bbqlou
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- Joined
- May 19, 2014
- Location
- SF Bay Area
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?
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?