How much food per person for a buffet to prevent any food wastage?
6 things to keep in mind to prevent any food wastage
Looks like Brendon’s surprise retirement party is on the cards, and your son’s wedding is also coming up next month. You need to contact the caterers, decide on packages, make a guest headcount, and a dozen more things, but there’s not much time left. Do not stress out and keep calm. We’ve got your back!
Deciding on the catering services for any buffet can be one of the most tedious tasks when organizing any auspicious event. You have to be very strategic with your plans otherwise excessive food will lead to unnecessary wastage, and arguably, there is nothing more shameful than some unsatisfied guests.
Managing a buffet should never be considered a child’s play. You have to make sure that the guests have no complaints about the catering service.
Here are a few things you should know when deciding on the average budget per person for the buffet.
Even before deciding on the catering menu for the grand event, you have to plan on the decoration of the buffet utensils, the drinks parlor, the seating arrangement, and the sequence of the dishes to be served.
You don’t want your guests to go searching for buffet plates, or waiting for any main-course dish in a queue. The last thing that you would want is a disappointing catering service.
Make sure all the things are in place. Constantly keep an eye on the kitchen to make sure that the dishes are coming out frequently ensuring no grumpy guests are waiting for the food to arrive. Keep a check on the servants, whether they are serving the starters properly or not.
What is it you are hiring catering services for, a corporate event or a birthday party? You always need to keep in mind the type of event. The number of headcounts for the event, location, type of guests (family or colleagues), general age group are some of the criteria to be kept in mind before catering to any event.
In an office party, you would always prefer some booze to go with the appetizers, but in a kid’s party, foods like chocolate, or cake, or soft drinks are a must! If the guest list consists mostly of retired elders, do make sure you have healthy options like a variety of salads available. Young guests tend to visit the meat section more rather than the vegetable section.
Accordingly, you will have to make an estimate of the buffet menu and the quantities of food to be ordered.
You have paid a handful amount of money to the caterers, and all you have asked them to do is to deliver quality dishes. Before contacting the caterers, make sure you have visited their website, gone through all their brochures, considered every review. All of this, just to ensure that your guests are enjoying their food!
If the appetizers are greasy and oily, then the guests will be hesitant to try the dessert, after the meat section. If the desserts are not top-notch, then the ending is unsatisfactory.
Before the catering preparation starts, make sure the fruits, vegetables, meat, drinks are of premium quality. Consideration of food safety is a must, in a big event.
Now you have arranged for waiters, ordered to serve the appetizers right to all the guests’ tables. Some waiters, to offer appetizers while the guests are having a ball at the onstage event. Making sure all the guests have their hands dirty!
How about a variety of fried cheese balls paired with a marinara sauce, or some fresh marinated kebabs with green chutney, or some chicken poppers accompanied with a dipping sauce? You will always ask the caterers to prepare at least 4-5 types of course starters.
But always make sure that the guests do not consume an excess of appetizers. It will only fill up their stomach too early. And unfortunately, they will miss out on the rest of the delicacies.
Well, this has to be the superstar section of the show! Guests look up to this when they decide for any buffet. Considering the demand for any item on the buffet menu, the chef should be dynamic. He has to be ready to cook a bowl of Taiwanese noodles or assemble a tuna salad.
At least 2-3 varieties of meat (chicken, beef, pork, fish), 2-3 types of salads, 3-4 types of pasta, instant noodles, 3-4 preparations of vegetables, should always be there on any buffet menu, be it a small or a big event. You would never want an underwhelming main course section.
To arrange for any great buffet, make sure that the main course section contains the most number of dishes.
After having some fulfilling appetizers and main course items, what better way to satisfy your sweet tooth than having some dessert! Finishing up with something cold and sweet will only lighten things up for you.
Estimating the head-count for any buffet event, you can assume around 1-3 servings of desserts per guest. Desserts like vanilla cakes, pastries, panna cotta mousse, fruit custard are very common. Besides, you can also have a separate ice cream parlor.
Keeping this in mind, that this the last section of the buffet menu, you have to guess the number of desserts you want to order.
We hope that you have all your questions answered. Next time you contact any catering service, keep the discussed points in mind. Good luck and Enjoy your Buffet!
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