How much food for an in-suite reception replacing dinner

TH28754 · September 2014

I'm having an in-suite reception at the Bellagio from 7pm-9pm for about 35 people. I'm trying to figure out how many hors d'oeuvres to serve per person. I'm trying to do heavy appetizers given the reception time. I've seen some websites that indicate 12-15 pieces per person, some websites that indicate 15-18 pieces per person, and then bellagio's catering department said they recommend 5 pieces per person (and I confirmed twice that they recommend this as a replacement for dinner).

Any recommendations on how many appetizers to provide? We definitely don't want to run out, but don't want to pay for a ton of food that people aren't going to eat either.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

Hi

To be honest it all depends on how your guest eat! (my opinion)

For example i am half british and half jamaican and my fi is half italian and half polish! (i know)

Both outside of the family especially the men like to eat.....his side of family love meat/protein and my family loves chicken and cake....

Do the majority of your guest attending eat alot? are they mainly meat/not meat eaters etc and then to be on safe side pick the "middle number" i.e 15-18pp its better to have more than less and last thing you want is to run out of food and have guest still hungry and then drinking on empty stomachs....if you do have more food either let guest take it or give to maids and im sure thed be very happy or bell staff....

Found this online: 2 pieces x 10people x 2 hours = 40 pieces

or

Hors D'oeuvres

6 bites when preceeding a meal.
4 - 6 bites per hour when hors d'oeuvres are the meal.
The longer your party and the larger your guest list, the greater the number of selections you should offer.http://entertaining.about.com/cs/recipesandmenus/a/foodquantity.htm

Hope this helps

TH28754 · September 2014

Thanks! We were aiming for about 18 pieces per person but I was just shocked by their recommendation of 5. I'm going to ask about the portion size because maybe they are really large.

I definitely don't want to run out. We have 35 ppl flying to vegas from dc and we don't want them to have spent a lot of money to get there and walk away hungry.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

Hi

You have the right idea

Best of luck

wrigleyville · September 2014

A lot depends on your crowd and what type of appetizers you choose.

We had a decent mix of meat eaters, vegetarians, and diabetics, so I tried to go heavy on the protein, especially with the vegetarian options.

We had a veggie tray and fruit tray, hummus with pita and veggies, spinach artichoke dip with pita and veggies, pulled pork sliders, a steak/cheese/cracker thing, grilled portabella mushrooms on toast, lasagna cups (meat sauce and vegetarian sauce), mini tacos (with beans or meat), and a mashed potato bar with cheese, chives, bacon bits, etc.

If you have larger items, like sliders, that's where the five-piece rule might apply. If the appetizers aren't as "heavy", though, I'd err on the side of 12-15 per person. Even with the heavy apps, though, I'd still have a veggie and/or fruit tray as a "side" item.

Personally, I was in the camp that I'd rather pay a bit extra and end up with leftovers than run out of food. Running out of food and beverages was my primary concern, so we put the bulk of our budget into the reception. I would have been really upset if I'd found out people didn't get enough to eat.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

Hi wrigleyville

That sounds fabulous

Im getting hungry

TH28754 · September 2014

All - Thanks for your input. Here's what we are planning to get:

-Seasonal and Tropical Fruit Display

-Veggie Display with Buttermilk Chive & Spinach Dill Dips

-Display of Imported & Domestic Cheeses, Lahvosh, Crackers, and Breads (Cheddar cheese, buttermilk bleu cheese, brie cheese, hambolt fog (aged goat cheese) and Manchego (sheep’s milk cheese) and is served with pretzel bread, chibatta bread and multigrain bread)

-Jumbo Gulf Shrimp with Horseradish Cocktail Sauce

-Beef Wellington with Bearnaise Suce

-Sesame Chicken Skewers with Thai Peanut Sauce

-Crispy Chicken Tenders

-Vegetarian Spring Roll with Sweet and Sour Chili Dip

-Spinach and Feta Cheese Spanakopita

Wedding Cake

[Deleted User] · September 2014

Now i am hungry

aggiespartan · September 2014

Are you using Bellagio's catering or did you decide to go with an outside vendor?

vegasgroom · September 2014

I'd eat about 36 of those shrimp.

wrigleyville · September 2014

That sounds awesome.

I would park myself next to the cheese tray. I wouldn't even need anything else.

TH28754 · September 2014

I'm using bellagio catering. We are in a suite that requires key access for the elevator and just didn't want to go through sneaking in someone from outside (although it would be cheaper! )

jayjaay · September 2014

I totally understand this - One of the hardest things I have done was the menu! I orig had 35 people w/ 22 apps pp and two action stations, plus cake and all kinds of pastries. Now I'm down to 16 apps pp w/ 2 action stations and cake & trimmings.

jayjaay · September 2014

Here's my menu for 35 pp:

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp 120 pieces

Chicken Fajita Stuffed Quesadilla 80 pieces

Fire-grilled chicken, pepper jack cheese, sautéed peppers and onions, cilantro and poblano

cream sauce

Masterpiece Feta Stuffed Mushrooms 80 pieces

Feta, cream cheese, spinach and spices stuffed in a large mushroom cap.

Petit Filet Wellington 80 pieces Peppercorn Horseradish Sauce

Roadhouse Steak Sandwiches 80 pieces

Slow roasted Angus Tri tip beef, hand-carved and served with mini baked rolls and horseradish steakhouse sauce.

Caesar Teaser 80 pieces

Romaine and Caesar dressing tossed on a garlic crisp with parmesan & cracked pepper.

Shanghai Chicken Lettuce Wraps 80 pieces

Wok-seared chicken, mushrooms, green onions. Served with cool, crisp lettuce cups and rice wine sesame sauce.

Crab Cakes with Creole Aioli 80 pieces

CHEF BARS

(display style) BBQ Smoque Mac Five Cheese Mac 40 servings

Choose 1:

Hickory Smoked Beef Brisket

Applewood Smoked Chicken

Mesquite Smoked Pulled Pork

(display style)Flavor Wall

Seared peppered tuna ribbons with daikon and cucumber slaw 40 servings

Endive, Bacon, Tomato on wasabi aioli 40 servings

OPEN BAR

Ketel One Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Beefeater Gin, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Sauza Tequila

Bud Light, Corona Extra, Heineken, Blue Moon

Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc (all Woodbridge)

Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Energy Drink, Club Soda, Tonic Water, Bottled Water, Cranberry, Orange, Pineapple, Grapefruit Juice

Triple Sec, Sweet & Sour Mix, Lime Juice, Grenadine

Fresh Fruit Garnishes

How much food for an in-suite reception replacing dinner

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