Here is a handy guide for estimating quantities of the basic food groups when entertaining.
Meat
For a casserole: 200g (boned and trimmed) per person
Roast: whole fillet 200g per person ( 1 kg, trimmed, will serve 5 )
Rack of Lamb: allow 3 to 4 cutlets per person ( there are generally 7 cutlets per rack)
Minced meat: 60g per person for a pasta sauce
Poultry
Whole roast chicken, allow 500g per person
There are approximately 8 chicken drumsticks per kg.
There are approximately 10 – 12 chicken wings per kg.
Turkey, as a general rule, for a whole roast turkey allow 500g per person.
( 3kg turkey for 6 people, 4kg for 8-10 people, 5kg for 10-12 people)
Turkey breast fillet (boned) about 1.5kg., will yield between 12- 15 good slices.
Pasta
60g per person for an entree
125g per person for a main course
50g per person to accompany a single main course
Rice
50g raw rice per person swells to 3/4 cup of cooked rice
2kg raw rice gives 40 serves
Vegetables
110 – 125g per person for most vegetables after peeling and trimming
Salad Greens
1 iceberg yields 10 serves
1 large cos yields 8 serves
1 mignonette yields 4 serves
Potato salad for 12 serves
1.8kg baby new potatoes( about 150g per person)
1/2 bunch shallots
6 hard-boiled eggs
200g bacon
Dressing: 200ml mayonnaise and 175ml sour cream
Bread
1 loaf generally has 20 slices ( this will also make 30 ribbon sandwiches)
1 large baguette will cut into 15- 20 slices
Cream & Icecream
300ml carton cream, whipped, yields 14 serves
2 litres icecream yields 16 scoops
Cheese Platter
90g per person for up to 10 people
60g per person for up to 20 people
30g per person for more than 20 people
Tea & Coffee
250g tea yields 80 cups
200g ground coffee yields 40 cups
You will need 120ml water per cup or 3 litres for 25 cups
25ml milk per cup or 1 litre 40 cups
Drinks
Sparkling wine: 750ml bottle yields 6 x 125ml flutes
Wine: 750ml bottle yields 5 x 150ml glasses
Spirits: 750ml bottle yields 15 x 50ml nips
Allow 3/4 – 1 bottle per person for up to 25 people
2/3 bottle per person for 25 – 50 people
1/2 bottle per person for more than 50 people
1.25 lit soft drink yields 6 x 200ml glasses
2 litres orange juice yields 8 x 250ml glasses
