There are few things quite as stressful as catering to 50 people, one of which is finding out you’re catering to 50 people only one week in advance. That means that there are approximately seven days to plan, execute, and triumph. It’s all about the preparation, so put together a production schedule at least a few days before the party to ensure everything runs smoothly.
4 Days Before The Party
Choose your recipes, and focus on the apps; small, easy-to-eat foods are a must. (It’s not fun seeing a 70-year-old woman try to eat a meatball sub with her dainty little hands.) Stick to one-bite snack recipes that make an impression, like bacon jalapeño cream cheese poppers or baked cauliflower with parmesan for those herbivores out there.
Also find recipes that make a sh*t ton in just one batch. These are most easily found with dips. You can have really tasty savory dishes like artichoke dip or make the sweet side simple with dessert dips. If there’s anything to take from this experience, it’s that you’re gonna hate yourself if you try anything too complicated. Make it easy on yourself and be smart about it, unlike myself who spent three hours putting together some chicken cheese things wrapped in phyllo dough only for them to all stick together in the fridge. Waste. Of. Time.
2 Days Before The Party
I got lucky this time because it’s my dad’s party. You know what that means? I don’t have to pay for any of it. The grand total for this party including twelve bottles of booze, vodka, Jameson, and bourbon came to… $553. I know. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. This is the one party my dad throws a year, so he tends to go all out.
Two days before the party, you’ll want to do all the shopping. That gives you an additional buffer day just in case you forget anything. I tend to be a little OCD when it comes to my catering, so I categorized everything on my list in aisle order. From produce to canned goods to cocktail napkins, everything had a column. Plan the day around this trip because afterward, the only thing you’re gonna want to do is curl up into a ball and sleep.
Your strategy in the grocery store should be simple: stick to your list. This is no time to dilly-dally or shop for yourself. It should be the quickest long trip to the store you’ve ever had. Also, never go when you’re hungry. You’ll end up spending more money than you should and it’s just not a good idea to stare at food while your stomach is grumbling at you.
The Day Before The Party
The most fun day besides the actual party is prep day! Make all of your cookies, dips, and bacon-wrapped goodies the day before. Put on a jamming playlist from Spotify and just cook. Break out those speakers and keep your measurement conversion card handy, because it’s going to be a long day and you might need Childish Gambino to get you through it.
To make prep time more fun, have your family come join you in the kitchen for a while. My brothers sat in and had a competition to see who could make the most realistic Link noise from Legend of Zelda. My mom would come in and out, decorating the house with gold accents to highlight the New Year, and my dad just cleaned. It was a family affair.
It’s also important to clean out your fridge pre-prep day. Almost everything you make will need to be refrigerated, so clear out all the old hummus and leftovers that you swore you were going to eat but never did. Then, tell your family that if they even look at your food they won’t have their eyes the next day. Another option in a cold climate would be to store drinks and spare food outside in a porch area or garage!
The Day Of The Party
The day is finally here. It’s time to make those last-minute dishes, get all dressed up, and pull out the prettiest serving platters you own. I left three dishes to be prepped on the day of which I cooked in the morning, so by mid-afternoon (when the party started) everything would be ready. Around half an hour before the party starts, you can set out chips, desserts, and things that don’t need to be refrigerated. Platters don’t need to match because people wil be looking at your food, not the Christmas cookie plate you decided to put cheese on.
Here’s an important tip: put the hot food out 30 minutes after the party starts. People never show up on time, so don’t let those quality snacks get cold on you. Guests will be fine with meat and cheese until there are enough people to make the mini Reubens and bean dip worth it. Keep the oven on to make continuous batches throughout the night and jam with your tipsy bartender brother while you hide away in the kitchen.
Here’s an important tip: put the hot food out 30 minutes after the party starts. People never show up on time, so don’t let those quality snacks get cold on you. Guests will be fine with meat and cheese until there are enough people to make the mini Reubens and bean dip worth it. Keep the oven on to make continuous batches throughout the night and jam with your tipsy bartender brother while you hide away in the kitchen.
Finally, enjoy yourself! Yeah, the pantry is nice when it’s awkward at the beginning and old people who you don’t really remember the names of want to know about your dating life and your future plans, but go and socialize. The kitchen can get stuffy and there are people who just want to compliment your amazing catering skills in the other room.
Finally, take a picture with your family to commemorate the time you successfully catered to 50 people on short notice.