One question almost every host asks when planning a catered event is: How much food do we actually need? You want everyone leaving happy and full, but you probably don’t need enough brisket left over to feed the neighbourhood for a week.
Getting the quantities right for BBQ Catering for your event in Calgary depends on more than simply counting chairs. Your menu, guest mix, serving style, number of sides, and even the type of event can all affect how much food you should order. Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate lunch, family reunion, or backyard celebration, Rocky Mountain BBQ can help take the guesswork off your plate.
Start With Your Guest Count
Your headcount is the best place to start when planning a BBQ Catering event in Calgary, but it’s also important to consider who is actually coming. A group of adults at an evening wedding may eat differently than a family gathering with plenty of younger children, so knowing your crowd can help you plan portions more accurately.
It’s also smart to give yourself a little breathing room. RSVPs change, appetites vary, and someone will almost always decide the brisket deserves a second visit. For larger events, getting an accurate headcount early also makes it easier to plan portions, service times, and your overall catering budget.
Think About How Many Meats You’re Serving
The more variety you offer, the less you generally need of each individual meat. A spread featuring brisket, pulled pork, and chicken, for example, lets guests sample several favourites rather than loading up on a single entrée.
Also remember that BBQ meats can lose weight during cooking. Brisket, for example, shrinks considerably as fat and moisture cook away, so calculating portions based solely on the meat’s uncooked weight can leave you short. That’s one advantage of choosing experienced BBQ catering services in Calgary like Rocky Mountain BBQ. We understand how cooking yields translate into portions on the plate!
Don’t Forget About Sides and Appetizers
Meat may be the star of the BBQ, but the supporting cast matters. Salads, potatoes, vegetables, buns, appetizers, and other sides help create a complete meal and affect how much of each entrée you’ll need.
If you’re offering appetizers before dinner and several hearty sides alongside your BBQ, guests may need smaller portions of each meat. A simpler meat-and-one-side lunch, on the other hand, may call for more generous entrée portions.
At Rocky Mountain BBQ, we can also accommodate dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly requests.
Consider Your Serving Style
How you’re serving the food matters too. Buffets let guests choose their portions and go back for favourites, while individually portioned meals offer greater control over quantities. Experienced BBQ catering services in Calgary can help you choose a serving style that works for your guest count, venue, and overall event.
The type of event can also influence portions. A quick corporate lunch may have different needs than a wedding reception or an all-afternoon family gathering, where guests have plenty of time to work up an appetite for round two.
Bring That Crowd, We’ll Bring the BBQ
Do you have a special event coming up on your calendar?
Rocky Mountain BBQ caters everything from intimate gatherings to events with thousands of guests, with customizable menus and fresh on-site cooking available through our self-sufficient mobile catering units. Tell us your guest count, event style, and what sounds delicious, and we’ll help you build a catering plan that makes sense for your crowd.
When you’re ready to feed your crew, check out our custom catering services and start planning a feast that’ll have your guests coming back for seconds!