Food Ideas

Amanda just curious, how many guests did you have?

And was the corporation Taco Bell?

@ Rachel I was replying to Celia and you didn't ask me facts about anything. It was Fazolis and they were charging 9 for protien,side,salad and breadsticks. Buffet style catering is what I went with not plated.Oh and depending on where you live depends on pricing for pro catering and different corporations. In case you didnt know . I might live in an area where cost of living is cheaper than your area. Oh and I self catered because I cook for a living and wanted to give my guests a more personal experience not just because it was cheaper.

Self-catering. Ew.

Whenever a caterer refers to an entree as "protein", it's a sign to look elsewhere.

I'm sorry, a pound of chicken costs pretty much the same across the country.

Nine bucks here gets you 3/4 of a glass of wine.

If I self catered my wedding everyone would for sure get sick...I know nothing about catering for 150 people...nor do I want to spend the entire day before and morning of, cooking.

@Celia there were like 4 different protein options, just said that instead of listing out every option. Also that is true but labor wages and other parts of the meal and fees are different in other parts of the country. If you live in the NY/NJ area that makes sense. Stuff isn't as stupidly expensive where I'm from.

I asked about your statement that suggested that chain corporations are held to stricter health code standards than private caterers, but I'm glad to know Fazolis charges $9.00 for "protein" (lol) a salad, and breadsticks. Yum.

Oh, and thanks for the heads-up. I didn't know that NYC receptions cost more, PP, that Timbuktu receptions.

Whatever, you cook for a living, but still went outside your own establishment and considered a $9.00 PP dinner. A more personal experience? Sure. A cheaper experience? Double sure.

I promise none of your guests thought "how loving of Amanda to give us a personal experience by making this meal!"

Ew. Fazolis? As in the cheap ass fast food Italian chain? It is essentially the Taco Bell of Italian fast food...

Sorry I didn't see your comment about that. im saying that most corporate chains have their own set of cleanliness and sanitation guidelines along with the state requirements.

Youre welcome anything else you would wanna know just hit me up.

I went outside of my own establishment because I work at a casino and they don't offer catering. It was a better experience and a complete scratch made meal that was better than any of the catering tastings I had while planning.

@laura k they actually appreciated it.

Amanda, you're the one who wrote, "that was the cheapest price I was quoted in my area. That was for a corporate chain that would have more strict guidelines than say.... A privately owned caterer." I asked you to prove that. You answer is, "im saying that most corporate chains have their own set of cleanliness and sanitation guidelines along with the state requirements."

Sure...because the state standards aren't enough.

I don't want to play this game anymore (and if I check in one more time, it's to see if Jenna ever actually answered the question I've asked several times -- the same question every "If you don't like it, don't attend my wedding" bride will never answer -- and I've asked it countless times. How do they know they won't like it until you disclose the truth to them? Porta-Potties and amateur prepped food? In the world of cute wedding poems, there are lots of fun to disclose these surprises via an invitation. You wont tell them, and you know why...and so do we).

People act like they have never been to a pot luck or at someone else's food. And I researched it to about if someone gets sick. They have to prove that you were negligent and willing served a guest bad food. Some people cant afford to have a dinner catered and plus there is nothing wrong with you cooking or preparing food. I would say make it super easy on on yourself and maybe get meat ( fried chicken or baked) from Wal-Mart or a local grocery store. Do your own sides and pastas the night before. Don't mixed sauce yet, do that the day off. It will taste better. Make sure you have someone that is 100% committed to taking care of this for you. You dont want to be bothered about when to put this out or whatever. Im doing this and enlisting my friends who actually cook at my church and cater local events. I'm not spending a fortune on food. God bless and I pray everything goes well.

I would say storing and serving food using improvised home kitchen jerry rigged heat/cooling counts as negligence.

ETA: not a lawyer, I'm a doctor.

Lynn, I'd be super careful providing legal/catering advice without training in either.

@Jacks, but the Google said...

@Rachel have you ever worked for a corporate food service chain before? They usually have cleanliness checklists for the managers to complete upon opening and closing. These checklists go way more in-depth than your average health inspections. Corporate chains cover their asses by having strict guidelines so even the minimum guidelines are met. Even if their guidelines are slacked on. The restaurant business is full or under-paid and overworked people that slack on their jobs.

So is it illegal to cater your own event?

@Lynn I don't think it's illegal, just severely frowned upon here.. there are lots of risks and the logistics are painful.

Lynn, you're just taking on both responsibility for the welfare of your guests but the prep and serving of all the food. It's easy to say "cater your own event", it's not easy to cater TO 100 people at once.