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How Many Appetizers
To Serve Before Dinner: If you choose to serve an appetizer before a meal, consider the meal following immediately, and try to select complementary foods.
Choose items you can prepare ahead and serve easily.
Dinner Party - 6 appetizers per person
Cocktail Party - 12 appetizers per person
Caterer's Formula:
A fairly standard formula is used among caterers to figure out how many appetizers are needed from each recipe:
12 pieces per person
times
the number of people
divided
by the number of
different appetizers.
When
appetizers are being served before a full dinner, halve the totals.
If the guest list has fewer than 45 people, plan on using roughly 6 different appetizers; for more than 45 guests, 8
types. The rule of thumb for smaller gatherings is that 3 types are suitable for
8 to 10 guests; 4 or 5 for 14 to 16 people.
Having an equal number of hot and cold foods is also helpful so that while one appetizer is heating in the oven, a
cold one can be circulating, keeping everyone nibbling happily.
Check out all my great
Appetizer Recipes (includes Hors d' oeuvres, Starters, Amuse-Bouche, & Snacks).
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