Southern Summer Nights – The Appetizer Course: The Planning

by | Aug 11, 2013 | Sips and Small Bites | 2 comments

Disclaimer: Microplane and the Argenta Market are supplying items for a giveaway. I have not personally been compensated by either entity. All opinions are my own.

Gina’s got the place looking beautiful in preparation for your arrival at our #virtual #dinner #party.  I just wish I had a tiny bit of her creativity.  I hope you took a moment to enter the Giveaway being sponsored by Microplane and Argenta Market.  It only takes a moment to complete the Rafflecopter.  (Shhh…don’t tell anyone, but I hope you get to take home one of our special party favors.)

 ssn giveaway items

 

It’s not always easy to know just exactly how many appetizers to plan for a party, is it?  Some of that will depend, of course, on exactly what kind of event you are planning.  If you are having a dinner afterwards. the number and variety of appetizers will certainly be different than if it’s a cocktail party. 

A good rule of thumb is 4 to 6 items per person with a dinner party.  You only want to whet your guests’ appetite, not fill them up.  However for cocktails only a suggested number would be 8 – 10. 

You have a full evening of delicious dishes coming your way.  Save some room for those.

Calculating The Number Of  Appetizers That You’ll Need   
Dinner Party 
Number of Guests
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
50
55
60 
100
Butler Passed Style
Number Pieces Needed
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
200
220
240
400
                       
Buffet Style
Number Pieces Needed
 
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
300
330
360
600
   
8
10
13
15
18
20
25
28
30
50
 
Cocktail Party
Number of Guests
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
50
55
60 
100
Butler
Passed
Style
Number Pieces Needed
 
80
120
160
200
240
280
320
400
440
480
800
Number of
trays needed
7
10
14
17
20
24
27
34
37
40
67
BuffetStyle
 
Number Pieces Needed
 
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
500
550
600
1000
                       
 
I don’t know about you, but Hubby and I are the butlers at our house!
 
Some pointers to keep in mind with your planning:
 
A cocktail party enables a host to entertain more people and enables them to mix more than a typical dinner party.
 
A party of longer duration that is not followed by dinner would be an “open house” of 3 or 4 hours.  Since some guests might actually be there for the entire duration and would probably seek more extensive food, a light buffet is generally provided.
 
Depending on the season and the time of day (an open house can begin in mid-afternoon), the buffet could include cold salads and platters, hot foods or a mix.
 
You can, of course, have hors d’oeuvres/appetizers as well as buffet items at an open house, and you can serve a buffet at a cocktail party.
Source: The Nibble

Begin your party by entering the giveaway and then coming on over on Monday to check out the appetizer course. 

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the party: Invitation
 
Follow me on Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram to keep up with all of the fun.

2 Comments

  1. Becky (So Very Blessed)
    Becky (So Very Blessed) on at 7:22 pm

    I would invite our closest group of friends – my husband’s fellow pharmacy students and their significant others.

  2. Cindy H.
    Cindy H. on at 7:46 pm

    This is going to be a fun week! thanks for the invite.