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Catering, Food Handling and Awareness *OnTopic* Forum to educate us on safe food handling. Not specifically for Catering or competition but overall health and keeping our families safe too. |
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06-27-2014, 12:11 AM | #1 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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HELP! New member about to host first big BBQ & sincerely appreciate your advice
My wife and I and some friends are having a community/club barbecue event weekly for 100-150 people throughout the summer and early fall and we’ve never barbecued for this many people at once. HELP! We’ve been educating ourselves, got a big charcoal grill and are going to a big barbecue competition this weekend to watch and learn, but would really appreciate your advice. Questions below. Please excuse any ridiculous noob questions - we are new to this but really working at it.
What we have and are planning on: -5 ft x 2 ft Charcoal Grill (10 Sq Ft) with one person grilling and one assisting feeding the grill and removing already grilled items -1/3 lb or 5 oz Good quality hamburger patties pre-made (and possibly kosher/halal) -Franks, possibly including Turkey/Chicken -Condiments - ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, -For vegetarians plan to have veg chili enough to serve 50 people 12-14 oz bowls each -Have a Costco near us I should probably split these up into separate questions, and if it's easier I'll do so right away, but thought it might be helpful to have them together at first. Thanks to TailGateJoe and Joe B. at Crown Verity my group is now the proud owner of a Crown Verity 10 sq ft charcoal grill. Thank you very much! Questions By Topic: Cost of pre-prepared 1/3 lb or 5 oz beef patties -Regular average quality pre-prepared beef patties -Higher quality grass-fed pre-prepared beef patties -Kosher/Halal beef patties Chicken or turkey burgers? -What would 1/3 lb turkey burgers or chicken burgers cost? -Which would be better – chicken or turkey burgers? Anyone have any good quality meat wholesalers on the Peninsula in Silicon Valley/the SF Bay Area? -Is Restaurant Depot any good for good quality meat? Good option for Vegetarians -We are thinking of vegetarian chili – tasty, easy to prepare, easy to have caterer prepare and bring a vat to save time -Would grilled vegetables be worthwhile? Which vegetables would be best? We’d like to avoid very pricey vegetables (like portabella mushrooms). -We’re avoiding veg burgers as there are people who have allergic reactions to them because they often have a lot of nuts inside the mix Types of franks – turkey, chicken – size, cost? -Would turkey and chicken franks be good for those who don’t eat red meat? -Cost of decent quality turkey and chicken franks? -Recommended frank size by weight? -Recommended brands for beef, chicken and turkey franks? Hamburger and hot dog buns -Recommended types and brands? -Where to get? Condiments - ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce -How much of each condiment to get per person or in total per 100-150 people? -Do you use barbecue sauce and if so which do you recommend? -Do you put barbecue sauce on toward the end of grilling or after grilling? Recommended Grill tools – spatula, tongs, gloves, apron? -What size spatula and tongs? -Grilling gloves/apron needed for the heat? Recommended Charcoal, Grill Prep and Firing Up -Do we need to do anything to prep the grill? -Best and best value type of charcoal to use? -How much charcoal needed for our 10 sq. ft grill for 100-150 people 2.5-3 hour event, with most of food eaten in first 2-2.5 hours -Hate the smell of lighter fluid – needed or can we start up the charcoal in a reasonable time using chimneys? -How long will it take the charcoal to heat up? -Should we use an electric fan to get charcoal going quickly? Where to find a good grill cook for 3 hour weekly event? -We have volunteers to help with a lot of things but it may be easiest to find a regular experienced barbecue-loving cook or two to do nothing but manage the grill, with a volunteer helping feed the grill and put out the food -Going to a nearby barbecue competition to find good people this weekend Grilling -How long does it take to grill a 1/3 lb beef patty to medium-well (no red interior for safety)? -How long will it take go grill a 1/3 lb chicken or turkey burger? -How long does it take to grill potatoes on the BBQ? Any special way to cook them whole or chopped in circles? -Is it a good idea to keep a water spray bottle handy to “calm” hot spots? Food storage before and during barbecue (grill will be in a shaded area) -Right before grilling (as in minutes), should the food/meat be kept near the grill in a cooler with gel -packs? -How long can you keep the raw patties out by the grill? -How long can they be kept out after grilling? -If there's leftover raw meat, can you freeze it to use later and how long will it keep in the freezer? -If ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard left outside in the shade for 2-3 hours, can you refrigerate and continue using? Food storage after barbecue -How long can cooked items be refrigerated after? -How long can raw meat kept cool inside a cooler with gel ice packs be kept in the fridge after? -How long will the leftover raw meat last in the freezer after it's been left in the cooler near the grill for 2-3 hours? Grill Care -We heard the firebox should not be fully cleaned of grease in order to preserve it -What should be done to clean and maintain the grill in good shape? Cheapest source of paper supplies – bowls, napkins, cups, cutlery? -We have a Costco nearby, but perhaps Restaurant Depot would be cheaper? |
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06-27-2014, 02:55 AM | #2 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 08-05-13
Location: Santa Barbara CA
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Well, don't over think this thing. It's just burgers and dogs. Costco or smart and final is fine. Get the premade paddies, i think they're in 9 packs. You can throw them on the grill frozen Get the leanest. Match them to a bun, keeping in mind they'll shrink as you cook.
