How much food for a holiday party

[Anonymous]

How much food do you think is expected to be provided at a holiday party beginning on a Friday at 7:30? Enough to make a meal of it? Finger food appetizer type stuff?

I tend to eat a meal before a party, so the last thing I want is bacon-wrapped scallops and shrimp cocktail after I've eaten my dinner. But I feel like at most parties, people provide pretty heavy appetizers...so I'm wondering if most people eat there and count it as their meal?

Would love advice as I'm throwing a party this year and struggling with how much food to provide.

[Anonymous]

I think people might be expecting something more than light apps since they'll be coming from work or after a day full of activities.

[Anonymous]

You don't need a full sit down meal, but 7:30 on a Friday doesn't give people much time to eat first so you need pretty substantial apps.

I might err on the side of having extra freezer apps that you can refresh with easily. They can stay in the freezer if people don't eat much, but it's minimal effort to add more warm food if people are eating.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. So do you think I need enough food to require plates and silverware, or just a decent amount of things like beef/chicken skewers, stuff that can be eaten without a plate? (as you can see the last time I threw a big party it probably involved a keg)

[Anonymous]

No need for formal plates and silverware unless it is a fancy do. Disposable plates and napkins would be fine.

[Anonymous]

For a Friday at 7:30, I would do heavy apps and lots of booze.

[Anonymous]

For a Friday at 7:30 you either need to provide food or make it clear that it won't be dinner (like make it a dessert buffet). You can't just make it hors d'oeuvres unless you are expecting people to be going on to dinner afterwards.

I'd go with a honey baked ham and biscuits/rolls for a main course and then supplement with smaller bite size things. Make sure you have some green things and not just a lot of party food.

[Anonymous]

These days many, many people eat later. In many areas (like shopping areas), the peak dinner hour is 7-8pm. So I think that many people would expect food filling enough to make a meal at 7:30 pm, especially on a Friday when people are kicking off the weekend. Many folks who normally eat close to that time will wait to eat. Only the people who normally eat much earlier (those that normally eat in the 5:00-6:30 range) will tend to eat first.

The best way is to include a mix of appetizers and finger foods that can be a "snack" and with enough of them, can make a happy hour type dinner. That way people can choose how much or how little to eat. But you want a mix of lighter and heavier items and lots of each to account for those who will make a meal of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. So do you think I need enough food to require plates and silverware, or just a decent amount of things like beef/chicken skewers, stuff that can be eaten without a plate? (as you can see the last time I threw a big party it probably involved a keg)

Yes to plates, although paper plates are fine. If you really don't want to feed people then go with a simpler dessert theme (and make it at 8 pm).

[Anonymous]

Heavy apps.

[Anonymous]

Heavy, hot apps and enough to make a meal of it. 7 pm is dinner time for most people; you can't assume that people will have eaten at 5-6 pm on a weeknight as most people are in the middle of their commute then. Even if they would have eaten at 6 pm, they likely wouldn't the night they have to get out the door to a party as they'd figure they'd just snack there.

It doesn't matter if you have plates or not, though hot apps are obviously easier with plates rather than napkins.

[Anonymous]

We entertain a decent amount and I would strongly recommend small plates. Otherwise if people are hungry they will have to hover around the food rather than being able to get a plate and then move into another room, or at least back away from the table. The other option is to have various stations, but that can be a challenge as well because people may not move from the first station they end up at and only eat whatever happens to be at that station. Finally, with a plate people will feel like they have eaten more because they will see a full plate.

Just remember to have a few trash containers around for the plates if you are using paper, or have someone help clear every once in a while. We normally get help for our holiday party and have her clear dirty plates, glasses, etc. You also need to allow more than one plate per person since people often take a break and then go for seconds.

[Anonymous]

A party at 7:30 and only appetizers? No dinner? I've never heard of this.

Is this just a happy hour type party? No longer than an hour or 1 1/2 tops?

If not than I would state that light appetizers will be served, so people know to eat before they come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A party at 7:30 and only appetizers? No dinner? I've never heard of this.

Is this just a happy hour type party? No longer than an hour or 1 1/2 tops?

If not than I would state that light appetizers will be served, so people know to eat before they come.

Are you saying it should be a sit-down dinner, or at least a full meal?

[Anonymous]

By the time people get home from work, get fancied up, get their babysitter situated, and drive to your place, there's no way they'd be able to squeeze dinner in on a Friday night.