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  #1  
Old 11-06-2009, 09:35 AM
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Default Salad and dressing for 400

So I was trying to figure out a way to transport my salad mix 30 miles to an event! I need to figure out a way to keep the salad cold during transit as well as the event! Any idea's? Also I will need to bring dressing and am concerned I am allowing to much per person. Is 2oz of dressing per person too much?

So you know they will have
prime rib and
a chicken dish
grilled veg
roasted potato

I am sure not everyone will have salad so any tips would be great thanks
tyler
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Old 11-06-2009, 10:38 AM
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Ice chest and mix there, if there is no fridge space keep in ice chest only dress when needed. 2 gallon ziplocks are your friend. Summer huge picnics I've put a smaller pebble bowl into a larger pebble bowl filled with ice. As it's fall it shouldn't be a problem.
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Old 11-06-2009, 03:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by treehugger057 View Post
So I was trying to figure out a way to transport my salad mix 30 miles to an event! I need to figure out a way to keep the salad cold during transit as well as the event! Any idea's? Also I will need to bring dressing and am concerned I am allowing to much per person. Is 2oz of dressing per person too much?

So you know they will have
prime rib and
a chicken dish
grilled veg
roasted potato

I am sure not everyone will have salad so any tips would be great thanks
tyler

2 ounces is what I figure pp.(about 7 gallons) Now to salad, fill 2 large garbage bags with ice(heavy bags) Fill slightly smaller bags with salad mixture seal well and put inside other ice filled bags. Works for me many times + then have 4 more bags to throw trash in when they are empty.
Another advantage no weight from bulky ice chest. But you could use plastic garbage can(new)
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Last edited by ED BUCHANAN; 11-06-2009 at 03:08 PM.
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Old 11-06-2009, 11:13 PM
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Well I already bought a new trashcan and thanks for the tip with the ice!
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Old 11-07-2009, 03:37 AM
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Default Cambro Food Boxes

Quote:
Originally Posted by treehugger057 View Post
So I was trying to figure out a way to transport my salad mix 30 miles to an event! I need to figure out a way to keep the salad cold during transit as well as the event! Any idea's? Also I will need to bring dressing and am concerned I am allowing to much per person. Is 2oz of dressing per person too much?

So you know they will have
prime rib and
a chicken dish
grilled veg
roasted potato

I am sure not everyone will have salad so any tips would be great thanks
tyler
I always use the Cambro Food Boxes 18x26in. They have colanders that fit inside.
They also fit in your transporters. I also use the Cambro Insulated Containers to transport salad dressing. I don't use garbage bags and cans except for their intended purpose. Although Rubbermaid makes "Greens Keepers" that look like garbage cans.
I also think grilled vegetables for 400 people is a bit time consuming. I would not do it.
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Last edited by caterchef; 11-07-2009 at 04:50 AM.
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Old 11-07-2009, 03:55 PM
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Cambros are to heavy for WhAT THEY HOLD. And are far to expensive for some startup caterers
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Old 11-08-2009, 05:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ED BUCHANAN View Post
Cambros are to heavy for WhAT THEY HOLD. And are far to expensive for some startup caterers
My Cambros hold 22 gallons and are 15in. deep
I use the colanders to hold the ice during transport and to drain and then spin dry before serving. The colanders cost about $25 and the boxes about $35, the cover are only $12. I would say reasonable for the purpose they serve. And they are great for holding and heating pasta, just run hot water over them drain and serve.
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Old 11-08-2009, 06:18 AM
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Plastic bags cost about 20 cents each and hold 40 gallons, and no covers, new garbage can $20.00. Different strokes for different folks.
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Old 11-08-2009, 09:16 AM
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many different ways of getting the same result.
Thanks for sharing pros.
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Old 11-09-2009, 01:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ED BUCHANAN View Post
Plastic bags cost about 20 cents each and hold 40 gallons, and no covers, new garbage can $20.00. Different strokes for different folks.
Serving a Banquet of Prime Rib to 400 people is not what start-up caterers usually
start out with. A Prime Rib Banquet is on top of most caterers list, right up there with Live Lobsters, King Crab, Chateaubriand, Foie Gras, Roast Tenderloin and a Suckling Pig.
And a Banquet of Prime Rib for 400 people should bring in over $12,000. I would think a couple hundred dollars for Cambros would be well in the profit margin.
I know if I were paying over $30 for a Banquet and happened to walk by the kitchen and saw a server getting salad out out a garbage bag and dressing out of a garbage can I would be very upset. This is what I was referring to on my original post on this forum. Maybe I will do a follow up post.
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Last edited by caterchef; 11-09-2009 at 01:41 AM.
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Old 11-09-2009, 02:48 AM
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Caterchef if their is no grillled veg then what would you suggest?
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Old 11-09-2009, 03:42 AM
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Caterchef if their is no grillled veg then what would you suggest?
Any vegetable you that could put in the steamer ie. harcot verte ( whole baby green beans) it holds up better than broccoli, asparagus or cauliflower or a veg. medley of sliced zucchini, yellow squash and carrots with a sprinkle of tarragon leaves. A baked creamed spinach souffle with a little feta or cottage cheese is always nice. It is better to have a vegetable that the wife or the local restaurant dosen't serve. It gives the customer something to remember and talk to their friends about. Sometimes it is not what is on the menu that they remember, it's the extra effort or the little something extra like a granish that will set you apart from everyone else. And don't forget to have plenty of business cards out. Word-of- Mouth advertising is the best there is and it's free.
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Last edited by caterchef; 11-09-2009 at 05:43 AM.
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Old 11-09-2009, 01:16 PM
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caterchef I intend to pre grill the squash and zuchinni cooks some red peppers and onion toss it in hotel pans and hold in steam tables. Does that make this a more viable option ?
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Old 11-09-2009, 01:17 PM
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hey if anyone else has another way I would love to hear it! thanks again tyler
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Old 11-09-2009, 01:28 PM
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roasted veg platter for 400.....wow that's ambitious.
I'm with the others on selecting one and going with that....typically "medleys" are not my style, something green like broccoli or green beans or glazed carrots as a secondary work for big groups.
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