Catering vs cooking for a party yourself: cost and time for 50 guests

Catering vs cooking for a party is mostly a trade of cash for time. For 50 guests, cooking it yourself usually costs less in groceries, but you pay in shopping, prep, oven space and a long day on your feet. Catering costs more up front and gives the hours back. Upper Crust trays for 50 come to $558 before tax, or $11.16 a guest, ready for pick-up in Yorkville.

What you get with Upper Crust

• Food cooked from scratch in a licensed, inspected commercial kitchen, so your oven stays free.
• No minimum on trays, and a listed serving count on each: a tray serves 20 as listed.
• Prices per tray, so you can do the math before you call.
• Three days' notice for standard orders, and pick-up at the kitchen with no service charge.
• Hot dishes can go in a Chafing Dish Set, $17 each, yours to keep, or a $20 stainless rental, returned after your event.
• A written quote before you pay anything, with a planner who answers the phone.

What to check when you cook it yourself

• Add up your own receipt: groceries, disposable pans, serving utensils, fuel and ice.
• Count your hours: shopping, prep, cooking, loading, setting up and cleaning up.
• Will you have oven and fridge room for 50 portions, and how will you keep the food hot or cold for the length of the party?
• Do you have a plan for guests with allergies or a vegetarian diet?
• Will you be hosting, or standing in the kitchen while guests arrive?
• What is your backup if a dish fails an hour before guests arrive?

Where cooking yourself is the better choice

Cooking is cheaper in cash for a lot of menus. If the party is 12 people and you love to cook, do it. If you have a family dish that guests ask for each year, that dish is worth more at your table than anything we could send. If your budget is tight and your time is free, a pot of chili and a few salads cost far less than trays. And if it is last minute, a trip to the store beats our 3 days' notice. You can also split it: cook the main dish and order the sides and dessert from us.

A real example: 50 guests, pulled pork

• BBQ Pulled Pork, $95 a tray, serves 20, 3 trays: $285
• Slider Sandwich Buns, $12 a tray, 24 count, 3 trays: $36
• Potato Salad, $49 a tray, 3 trays: $147
• Assorted Home Baked Cookies, $45 a tray, 40 count, 2 trays: $90

That is $285 + $36 + $147 + $90 = $558, which is $11.16 a guest before tax. With 9.25% sales tax, about $610. Pulled pork for 60 portions means leftovers for 50 guests, and 72 buns and 80 cookies mean extras. Compare that to your own grocery receipt plus your own hours.

Browse the trays menu or ask for a quote. For more comparisons, read catering vs restaurant takeout for a party of 30 and drop-off vs full-service catering. Our guide on how much food for 50 people has portion math.

Questions

How much food do I need for 50 guests?

We plan about 3 trays of an entrée that serves 20 each, which gives some extra. Our how-much-food guide has the full math.

Can I cook some and order the rest?

Yes. You can order the sides and dessert as trays and cook one main dish at home.

What if my guest count grows?

Guest count can go up any time before the balance is paid.

Do you charge extra for a small order?

No. Trays have no minimum and no small-party surcharge.