Alright, so check it out, I decided to do Mexican food catering for a party last weekend. Never done it before on this scale, but how hard could it be, right?
First thing’s first, planning! I started by figuring out how many people were coming – about 50 hungry folks. Then, I had to nail down the menu. I went with crowd-pleasers: tacos, of course, with both carne asada and chicken, plus all the fixings. Then I added a big batch of rice and beans, and a killer guacamole. And because everyone loves it I decided to add a cheese dip with chips.
Next up: the dreaded grocery shopping. I made a list and hit up Costco for the bulk stuff like rice, beans, and avocados. Then, it was off to the local grocery store for the spices, veggies, and meat. Let me tell you, lugging all that stuff into the house was a workout in itself.
Prep time! This took way longer than I thought it would. I started two days before the party. Chopped a mountain of onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. Marinated the carne asada overnight. Cooked the chicken and shredded it. Made the rice and beans, and got the cheese dip ready to go.
On the day of the party, I focused on the final touches. I reheated the meats, cooked the rice and beans, and made the guacamole fresh. Set up a taco bar with all the toppings: shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and jalapenos. Arranged everything so people could easily grab what they wanted.
And then, the guests arrived. Seeing everyone pile their plates high with tacos was super satisfying. People were raving about the carne asada and the guacamole, which was a major win. The cheese dip with chips was also a smash hit.
Of course, there were a few hiccups. I almost ran out of tortillas halfway through, so I had to make a quick run to the store. Also, keeping the food warm was a bit of a challenge, even with sternos. Next time, I’ll definitely invest in some better warming trays.
Cleanup was a beast, but hey, that’s part of the deal. I recruited a few friends to help, and we got it done in about an hour.
Lessons learned?
- Prep way more than you think you need.
- Invest in good warming equipment.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It was a lot of work, but seeing everyone enjoy the food made it all worthwhile. Plus, I learned a ton, and I’m already thinking about what I’d do differently next time. Maybe a fajita bar?