Catering grad party myself???

[Anonymous]

OP back with more info. Kid has invited tons of people - like 150, but it’s a private school so people live all over the area and i think the attendance rate won’t be all that high. People live as far as 60-90 mins away. Maybe a max of 100 people cycling through? I have two basement fridges I can use for storage

Maybe i replace the salads with something grab and go like veggie sticks in (compostable) cups with ranch or something.

Good call on the no forks suggestion! Maybe i can add in some snack skewers (like charcuterie). Weather permitting, we will be mostly outdoors, so I was going to keep it to cold foods.

I was thinking of just serving on some sort of foil trays that I could store easily and then do a double layer with ice in the bottom tray for service because I have food safety paranoias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare. Why not have it catered by a local restaurant? It's affordable and more enjoyable than trying to do what you are planning.

It usually turns out to be cheaper just to have it catered or pick up something yourself, even though that's counterintuitive. How many people, OP?

[Anonymous]

Thanks OP, those additional details are helpful! I think handling all the food for 100 people is too ambitious if you're prepping all the food.

I would consider grabbing some catering trays from Wegmans with pinwheel sandwiches (or similar). And you can handle the desserts, drinks, bags of chips/popcorn, and crudite. You could do veggies with mini cups of hummus or ranch or something.

[Anonymous]

I'd do carryout from Red Hot and Blue or someplace like that. We've done that and it is reasonable and they can provide warming trays etc. Hosting a party for 100 will make it hard to enjoy the actual graduation.

[Anonymous]

OP - Is this party the day of graduation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cash is tight and my kid wants to have a grad party like all their friends. I’m not broke, but i also can’t do a $10,000 passed hors d’oevres deal like all their classmates. On the plus side, I’m a good cook and the plan is for a 2 or 3 pm start, so more snacks and finger foods than full meal. So…. Can i do it? Or too crazy and hectic?

I was thinking something like:

Kale salad
Pasta salad
Fruit salad
Kings Hawaiian/slider roll sandwiches (maybe roast beef, chicken salad and tomato basil mozzarella with balsamic reduction)
Bags of chips and popcorn
Cookies
Brownies
Rice Krispie treats
Grad cake(s)
Icecream
Then buckets of water/soda/beer/wine/seltzers

I’ll make sure the sandwiches are more exciting than just a thin shriveled scrap of meat… like a roast beef with roasted red peppers and sharp cheddar or turkey, brie, cranberry jam etc. And everything will taste great but be homemade

What do you think? Doable? Acceptable?

Go for it. I think it is very doable and very acceptable. Love the idea of multiple types of sandwiches. Cut them into halves and put a toothpick through it or you will see massive food waste.

If it was me - I would remove the bolded, and add the stuff that is in blue color.

You need help though to serve and replenish food. You have no idea the amount of food they can devour. And if you think you are going to run out of food, just order a few pizzas too. Also, some of the COSTCO frozen appetizers are pretty good - like their mini-quiche, dumplings etc.

Some of the other stuff to add - if you have a larger group of kids coming

Corn chips or nacho chips - guac, bean dip, chilli and salsa.
Fried corn (https://hebbarskitchen.com/corn-chaat-recipe-masala-corn-recipe/)
Korean fried chicken (https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-dakgangjeong)

[Anonymous]

i would simplify the menu. pulled pork sounds good to me. or those funeral sandwiches. those are make ahead friendly and you can pop a tray in the oven as needed.

[Anonymous]

I always use chafing dishes for hot and cold foods. You can use the disposable kinds if you want.

But, 150 kids circling through the house??...I would hire someone very experienced to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cash is tight and my kid wants to have a grad party like all their friends. I’m not broke, but i also can’t do a $10,000 passed hors d’oevres deal like all their classmates. On the plus side, I’m a good cook and the plan is for a 2 or 3 pm start, so more snacks and finger foods than full meal. So…. Can i do it? Or too crazy and hectic?

I was thinking something like:

Kale salad
Pasta salad
Fruit salad
Kings Hawaiian/slider roll sandwiches (maybe roast beef, chicken salad and tomato basil mozzarella with balsamic reduction)
Bags of chips and popcorn
Cookies
Brownies
Rice Krispie treats
Grad cake(s)
Icecream
Then buckets of water/soda/beer/wine/seltzers

I’ll make sure the sandwiches are more exciting than just a thin shriveled scrap of meat… like a roast beef with roasted red peppers and sharp cheddar or turkey, brie, cranberry jam etc. And everything will taste great but be homemade

What do you think? Doable? Acceptable?

Go for it. I think it is very doable and very acceptable. Love the idea of multiple types of sandwiches. Cut them into halves and put a toothpick through it or you will see massive food waste.

If it was me - I would remove the bolded, and add the stuff that is in blue color.

You need help though to serve and replenish food. You have no idea the amount of food they can devour. And if you think you are going to run out of food, just order a few pizzas too. Also, some of the COSTCO frozen appetizers are pretty good - like their mini-quiche, dumplings etc.

Some of the other stuff to add - if you have a larger group of kids coming

Corn chips or nacho chips - guac, bean dip, chilli and salsa.
Fried corn (https://hebbarskitchen.com/corn-chaat-recipe-masala-corn-recipe/)
Korean fried chicken (https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-dakgangjeong)

Parents also expected? Yes beer/wine will be good.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking if you had 50-60 then it’s doable but 100+? That may be really hard the day of. And I’m a DIY person.

But if you’re set on doing it then I think pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches in crockpots are good for a crowd. Have buns and different sauces and coleslaw and they can assemble their own.

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP. I grew up in a family with 8 kids + we had homemade parties at our house. Ignore the naysayers + calls to cater food. You said you like cooking, so it won't be trouble. Maybe a family member or friend can help you set up + help clear trash as it piles up. It is very nice you're doing this for your child. Good luck + congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cash is tight and my kid wants to have a grad party like all their friends. I’m not broke, but i also can’t do a $10,000 passed hors d’oevres deal like all their classmates. On the plus side, I’m a good cook and the plan is for a 2 or 3 pm start, so more snacks and finger foods than full meal. So…. Can i do it? Or too crazy and hectic?

I was thinking something like:

Kale salad
Pasta salad
Fruit salad
Kings Hawaiian/slider roll sandwiches (maybe roast beef, chicken salad and tomato basil mozzarella with balsamic reduction)
Bags of chips and popcorn
Cookies
Brownies
Rice Krispie treats
Grad cake(s)
Then buckets of water/soda/beer/wine/seltzers

I’ll make sure the sandwiches are more exciting than just a thin shriveled scrap of meat… like a roast beef with roasted red peppers and sharp cheddar or turkey, brie, cranberry jam etc. And everything will taste great but be homemade

What do you think? Doable? Acceptable?

that looks like every grad party I’ve been to in McLean except maybe add in grilled food too.

[Anonymous]

Do high school kids want kale salad and roasted red peppers?

[Anonymous]

Check out taco bamba, Italian store, or Lebanese taverna. This sounds like too much.

[Anonymous]

150 guests? Your house must be huge. I’d have it catered.