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Cooking for dr clinic--45 people

Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:41 pm
Posted by CorkSoaker
Member since Oct 2008
9784 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:41 pm
What would you serve?

I sometimes cater lunch at dr offices during the summer for pharma reps. Usually it's only 10-15 people.

This time it's 45 people and the meal is to be delivered 50 minutes away.

What would you serve? Can't charge more than $10 a head.
Posted by B&TCoonhound
Fighting in the Kumite
Member since Feb 2013
2004 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:44 pm to
Jambalaya, roll, and a green salad are going to transport good and be cost effective. Or maybe a brown gravy chicken spaghetti
Posted by CorkSoaker
Member since Oct 2008
9784 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:46 pm to
I told the rep I would probably do a jambalaya.

Just wanted to check with this board because y'all seem to know everything.

Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:46 pm to
What sort of dr's office? IOW, is it a general practice full of various ages/backgrounds, or is it a dermatology clinic full of the image-conscious, skinny, and trendy? Find out a little more about the eaters....you don't want to serve fried catfish poboys to a gluten-free vegan crowd.

Right now, shrimp are fresh & fairly plentiful. Shrimp & white beans is delicious and cost efficient. Serve w/rice and a selection of fresh salads (watermelon & feta, spinach & bacon w/sieved eggs, a chopped salad w/tomato, romaine, etc), plus some homemade cornbread. Everyone except the extremely picky will find something to like. Plus, it's seasonal & slightly summery.
Posted by CorkSoaker
Member since Oct 2008
9784 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:47 pm to
Pain management
Posted by Martini
Near Athens
Member since Mar 2005
48838 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 1:48 pm to
Apparently the Jimmy Johns Slim Combo is a good deal at seven bucks.
Posted by LSUAfro
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
12775 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:08 pm to
I hate doing jambalaya as a main for catering jobs.

Chicken/burger/pulled pork sandwich option with bag of chips/pasta salad/green salad.

Everything can be prepped before hand and burgers/chicken can be done easily on portable grill on site. Nice margins.
Posted by CorkSoaker
Member since Oct 2008
9784 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:10 pm to
Like the pulled pork idea but I'm not serving. The rep picks it up from me and takes it to the clinic himself. I just cook it and pack it for him.
Posted by fishbig
Member since Feb 2007
1585 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:11 pm to
How about a make your own soft taco meal. Have some chicken, beef, shrimp as protein with a couple veggies and salsa.
Posted by Motorboat
At the camp
Member since Oct 2007
22677 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:17 pm to
Pastalaya
Posted by Count Chocula
Tier 5 and proud
Member since Feb 2009
63908 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:17 pm to
Go to Cains, get the 150 piece party tray.

Skip the cole slaw, that shite is nasty!
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47373 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:20 pm to
Jambalaya is so often the answer for a large crowds. I think it's a tired choice. I just wince every time I see it, though I've never been a big jamba fan anyway. I think I've had it so much that I'm tired of it. On the other hand, I never tire of gumbo, so go figure, but I digress.

Back to the matter at hand. I have sort of a cold jamba pasta salad recipe that a few people here have made for crowds. Fruit salad with a poppyseed dressing (on the side rather than tossed) and a cornbread muffin or buttered French bread toasties would be fine on the side. For cold meals, we toast a ton of buttered French bread thin slices until crispy. They aren't served hot, but they're delicious and people love them. Easy to make way ahead because they keep in zip bags or plastic containers for days.

I've also served Helen Corbitt's chicken salad to a crowd. Clean some nice lettuce leaves the folks can put on their plates to hold the chicken salad or just some chopped lettuces. I had the same fruit salad as referenced above, just lots of different fruits with the poppyseed dressing on the side, so they could opt in or out of dressing and the French bread toasties or a room temp nutty muffin of some sort, slightly, but not overly sweet. I sometimes have a hot soup available with that to serve in a small cup like tomato basil or roasted tomato or tuscan white bean or a chickpea soup I've posted here before, for example.

If you want any recipes, let me know.
Posted by hungryone
river parishes
Member since Sep 2010
11987 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:22 pm to
Piles of cheap starch (jambalaya, pastalaya, etc) don't thrill me, even as a free lunch. Boring, boring, boring. It's summer--think texture, flavor, color, and go light. Shrimp remoulade atop a salad...chix salad in half avocadoes....grilled chicken chunked into a mixed chopped salad...caprese salad on a stick (cherry tomato, fresh mozz cube, basil leaf).
Posted by jmon
Mandeville, LA
Member since Oct 2010
8410 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:22 pm to
Pulled pork tacos with a slaw and jap peppers. Chips and salsa as a side. Use flour tortillas. Pork can be kept warm in foil pans. Could also serve along with a yellow or white rice.
Posted by SUB
Member since Jan 2001
Member since Jan 2009
20818 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:38 pm to
Yeah, I'd do a jambalaya too. Easy to make in large portions and if you are using a cast iron, you can just leave it in there with the lid on and it will stay hot during your trip.
Posted by CorkSoaker
Member since Oct 2008
9784 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 2:48 pm to
I understand the hate for jambalaya if you see it everyday. I wonder if people in mobile, al, feel the same though. I wonder how often someone serves them jamb? The rep tells me they are used to chick fil a and mcallisters so anythings gotta be better than that, right?
Posted by BRgetthenet
Member since Oct 2011
117689 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 3:00 pm to
Chick fil a with an assortment of sauces from MickyD's.

Throw'em a curve ball. Thank me later.
Posted by Gris Gris
OTIS!NO RULES FOR SAUCES ON STEAK!!
Member since Feb 2008
47373 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 3:02 pm to
quote:

I wonder if people in mobile, al, feel the same though. I wonder how often someone serves them jamb? The rep tells me they are used to chick fil a and mcallisters so anythings gotta be better than that, right?



I have no idea, but in this heat, I'd probably go mostly cold food, myself, particularly if I'm having to drive the food 50 minutes and then having to set up. I also like hungryone's suggestion of caprese on a stick. We do that often for cocktail parties or a garnish on a salad plate that doesn't have tomatoes already included.

I've used Sam's rotisserie chickens for chicken salad many times if you end up going that route.

Considering they always get Chick Fil A or sandwiches, they'll be pleased with just about anything you make, so go with what easy to serve, cost effective, tasty and travels well. I'd like to know what you decide and how it works out. Might give me some ideas when I next serve a crowd.
Posted by LSUAfro
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
12775 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 3:02 pm to
quote:

I wonder if people in mobile, al, feel the same though. I wonder how often someone serves them jamb?
If that's the case, I'd probably go with a jamb, white beans, and green salad route as well.
Posted by NewOrleansBlend
Member since Mar 2008
1011 posts
Posted on 7/16/14 at 3:40 pm to
I eat catered doc lunches basically daily. In general the favorites are cold, light foods. Sandwiches (homemade turkey clubs, italian, etc), salad, pita with hummus, kabobs, wraps, etc. You'll be feeding more women than men I'm sure.

If hot food then barbecue is probably the favorite but decreases productivity.

Worst is fried fish.
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