How many hors d' oeurves?!
How many hors d' oeurves?
I am planning a cocktail and hors d'oeurves reception following my wedding the second weekend in September. How many pieces of food should I plan to have for about 70 people for 3 hours?
Answers:
I'm actually doing a wedding shower in July. I am a chef buy trade it really depends and how fancy your going to go, but i would recommend at least five to seven hors d oeurves per person
If you use my average consumption of hors d'oeuvres at weddings as a base and multiply by 70 then you'll need approximately five truckloads of the stuff.
Although I don't know what kind of appetizers you're serving, I'd easily go with 6 per person. Some people may have had dinner, and some may consider your appetizers their meal. I know I scarf down appetizers at get-togethers.
You should figure about 8-15 pieces of food per person. On average a person will eat that many horsd'oeurves.
I would try to figure what you think the favorites may be and have more of thoses than others.
You might consider at least 4 substantial hors d'oeurves per person, depending on what your are serving. If you are having prawns on ice with sauce, then you have to consider at least 6 - 8 ozs per person. If you are having mini quiches, then plan on 2 -4 per person. If you are having hot appetizers then plan on 2 - 4 pieces per person per hour. You might consider having some staples such as dips, chips, cheese platters, and a ham or turkey or both to be sliced for mini sandwiches in addition to your regular appetizers.
I worked in a hotel where they catered parties and they taught us to calculate 4-5 per guest per hour.
It really depends on the time. If you are having an evening wedding where people probably would have already eaten dinner I would suggest 6 - 8 per guest. But if it is earlier than this I would go significantly higher. Probabaly 10 -12. People expect to eat at a wedding. I don't know where you are planning this, but your best bet in not running out is having it at a venue. Generally they range from $10 - 20 per person for 2 hours. Generally they are butler passed and/or stationary. I am sure that you could add an extra hour of stationary hors d'oeurves for a small amount. They are required to keep everything full.