[Sca-cooks] large dayboard feast: need advice from those who have done this before

[Marilyn Hillvic]

Greeting, goode cooks of the Knowne Worlde

   This is a plea for advice from those who have fed
the masses at an Eastern (or for that matter, any
Kingdom's) dayboard. The event is at the end of
November and will be held partly indoors, partly
outdoors. The weather last year was very cold.
   We are in the final planning stages of the dayboard
for the event. Troll last year was 600, and for this
year it is estimated at 700, but obviously our mileage
may vary depending on weather. The time frame is not
set, but it is Northern European.
   We are planning a clear soup (based on fighter
needs), 2 varieties of pickles, vegetable stix/slices
of carrots, cucumbers and celery, bread (in 29"
French loaves), hard boiled eggs (30 dozen), cheddar
and swiss cheeses (cubed), kielbasa sausage (diced),
apples and/or pears, and sliced ham.
   Our budget is $500-$700 and we have been told to
estimate for 500 people. We would like to have cold or
room temperature foods to minimize the
hot-food-not-hot-enough complaints.
   What quantities of meats/cheeses should we purchase
to adequately feed the throngs? The veggies and eggs
are cheap, but the sausage, ham, and cheese are the
most expensive items at $1.79 per pound. We would like
to minimize them without being overly skimpy. FYI,
Chicken is being served at the feast (as well as lamb
and barley) so those dishes are out of the running.
Although we are purchasing from a restaurant
wholesaler, the bill adds up quickly if we budget 2 oz
of meat and 2 oz of cheese per person for an estimated
500 people: that's 120 pounds of meat and cheese!
   I have heard a person consumes about a pound of
food to feel full. One of the strategies I am thinking
of is making a vegetarian pea soup in addition to the
clear soup to fill up tummies. Or should we buy
smaller quantities of meat/cheese and be sure
everything is eaten without leftovers (like 60 lbs of
meat and cheese combined) and stay with clear soup
only?
   Bread runs $1 per loaf and will feed 8-10 people.
   Any and all advice and dire warnings will be
welcomed and greatfully accepted. And, BTW, I do not
own a gun or a bow, so if hunting venison is part of
the advice for cutting costs I'll need to run it over
with my car.
           --Marion


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site
http://webhosting.yahoo.com/