How many different side dishes?
Michal
06/13/06
We're having a family reunion cookout with burgers, chicken kabobs, hot sausage, kielbasa, brats (with a few hot dogs for my picky children) for 25 adults/10 kids. Thanks to your site (wonderful by the way), I can figure out the quantities. But, how many side dishes should we have and how many is too many? Is there a ratio of hot and cold? I have 8 planned: baked beans, marinated carrots, Broccoli Salad, Cole Slaw, Pasta Salad (non-mayo recipe), Potato Salad, German Potato Salad and Watermelon Slices. Several are family favorites and were requested. My sister thinks we need the traditional choices. My Mom wants us to add a tossed salad. I think we're nuts (or I will be after it's over)!
ellen
06/14/06
Hi, Michal,
This looks to me like it IS the traditional sides. This is a very generous amount of sides.

Not counting the watermelon, for which I always allow 1 pound per person whole, caterers would plan 1 1/2 pounds total food per adult. So allowing 6-8 ounces of meats, you want about a pound total of sides. Not knowing the ages of the kids- I count teens as adults and kids under 12 as 1/2- with around 32 people I would use 1/3 of the amount for 100 as my max for any given dish.

But with this wide selection, it also will help you to visualize- "if everyone took 1/4 cup of this, I would need 8 cups=2 quarts". The few dishes where the average serving is larger, you might add a bit more, but generally, the person who takes a large German potato helping will skip the regular potato salad, so it works out.

I would get your mom a little baggy of tossed salad with a bottle of her preferred dressing. Otherwise, just check the sandwich even page for the condiments list- anyone desperate for lettuce could put together a little lettuce and toimato salad from these.