Is this a one off or career move? |
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Thanks from:---> |
06-27-2014, 03:32 AM | #3 | |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 10-25-06
Location: Madrid, IA
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Quote:
__________________
Bryan, Team: Pyle's BBQ Yoder YS640; Good-One "Trail Boss" 60T; Weber Kettle rotisserie ring; Big A$$ Rotisserie; New Braunfels offset smoker; Weber Smokey Mountain; Backyard Bombers BBQ HJM Μολὼν λαβέ |
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Thanks from:---> |
06-27-2014, 11:27 AM | #4 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 06-24-14
Location: Stuart Virginia
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Types of franks – turkey, chicken – size, cost?
-Would turkey and chicken franks be good for those who don’t eat red meat? just a thought look at Buffalo, if available reasonable? a buffalo farm close to me has a meat plant make them several ways & he then sells, & I honestly prefer to anything I find in the stores. he has dogs, several varieties of Italian sausage, hot etc, as well as ground Buffalo, YUM! also for something even more different how about Ostrich? there is a farm maybe 45 miles away that sells product. both of these are healthy alternatives to red meat, if can be found at reasonable prices in your area? also if you want different sizes, just ask, if place has a packing plant producing for them, they can adjust sizes, so if you want 1/4 lb sausages, you would get 4 per lb, or if want smaller they should be able to do that as well, for example 5 or 6 links per lb. same goes for ground product, how many patties per lb do you want to get, & get plant to produce it for you. |
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Thanks from:---> |
06-27-2014, 02:59 PM | #5 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-14
Location: Kensington, MD
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I cooked once on a grill like that and it got HOT! HOT HOT HOT.
Maybe mound some charcoal in areas and leave other areas empty to create cool zones. Nothing like burning the crap out of the 10 dogs in 2 seconds, and then trying to save 'em all. Plus if you get flare ups, you can ditch the burgers onto the cooler areas. These days I'm going with sliced zucchini lengthwise, balsamic, olive oil, and S&P. Let 'em get grill marks, flip 'em, and don't let 'em get soggy. |
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Thanks from:---> |
06-27-2014, 05:07 PM | #6 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Thanks SBShaveIce, We plan to do this throughout the season - we're not full-time caterers and have no intention to be, we just want to do this community club event very well. By lean, is there a percentage lean you are going off of, or you just ask for very lean ground beef?
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06-27-2014, 05:43 PM | #7 | |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Thank you for the super helpful advice! Make money? Well we're certainly trying to avoid losing money, though we're not planning to be full time professional caterers. There are so many costs associated with doing things like this that we're making sure to have a very modest inexpensive donation from each member coming and we may have some sponsorships, which if we purchase the food wholesale or from Costco, should be enough to cover all costs and possibly then some. We're in California - while we eat meat, it's a given there'll be vegetarians and some folks who don't eat red meat, and it's very international with folks from around the world and we're trying to be as inclusive as possible, though I understand your sentiment. We can pick up pre-made patties and other meat either from Costco, Restaurant Depot if we open an account or another meat wholessaler. Is Restaurant Depot good for quality ground beef patties, turkey dogs, vegetables and condiments? Is it less expensive than Costco and by how much? Does Restaurant Depot carry any grass-fed, kosher/halal meats? Just good to know. We'll go with turkey burgers. I don't think I've ever seen a chicken burger and somehow it just sounds wrong. Of these grilled veggies you mentioned, which are easiest: "Grill hearts of romaine, asparagus wrapped with leeks or green onions, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, whole white mushrooms, green beans" Which of these fruit are easiest: "for the sweet, pineapple, peaches, pears and apples." We'll go with Turkey Franks and Chicken Sausage. So we should go for "Quarter pound" weight for both? Is Restaurant Depot any good for bread and 3-4 in. hamburger and regular hot dog buns? Where do you even find a bread distributor? (Can you tell we're new to this?) Just go for whitebread buns or anything special? So unopened ketchup and mustard can sit unrefrigerated? Good to know. Great, we'll skip the barbecue sauce. Recommended Grill tools – spatula, tongs, gloves, apron? "I would look for something with long handles for both. Get the commercial style they will last longer." What would commercial style be and where would you get them? We'll get the welding gloves at Home Depot - great idea. Weed burner should also be at Home Depot. What size propane tank to get for it? Grill has already been used once so manufacturing oils burned off. By 5-6 bags charcoal, do you mean 20 lb bags? Which type of charcoal to get? Anything with some mesquite, or maybe buy mesquite separately and add some? How much mesquite to get? |
