folks who might otherwise not have somewhere to go over the holiday. Co-workers new to town, foreign students who haven't had a chance to share U.S. holiday meals, neighbors, etc. It always ends up that we have interesting conversations.
And something that may be unique for our circle of friends, but at our potluck meals, we usually have lots of exes in the mix. Ex spouses, in-laws, etc. We try to maintain amicable relationships with the parents and relatives of our children, and this is a great way to reinforce the friendship that may not have ended even if the marriages did. Shared meals are a way to reinforce and model good examples of how to get along with people.
Potlucks during different times of year will perhaps involve smoked or barbecued meat, poultry, or fish, salads, fruit, drinks, etc. Our upper numbers at these events are probably around 30.
I have hosted a fair number of these meals, and I do have to spend a day or two cleaning and putting things away, clearing off extra tables, bringing things in so everyone can sit in the same general area. I do what cooking that I can in advance (I always brine the turkey, so usually have that all set up the night before). I have a lot of tables around here, so I usually end up with a couple of dining tables set up to make it look like one long table top.
personal experience.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$1) A smaller party. (15 people or less) I would recommend making and baking, plating and presenting, showing off and talking all the credit for all of the marvelous foods and drinks you will have at the party. This type of party can be well fed and actually attended by a single person doing the cooking, the cleaning, and the mingling with guests without sacrificing anything in the "I'm the host" department. Here I feel a single person can be the 100% host and do everything.
2) A larger party. (more than 15-20 people) I would recommend having the party catered especially if the caterer you would plan to use is willing and able price wise to let you truly develop the menu to be served. Sometime a caterer will just ask "How much would you like to spend per person?" and then after you answer they give you a list of possible menus.. I do not like this and would rather see you find a caterer who would ask "What do you want to serve?" and then give you a price. Cooking, plating, re-plating, cleaning as you go, filling, refilling etc etc for a party of 15/20 + will take all of a single persons time and certainly hinder the quality of time that person will have to actually be a great party host and not just a "lemme get that for ya" sort of host. Smaller caterers will be more menu and price flexible and be able to give the more personal attention your party deserves.
Your skills in the kitchen and in the social arena might be better than most or worse than most but I think these numbers are a good guide to work with when trying to decide which to do, have a great party catered or be the cook for a great party.
** If you have a magnificent kitchen that will comfortably hold 15+ people then I would have the party in there for the most part and let everyone get involved with the cooking and the presenting and the mingling will be easy as the guests will be a part of the party action.
personal opinion and experience
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Great answer, Buddawiggi! Thank you for the advice on the small caterer who lets you have input into the menu. I hadn't thought that far ahead. You speak on this as if you are a caterer yourself! Are you? :)
I am not a caterer but from the age of 17 to 35 I worked in the restaurant business. A multitude of times I was involved in the planning of and administration of service to catered parties of every size. All of the independent (non corporate) restaurants I worked for would certainly cater any private event if they were asked and it was during these times I was directly involved and able to pick up a ton of information on the insiders view to planning and presenting and finishing a catered event.
Then it also depends on what the party is for and the type. Is it an indoor or an outdoor B-B-Q. Indoor walkaround parties you want to stay away from foods that are messy so when people drop it it is easy to clean up. If it's an outdoor BBQ than you can make all kinds of food. It is nothing to make a large tray of potato salad and macaroni salad and greens. Also other side dishes are easy to make for this. For indoor parties you need more snack food than dinners. So I guess you can do both.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
If I really wanted to impress my guests, I would ask my brother to make some dishes and bring them over. He's done a little catering of small events in the past and ran a food service truck. If he wasn't available to help, then I'd find the best caterer I could at an affordable price for my event.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
One of my favorite things about having people over is cooking for them. It wouldn't feel like I was hosting a party if I didn't do the cooking. That's actually something I miss doing, because I can't have people over at my current residence. I'll be moving soon, and hopefully that is one of the first things I can do once I get settled.
There are so many dishes you can prepare ahead of time, that it's really not that big of a deal. I mean, you hold off on things that taste best served hot and fresh from the oven, like rolls. However, I've found you can fix things and keep them warm on a low setting of a Crock-Pot and even a deep fryer. We do a lot of cooking out as well. With that, you can still mingle with everyone while you cook if it's an outdoor event.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I have found a way around cooking and being able to enjoy the party. I cook foods that I can prepare in advance and take very little time the day of the party.
I cook mostacolli and meatballs often. I can prepare that prior to the party and then I place it into the refrigerator. 20 minutes prior to dinner, I pull it out and bake it in the oven with tin foil on top.I may make a salad ahead of time, as well.
As for the cake, I do a chocolate eclair. My recipe calls for making it the day before.
I have also done sub sandwiches for parties. Again, I make them in advance and they always seem to be a big hit!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Another option is Kentucky Fried Chicken. I mean who doesn’t like chicken? Okay there might be a few people that don’t but most people will eat chicken. I could get tons of fried chicken-half original and half crispy- then also get a bunch of coleslaw and mashed potatoes and gravy or do as I said before and let everyone bring a dish or a desert. Either way is fine, as long as I’m not cooking. My friends would not like that if I cooked.. believe me.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I would love to have time to relax but I tried to arrange and manage my time well that during the party, all the food is set and ready and I have enough time to entertain and mingle with the guest for the food is ready and I will ask someone to help serve the food. In this way I can do both without too much effort. It is also very important to plan well the food or dish that I am going to prepare. I see to i that the dish that I will include won't take too much time. I tried to purchase all the ingredients that I need ahead of time so that I won't be wasting time looking for the things I needed.
I think catering is great and it helps takes pressure away from me but it is quite expensive too and I will be able to save if I prepare the food on my own. And it helps and takes the tiredness away when guests will complement the food that I have prepared. :-)
Own opinion.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$h
Add
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
However, when we have birthday parties, or other events, the crowd is usually a bit larger so in that case, it makes sense to have the party catered because it’s easier to serve a large group of people for a catered party than it is to spend hours in the kitchen making the meal. Also, I’ve found that catered parties tend not to have as a messy of a cleanup compared to the time to takes to cleanup when the meal is prepared by the host.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
own opinion/experience/research on photo
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Thanks, Cherise!