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Everyone knows that food tastes better when it's shared. Love and laughter are food's metaphorical salt and pepper and when the company is good, the seasoning is always just right.
"There’s no greater feeling when you’re hosting than seeing people gathered around the table, eating, laughing, enjoying, or getting to know each other," says says home cook and popular food blogger . "That’s what I love most about sharing food and cooking at home—their power to make people connect and share their experiences."
Rouba Shahin is driven by her love of sharing Middle Eastern food. "I just love the excitement people show when they walk in and see the food on the table and their childlike wonder when trying to decide which dish to try first. This is the best gift a host can get." Credit: Daniel Purvis/Daniel Purvis
Simply the best
Which is all well and good, but if the thought of catering for a crowd makes you want to forever, relax and do it anyway. There are so many ways of feeding a large group that are (dare we say it?) effortless.
"Cooking for a crowd is as complicated as we want it to be," says Rouba. "In the end, we all just want our guests to leave with a happy tummy and good memories."
It all comes down to timing. Rouba suggests you consider all of the cooking avenues available to you and use them well. "I choose recipes that can be popped into the oven, simmered on the stove, or chilled in the fridge," she says. " are also a lifesaver, allowing me to prepare in advance and just thaw on the day."
It's all about the food
No doubt about it, the most important thing when feeding a crowd is a killer dish. Preferably one you can scale up or down depending on numbers.
"Food should definitely be abundant, and it's part of the giving aspect of food," says chef Tom Walton, author of . "I think it draws people in, so if you can please a crowd with it, then it's the way to go."
To please the crowd, it helps if your dish caters to most . If you can't do that with a single dish (and that's a real challenge), serve up a few complementary dishes that will hit the big six: , , , , and .
Easy eating matters
You'll also want you dish to be a breeze to serve (think scooping and grabbing, rather than complicated plating). Depending on your function, you may also need to consider how people will eat their meal. Will they be seated at a table, seated without a table, standing, moving around?
"[For me it's] buffet-style all the way for a relaxed and enjoyable gathering!" says Rouba. "It naturally encourages everyone to mix, mingle, and strike up conversations as they fill up their plates."
Other than the practicalities, the biggest food consideration is offering flavours that most people like. You will never please all of the people, but you can definitely appeal to most of them. Anything described as being "passed down from generation to generation"; "tried and tested"; or "a " will usually fit the bill.
Here are some top picks for even the pickiest eater. Make a batch of any of these dishes and get ready to bow to your adoring crowd.
Platters
'Platter' is surely a crowd-caterer's favourite word. Load up a series of trays for your guests to pick and choose from. Everyone will get what they want so everyone will be happy.
Osher Günsberg nailed the crowd-pleaser platter on a recent episode of The Cook Up. He created a for guests to serve themselves.
It's a genius way to entertain. Not only do you save yourself the trouble of having to put together a taco for every person present, your guests get to make their own exactly to their liking.
"It's important to have something that... people can get the feeling that they're making something and you can have your own combination of, or a bit more of this, a little less of that..." says Osher.
"[It] gives guests the comfort to try a bit of everything," agrees Rouba. "But also makes them feel right at home. They can go for seconds or even thirds without feeling a pair of judging eyes on them."
Other dishes that work well in platter form are:
PLATTER BOX
Lebanese lamb kofta
Scoops
Another way to serve food at a big party is to offer dishes people can scoop a portion from. Firstly, you'll simplify things immensely if you don't have to plate things up.
Secondly, this kind of food works well both in the middle of a dinner table, and on a buffet.
Thirdly, food that scoops works very well in bowls, which are so much easier to manage on laps or when standing. Scoops for the win!
Rouba suggests keeping things simple by sticking with dishes you're already familiar with. "Trust me, there's no merit in getting entangled in a complex recipe with a dozen steps that end up consuming your entire afternoon," she says.
The perfect simple scoopy dish is . It's a one-pot recipe that can be prepared in advance then kept warm until you're ready to serve. It's also 'sticky', which makes it easy for guests to serve and eat. Plus it's so easy to turn rice into a vegan recipe that meat eaters will also really go for.
Another good dish here is a giant vat of chilli. Add dishes of cheese, guacamole and salsa on the side and guests can scoop their way to contentment.
More excellent scoops to wow your guests with:
Fingers
However, the real winner in the crowd-catering Olympics has always been finger food. It works for every kind of party - whether you're serving canapes in formal attire, or slinging or at a gaggle of kids.
"At the top of my list are ," Rouba says. "I'll lay out a generous platter, and they're always the first to go."
Go to town with more finger food options like:
PICK THESE UP
Turmeric sausage rolls
The most beautiful thing is that finger food requires zero washing up. Now that's a crowd-pleaser.
