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Very Best Biscotti Recipe
Bulletin Board           Big Pots-Quantity Cooking and OAMC

From the Plan to the Pan and on to the Table:
Cooking Up the Big Party

This page is under construction! For specific questions, please email me at the email address on the bottom of this page.- Ellen

A "day of" work list and timetable for catering a sit down dinner.
Ultimatewedding.com will introduce you to wedding cake lingo and many planning ideas.

Round It Up

Cook It Up

Store It Safe

Set It Up

Serve It Up

Clean It Up

Self-catering projects can be handled by as few as three people per 100 guests served, but it is a lot more fun (and a lot easier) when you have about seven people per hundred helping out. For most events, there are four stages: early and on-site prepping, setting up, serving, and cleaning up.

Two people can set up tables for 100 in about 15 minutes. Setting and decorating takes another 30 or so.

Usually, for the first 100 people you need about three people to handle most of the on-site food prep, and about three people to serve. For esch additional 100 guests, add 4 more people. You need one person to oversee the beverage service (assisting, pouring, getting replenishments).

Cleaning up the dining area after 100 guests takes 2-3 people, and cleaning the kitchen needs about four. If you are running the dishwasher, you really need two people: one to load, and one to unload.

Round It Up

Cook It Up

Store It Safe

Set It Up

Setting Up
  • If you are going to need the dishwasher, know how to turn it on! You may have to flip a fuse somewhere. Next, follow the instructions- they may be posted, or in a folder in the kitchen somewhere. Use rubber gloves- if you can put bare hands in the water, it isn't hot enough. Use the correct soap and disinfection routines.
  • If you are going to cook, make sure you know how to light the stove.
  • If you are serving coffee or tea, make sure the coffee maker is plugged in and turned on You can use paper (cut and tape). On special occasions, use cloth- these can be rented in many colors, but some party givers purchase pretty sheets on sale- check table sizes. If paper is in rolls, you will need scissors and tape.
  • Set out salt, pepper (2 of each to a table), and sweetener (1 to a table). The easiest way to do this is to put the containers on a rolling cart and visit each table.
  • If not buffet/ potluck, set out napkins and silverware at each place(knives and spoons on the right, forks on the left).
  • Set out table decorations.
  • If you are serving coffee or tea, remember: black and brown pots for regular, green and orange pots for decaf. If you are using a coffee maker that makes coffee by the pot, before you pour water into the top, make sure 1) you have put in a filter, 2) you have a pot ready to receive, and 3) the cover is off the top!
  • If you are serving tea, brewing tea through the coffee maker tastes better than using the powdered tea. (Yes, it's more work, but it's worth it.
  • For special receptions, use glass or china plates. They can be rented, or may be available at the hall you are using.
  • Set up beverage serving station. Cover with either tablecloth or plastic tablecloth. Depending on what you are serving, put out hot or cold cups, basket of sweeteners and non-dairy creamers, and stirrers.
  • If people are serving themselves, set up the food serving stations separate from beverages. Cover the table the same way you covered the beverage station. Put out a floral arrangement. If you are not setting the tables, put the napkins, forks, knives, and spoons on the end of the table. If you are taking donations, put the donations basket at the very front of the table.
  • Make sure a rolling table with a dishpan is near the door to receive soiled tableware (or, if serving off disposables, make sure a garbage can is near the door).

Serve It Up

Clean It Up

Cleaning Up
  • Hopefully, if you will need the dishwasher, you have got it ready to go (see above).
  • Make sure you have turned off the stove and especially the ovens when stove and/or oven is no longer needed. Check twice.
  • Clean items used for food prep as you go, and return them to their proper place.
  • Collect salt, pepper, and sweeteners from tables. Check to see if anything needs refilling.
  • Collect soiled plates, glasses, and tableware. Run through dishwasher, sort, and store.
  • If you have not given away the table centerpieces as door prizes, collect vases or table decorations, empty water, return to appropriate storage.
  • Collect linens, washcloths, hand towels, count them. Return to rental company or wash and return to owners/hall as soon as possible.

RECIPE NAME

serves 6-8
preheat oven to xxx °

YAKYAK

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RECIPE NAME

serves 6-8
preheat oven to xxx °

YAKYAK

Top