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06-27-2014, 05:44 PM | #8 | |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Thanks mchar69, good idea
mchar69, good idea
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06-28-2014, 01:10 AM | #9 | |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 10-25-06
Location: Madrid, IA
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Quote:
__________________
Bryan, Team: Pyle's BBQ Yoder YS640; Good-One "Trail Boss" 60T; Weber Kettle rotisserie ring; Big A$$ Rotisserie; New Braunfels offset smoker; Weber Smokey Mountain; Backyard Bombers BBQ HJM Μολὼν λαβέ |
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06-28-2014, 01:48 AM | #10 | |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 10-25-06
Location: Madrid, IA
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Quote:
__________________
Bryan, Team: Pyle's BBQ Yoder YS640; Good-One "Trail Boss" 60T; Weber Kettle rotisserie ring; Big A$$ Rotisserie; New Braunfels offset smoker; Weber Smokey Mountain; Backyard Bombers BBQ HJM Μολὼν λαβέ |
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07-11-2014, 02:29 PM | #11 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Thank you; Charcoal amount, Weed Burner versus lighter fluid
So much great advice in this thread. Between this and attending a local charity barbecue competition and taking notes, learned a heck of a lot. Thank you very much. First community event approaching...
For charcoal, how many lbs charcoal do you think we'd need for our 5 ft x 2 ft grill (leaving some cool spots as suggested above) cooking for 150? Costco has charcoal on sale 36 lbs for $20.99. Do you recommend getting standard charcoal and adding some mesquite or other wood for flavor, and if so, how much of that to add in per barbecue? How much faster is a weed burner for starting the grill than lighter fluid? How many minutes would it take to fire up with a weed burner? While I hate the smell of lighter fluid, I'm sure it all burns off fairly quickly and wouldn't affect the food later. Lighter fluid is 128 oz for $9 - guessing that would last a few barbecues. A weed burner like the one below runs $50 and you need a 20lb propane tank which runs $54. Does the weed burner come with all the attachments necessary to attach to the tank? For a weed burner, does it need to be a large one like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-E...5-01/100341111 used with a 20 lb propane tank, or are there smaller hand held tank versions? |
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07-11-2014, 02:35 PM | #12 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Tongs versus Spatula for working with 5 ft x 2 ft charcoal BBQ?
We're getting welding gloves to make it easier to work with the grill, and were wondering - at the barbecue competition we went to we saw most teams using tongs - what length of tongs should we get? 15 in. enough?
Are spatula's necessary as well and if so what length? 16 in. enough? We're only grilling burgers, franks, portabella mushrooms and possibly some other veg and fruit. If you have a particular model and source to recommend, by all means suggestions welcome. |
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07-11-2014, 02:36 PM | #13 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 06-26-09
Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA
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I can help you out, but, it will have to wait for the weekend, I need to run off.
However, in terms of costs, your best bet will be to actually go to places and see what the current meat cost is. It has been a tad volatile of late. I would seriously consider Jetro/Restaurant Depot out in the Bay Area, or Cash and Carry. Smart and Final is a decent option, but, Cash and Carry has better meat, better selection and usually better prices. Obviously, you need a resale number to use Jetro. It has been a while since I opted to buy meats from Costco, in fact, my membership lapsed some time ago.
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[COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE] |
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07-11-2014, 02:37 PM | #14 |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Cooler for holding meat just before grilling?
Since we'll be grilling close to a kitchen, we can keep most of the meat in a refrigerator until shortly before use. Outside next to the grill, should we use a cooler with ice or ice packs/gel packs in the bottom to hold raw meat just before it goes on the grill?
How long can covered raw meat be next to the grill unrefrigerated before before it goes on the grill? |
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07-11-2014, 02:53 PM | #15 | |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 05-19-14
Location: SF Bay Area
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Quote:
The one plus for Costco is convenience - it's much closer to us than Restaurant Depot in San Jose. Have a great weekend! |
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Tags |
catering, charcoal, food handling, food storage, meat, tools, vegetables, vegetarian, wholesalers |
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