Help me plan a catering menu

[ShiroKuro]

We am hosting our program (grad students and faculty) for a casual lunch at our house this weekend. We got some money from the department to pay for catering, so I have the big items but I'm having trouble settling on the details. Need enough to feed 20.

The "main dishes" are:

1. Mr Sk will make okonomiyaki (usually described as Japanese savory "pancake," but not a breakfast food. It has batter, cabbage, shrimp, pork, so that should give you an idea).

2. I ordered trays of fancy wraps from a local place that does these really interesting combinations (like, basil cashew chicken)

We will also make a Japanese dessert (pumpkin mochi cake, pretty sure I've shared the recipe here). And maybe cookies? (Toll House makes a pre-made kind that is actually really, really good).

So, two main dishes, two desserts.

What other food/snack/hors d'oeuvres type items do you think I should add?

A charcuterie board?? A nice (big) bowl of cut fruit could be good, but it's late in the season.

Any advice appreciated!

[ShiroKuro]

BTW this is the cookie I'm talking about. I've tried other pre-mades, and this is the best one I've found.

[Steve Miller]

I always appreciate seeing a vegetable tray.

[ShiroKuro]

The fact that I didn't even think of that is probably a bad sign....

[AdagioM]

Think about a gluten free option (neither the pancakes nor the wraps fit here), and a vegetarian option. These are the two things that trip me up! A big salad might be a good option as both the main, or filler for those eating the other things.

[Mik]

@Steve-Miller said in Help me plan a catering menu:

I always appreciate seeing a vegetable tray.

Me too. Something I can eat and not feel bad about, although the rest of the food sounds wonderful.

One thing almost everyone succumbs to - don't overdo it. You're not providing their main meal for the day.

[ShiroKuro]

@AdagioM said in Help me plan a catering menu:

Think about a gluten free option (neither the pancakes nor the wraps fit here), and a vegetarian option.

I asked for for any "foods you can't eat" and no one responded, so I wasn't planning to do a gluten free option. But maybe I'll check again.

For fancy wraps, 1/3 are vegetarian (altho no one said they are vegetarian).

The place I ordered the wraps from has what they call salad platters, so I got some of those and after reading @Steve-Miller 's comment, I'm going to get a veggie tray too.

@Mik said in Help me plan a catering menu:

don't overdo it.

This! When we had our little housewarming party, I had so much food left over, it was awful.

The only thing I have going to me here is that most of the attendees are grad students. If there's food left over, I'll send them home with it!

[ShiroKuro]

P.S. thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

[Mik]

Doggie bags FTW! Some kind of restaurant to go containers would be great and probably appreciated. The food sounds delicious.

[Mary Anna]

This all sounds delicious, sk!

[AdagioM]

You did your part by asking about dietary issues. No reply? Go forth and party!

[ShiroKuro]

Thanks y’all! We’re looking forward to it! The party is on Sunday, I’ll let you know how it goes!

[ShiroKuro]

Well I forgot to take photos of the food (so I guess it didn’t happen

I think it went well. Mr SK’s okonomiyaki was a huge hit! The fancy wraps were super yummy but the okonomiyaki is pretty filling so we could have gotten by with about half as many wraps. There were also a lot left over veggies and salad … what else did I have too much of? Oh, grapes! I got white and red grapes, they were super yummy but hardly anyone ate them. I had some nice crackers and spinach artichoke dip, everyone loved that.

Oh and the desserts were popular as well.

We sent people home with the leftover wraps and desserts, so that was nice. But next time I’ll try to calibrate better.

I think I also have an idea of how many people can fit in the house, I think the answer is “not too many more than were here today”

[wtg]

Sounds like a great time!

But next time I’ll try to calibrate better.

I think having an abundance of food is the way to go.

As a guest, I've found there's something awkward about going to a table and thinking there's just enough food to go around and feeling like I have to be really careful about how much to take. Plus it's kind of fun to send people (especially the grad students) home with treats. Sort of extends the party.

Wishing you many more great parties to come!

[ShiroKuro]

@wtg said in Help me plan a catering menu:

I think having an abundance of food is the way to go.

As a guest, I've found there's something awkward about going to a table and thinking there's just enough food to go around and feeling like I have to be really careful about how much to take. Plus it's kind of fun to send people (especially the grad students) home with treats. Sort of extends the party.

Mr SK said basically the same thing!

And, today when I turned in my receipts, the admin gal said "wow, you're more than $100 under budget"

So, it's probably ok to have all those leftovers!

[Jodi]

Party leftovers are the best.

[AdagioM]

@Jodi Yes, you don’t have to think about what to cook, for days!

[wtg]

Veggies left over from the tray can be used in soup, or just steamed or stir fried.

I can take the desserts off of your hands...

[ShiroKuro]

@wtg said in Help me plan a catering menu:

I can take the desserts off of your hands...

Actually we sent almost all the leftovers home with people. I love being able to give food to grad students!

[Big_Al]

WTF catering plan for the win.

Big Al