86 on the lobster tails

However much you feel it is your fault and you look bad in the eyes of the rest of the guests, ultimately, it was the client's fault.

I have had this happen before myself. Not much you can do if the client make the decision.

This is called experience !! !Don't wait til it happens. Tell the client prior that everyone will eat lobster explain you are the caterer not her and even though she might not care about looking bad, You Do. After the fact you can't do anything.

Thats why I don't let the client run the party, the caterer looks like shit. If the caterer puts the accountability in someone Else's hands then its their fault too, for being stupid...............ChefBillyB

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChefBillyB 

Thats why I don't let the client run the party, the caterer looks like shit. If the caterer puts the accountability in someone Else's hands then its their fault too, for being stupid...............ChefBillyB

 It is the client's party.   That is  the very reason  for my system of "Food Cost + Labor Cost +Expenses" and the same reason most new full service caterers don't survive the first year. ( I cook what the client buys deliver it and leave) Any time you have Shrimp or Lobster or King Crab  or even BBQ Ribs, they always under estimate their guest's appetite. I always suggest at least one pound per person and sometimes they still don't have enough. But I am usually  home sitting in my" Lazy Boy" when they run out.( Life is to short to try to educate MOB's and CEO's etc.) You can have my share of "Full Service Catering" I'll go play 18 holes.

short learning curve....man, I can remember when first starting out doing a benefit for the pound and they totally underestimated guest count, we sent out staff to pick up BBQ.....but it was not pleasant to say the least. 

There's nothing like working for non-profits that have an experienced event planning person on staff, someone who knows OP and costs, they are realistic about what can be provided for different budgets, they know final counts and add more just to cover their butts.....

Weddings are are usually people that have never used a caterer and have to be walked through everything.  For many it's the only time they are apt to use a caterers

Dont worry, at the end of the day, you were working on the advice of the MOB. On the other hand, finals (numbers) are very important, and +10 on final numbers are a real "get out of jail" card.