Party Planning

I love parties!! I love planning them and I love going to them. However, for most people, planning a party can be a stressful experience and one of the most stressful things is wondering  if you have enough food!! To help you answer the age old question of “how much food do I need” I created this chart with guidelines for food quantities for a variety of events.

Still have questions?? Go to the Contact page and drop me an email!!

Appetizer Party – Before Dinner

Plan on 6 to 8 pieces per person (4 different appetizers)

Appetizer Party – Where Appetizers are the meal

Plan on 12 to 15 pieces per person  (6 different appetizers)

Sit down Dinner

First Course

Soup (as appetizer):  8 – 10 oz. per person

Salad (romaine): 1/4 head per person

Salad (mesclun mix): 1 cup per person

Dressing: 1 – 2 Tbsp. per person

Oysters/clams/mussels: 4 – 6 per person

Sides

pasta, rice, couscous – 2 oz. per person

potatoes: 1/2 medium potato per person

Entrees

Boneless chicken, duck or turkey:  1/2 lb. per person

Bone in chicken/turkey:  1 lb. per person

boneless cuts (beef,pork, lamb):   1/2 lb. per person

Bone -  in: 14 – 16 oz. per person

Chops: 12 – 14 oz. per person

lamb chops: 4 per person

baby back pork ribs: 1 lb. per person

ground meat: 1/2 lb. per person

Chopped meat(stew, chili, ragout): 5 – 6 oz. per person

Seafood

filets: 6 – 8 oz. per person

Shrimp(large) – 5 to 7 per person

scallops: 4 – 6 oz. per person

Clams/oysters/mussels: 6 – 10 per person

Vegetables

asparagus/carrots/cauliflower

beans/broccoli/etc.: 3 – 5 oz. per person

Pasta

Linguine/fettuccine (dry): 2 – 3 oz. per person

Linguine/fettuccine(fresh): 4 oz. per person

Filled pastas: 4 – 5 oz. per person

Pasta sauce: 1/2 – 2/3 cup per person

Dessert

Ice cream/sorbet/gelato: 6 oz. per person

Trifle/tiramisu/bread pudding: 1 cup per person

cobbler: 1 cup per person

mousse: 3/4 cup per person