MEAT:
Fried Chicken – 200 pc. (store bought)
Italian Beef- 30 lb. cooked (thinking of buying frozen and reheating. Is there a decent brand out there?? Otherwise I’ll purchase from local restaurant) *
Sweet peppers (amount?)
Giardinara peppers (Do we need both hot & mild?) amounts?
Rolls (200 – 3” - planning on the mini Rosen’s rolls)
*Should we do meatball subs instead of Italian beef. My concern is that they’re messier and/or not as popular.
*If we do Italian beef - should we need Italian sausage too?
Do we need butter?
Do we need another type of roll for those not eating Italian beef? Hawaiian rolls?

SIDES:
Coleslaw - 3 gallons
Mostaccioli – no meat (10 lb. dry)
Potato of some kind? Thinking cheesy potato casserole
Veggie – either salad greens w/2 types of dressing OR green bean casserole?
Baked beans – 2 gallons (is this side dish even necessary?)

APPETIZERS:
Veggies & ranch dip
Pub mix or homemade “spicy” pretzels. Might set out in treat cups to make it easier
Cowboy caviar w/ tortilla chips (amounts?)

DESSERTS:
Costco cake - (2) 1/2 sheet cakes
Chocolate covered pretzel rods
Fruit? Is just watermelon enough?
Are other desserts needed? Maybe frozen bite-sized eclairs/cream puffs or the like?

BEVERAGES:
Water (in 3 gallon dispenser -will keep refilling)
Lemonade (in 3 gallon dispenser from mix - will keep refilling)
Unsweetened iced tea (in 3 gallon dispenser from mix – will keep refilling)
Soda - 100 cans (thinking 7.5 oz. mini cans so there is less waste?)
Beer (300 cans – also looking into whether we can bring in a keg to the venue to potentially cut costs)
Wine (Chardonnay & Red Blend)
Coffee (2 ½ lb)
Half & Half
Sugar
Ice (a ton!)

PLATES/CUTLERY/CUPS:
Plastic cutlery – 300 forks/200 knives (was going to roll a fork & knife in a napkin. No spoon)
Plastic spoons - 200 (are spoons even necessary with this meal?)
Dinner plates – 300
Dinner napkins - 300
7” dessert/appetizer plates – 600
Do we need 9” plates instead or in addition to 7” plates?
Beverage napkins – 300
16 oz. cups – 500?
9 oz. wine cups - 100
10 oz. coffee cups - 100

MEAT:
Fried Chicken – 200 pc. (store bought)- 150 plenty
Italian Beef- 30 lb. cooked (thinking of buying frozen and reheating. Is there a decent brand out there?? Otherwise I’ll purchase from local restaurant) * Good- could sub meatballs, 30 pounds frozen with 2+ gallons (3 #10 cans) marinara sauce or 2 gallons bbq sauce; check prices
Sweet peppers (amount?) - grilled? frozen strips handy, our Trader Joe's carries these, about 10 pounds for Italian beef. Skip for meatballs
Giardinara peppers (Do we need both hot & mild?) amounts?
About a Q, do 12 pounds sliced onions plus gallon pickles
Rolls (200 – 3” - planning on the mini Rosen’s rolls)OK
*Should we do meatball subs instead of Italian beef. My concern is that they’re messier and/or not as popular. hey are just as popular.
*If we do Italian beef - should we need Italian sausage too? No. Could do instead.
Do we need butter? No. You do need mayo ( quarts) and mustard (3 jars)
Do we need another type of roll for those not eating Italian beef? Hawaiian rolls?
Aim for a total weight of 14 pounds of all breads

SIDES:
Coleslaw - 3 gallons good
Mostaccioli – no meat (10 lb. dry) good
Potato of some kind? Thinking cheesy potato casserole- unless you have a LOT of oven space, do a potato salad instead, about 30 pounds potatoes to start, 3-4 gallons
Veggie – either salad greens w/2 types of dressing OR green bean casserole? Good salad, do for 100, see plan for 100 page
Baked beans – 2 gallons (is this side dish even necessary?) Consider doing a marinated bean salad instead-2 gallons Less reheat, can be done ahead. Offers a protein for your vegetarian guests

APPETIZERS:
Veggies & ranch dip use he veggie tray page, or do a fruit tray instead
Pub mix or homemade “spicy” pretzels. Might set out in treat cups to make it easier- 6 pounds per 100
Cowboy caviar w/ tortilla chips (amounts?) 10-12 pounds corn chips, 6 quarts dips- consider doing part salsa and par cowboy caviar

DESSERTS:
Costco cake - (2) 1/2 sheet cakes, a full sheet only makes 60 pieces, you might do2- 2 layer 1/2 sheets?
Chocolate covered pretzel rods= is this a family favorite? If not, do bitesize stuff instead- 150 pieces
Fruit? Is just watermelon enough? Watermelon great, do plan to ice, 50 pounds plus
Are other desserts needed? Maybe frozen bite-sized eclairs/cream puffs or the like?

BEVERAGES:
see beverages page= lots of help on amounts for all these
Water (in 3 gallon dispenser -will keep refilling)
Lemonade (in 3 gallon dispenser from mix - will keep refilling)
Consider doing from frozen- it is way tastier
Unsweetened iced tea (in 3 gallon dispenser from mix – will keep refilling)
Soda - 100 cans (thinking 7.5 oz. mini cans so there is less waste?)
Beer (300 cans – also looking into whether we can bring in a keg to the venue to potentially cut costs) beer drinkers drink about 4 each
Wine (Chardonnay & Red Blend) wine drinkers drink about 1/2 bottle
Coffee (2 ½ lb) plenty - see beverages page
Half & Half
Sugar
Ice (a ton!)= don't forget ice for the watermelon. A brand new trash can plus ice can be a watermelon chiller

PLATES/CUTLERY/CUPS:
Plastic cutlery – 300 forks/200 knives (was going to roll a fork & knife in a napkin. No spoon) Don't roll.
Plastic spoons - 200 (are spoons even necessary with this meal?), yes 150 OK
Dinner plates – 300 good
Dinner napkins - 300 500? You have some wet and messy foods
7” dessert/appetizer plates – 600- 300 plenty
Do we need 9” plates instead or in addition to 7” plates? No for dessert plates
Beverage napkins – 300
16 oz. cups – 300 ok
9 oz. wine cups - 100 ok
10 oz. coffee cups - 100 ok

Don't open all the packs, can be returned if unused.

I love the idea of the bean salad. Made your Tex-Mex bean salad the other night and it's yummy. I'll probably just go with that. I'll skip the cowboy caviar as an appetizer then.

I do have a few questions:
- if we're having Italian beef, curious why you would suggest mayo & mustard?
- did you mean a quart of giardinara?
- what do I do about salt & pepper? Put at each table or just set out by silverware or somewhere?