BBQ Catering for 70 - portion sizes.

[Huntsman]

I am doing a BBQ for 70 people on Saturday.

I plan per head the following

1 qtr lb burger in a bun
1 fat sausage

I plan to serve grated cheese, fried onions, coleslaw, potato salad, cous cous salad, green leaves, tomato and cucumber.

But how much per head?

Likewise, there will be strawberries and cream, how much per head?

[Luca Brazzi]

Sounds like fun :-)

Surely the quantities are easy to work out. Make up one plate with each of the food items, see what quantities that requires and then multiply by the number of guests, plus x% extra for greedy people lol.

Oh, and IMO, you're not making enough meat lol.
Interested to hear the quantities you end up producing, and how much is left over afterwards.

Good luck.

[Dave200]

Huntsman said:

I am doing a BBQ for 70 people on Saturday.

I plan per head the following

1 qtr lb burger in a bun
1 fat sausage

I plan to serve grated cheese, fried onions, coleslaw, potato salad, cous cous salad, green leaves, tomato and cucumber.

But how much per head?

Likewise, there will be strawberries and cream, how much per head?

It's a very generous gesture to host a BBQ and all that, but I would be concerned about your guests dying of starvation/boredom with that menu...

Why not mix it up a little bit, and move away from the burger van classics?
Some easy examples:
- 1/4 chicken leg portions with a nice dry rub (cajun premix is fine), pre-cooked in the oven and given 10-15 to crisp up on the BBQ. Serve with crusty baguette and green salad.
- Lamb kebabs, made from plain mince and a few herbs/spices added, formed around a skewer and left in the fridge overnight. Serve with pitta, lettuce, onion, hummus, chilli sauce etc. Good fun to eat, and a bit different.
- Chicken wings. Cheap as chips, easy to cook in bulk (in the oven ahead of time), great fun to eat. Serve with crusty bread, carrot/celery sticks and dips.
- Halloumi cheese. Not everyone's cup of tea, but brilliant cooked on a flat plate or frying pan on the BBQ. One/two pieces each make a good appetiser.
- Homemade coleslaw. Grate/slice/chop THINLY carrot, onion and cabbage; add salt, pepper, lemon juice and mayo, mix well and leave to stand for an hour or two.
- Homemade potato salad. Boil baby new potatoes, allow to cool slightly, mix in a little mayo with salt, pepper, dried dill and plenty of chopped chives/spring onions.

None of this would break the bank, and is a bit more interesting that a burger with a slice of plastic cheese. Good luck.

[Foliage]

It might also be worth considering fish, racks of ribs.

Also different types of salads are worth looking at (Italian, greek, Arabic), humus etc.

[Dave200]

Fish and ribs would normally be a good shout, but they are both a pain in the 'arris to cook for more than 8-10 people. Ribs take up a tonne of space for very little meat, and fish is hard to make in that kind of bulk...

[Mobile Chicane]

I'd definitely add a pulled 'something' / rib dish to the menu.

Ready-cooked beef brisket in BBQ sauce is on offer at Asda at the moment, 2 x 400g joints for £6.

[Dave200]

Mobile Chicane said:

I'd definitely add a pulled 'something' / rib dish to the menu.

Ready-cooked beef brisket in BBQ sauce is on offer at Asda at the moment, 2 x 400g joints for £6.

Again, a good shout. But how would you cook that on a normal BBQ for 70 people???

[Huntsman]

Its not me hosting guests at home, its a small club annual BBQ for which members have paid £10/head.

They will be getting Pimms and lemonade, the BBQ, strawberries and cream and a birthday cake, plus printing, envelope, stamp for the invite, hire of the BBQ, bin bags etc. It is one event in the year where we specifically keep the cost to a minimum.

Anyway....I didn't ask for menu advice, I asked for potion size advice.

[Dave200]

Huntsman said:

Anyway....I didn't ask for menu advice, I asked for potion size advice.

Ooh... Get her.

I would cook more. It will be dull food (which you could make more interesting without spending more - see my suggestions), but I would add about 30-50% for gluttons.

[fredt]

The fella is cooking for 70 people, so is probably just looking to get some decent food out and not gastronomic BBQ perfection.
Based on this and keeping KISS in mind, your initial menu looks fine.

The salads needs to be good quality and tasty though, and good quality burger and sausage condiments. Good quality burger and sausage rolls too.

Calculate 400g veg/bread/cheese per person

[Huntsman]

fredt said:

Calculate 400g veg/bread/cheese per person

400g total?

So meat plus 400g of everything else?

A qtr lb burger and a sausage is 6 ounces ,which is 170grs, so total 570grams, about 1 Lb of food.

Thanks

[55palfers]

Maybe consider a big pan of chilli?

[crmcatee]

Chicken strips spiced up a bit with spices (e.g. Cajun / Steak Spices on the outside) - simple to make, simple to do and quick to serve.

Also acts as a quick filler whilst you're waiting on the main dishes to get ready.

[fredt]

Huntsman said:

400g total?

So meat plus 400g of everything else?

A qtr lb burger and a sausage is 6 ounces ,which is 170grs, so total 570grams, about 1 Lb of food.

Thanks

Yes, I think that's about right.

[Bullett]

I'd definitely have chicken in there.