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Graduation Party for Approximately 300-350 People
Amanda 04/25/16	I am having my daughter's graduation party. We are sending out 225 invites (small town grad party) and I'm planning for about 300 -350 people total. There will be other open house, style parties going on in town that night, but only about 4 or 5 others and it won't affect my entire guest list. I am serving a soup and salad bar that includes: lettuce salad broccoli cauliflower carrots tomatoes onion cheese I will have ham and turkey available and party size buns, in case people want a sandwich. 2 different soups - wild rice and cr of potato ALSO 2 types of boneless wings Any suggestions for food amounts would be awesome!
ellen 04/26/16	You will need at least 2-3 refrigerators to hold all the food you will prep safely. Even with a simple buffet plan, a party this size is 10-12 people besides you on the day of to set up, serve and clean up the party. Sources can include local church cooks or teen groups, diners that close after lunch, local culinary food programs such as junior colleges. You will revel in the salad bar chart on this site, it covers all the above as well as many more ideas: www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/saladbar100.html Consider adding a bean option, garbanzos or 3 bean salad, amounts indicated. Also, a pasta salad (easier prep than potato), 6 pounds dry pasta per 100. ham and turkey, deli slice, 1 ounce each per person 300 ounces cheeses sliced for sandwiches= 18 pounds party size buns, slider buns, 12 per pound of meat mustard, have yellow and brown/spicy/dijon, 18 ounces per 100 mayo 2 quarts per 100 soups, total 15 gallons, no suggestion on split, since I don't know local tastes. Might consider doing wild rice and a cold gazpacho, if it is for summer. This one is really delicious and can be made days ahead, mixed day of, plus no stove time day of. www.ellenskitchen.com/recipebox/gazpach.html Consider dropping the wings, they are expensive and require oven time. For this simple menu, chips and dips would be great chips, 6 pounds potato or 8 pounds corn per 100, 1 pint dip or salsa per pound And maybe some cut up fruit? See the fruit tray page- ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/fruit100.html Now it's my turn to ask a favor of you. EllensKitchen.com is remodeling and I want to provide the changes YOU (my readers) have been asking for. So after 18 years of supporting my readers as a hobby, I'm asking you for help We're 10% of the way to our goal for the next three months. If you're able to donate even just $5, please click on the masthead at the top of the page to visit www.EllensBigPots.com and keep us cooking for another year!