Feeding the Gaming Hordes

[Torm]

I'm currently helping to put together a gathering of people, and while its not an RPG gathering, it occurred to me that they're the same, eclectic sort of people you would find at a gaming get-together. So I was wondering of any of you out there who have organized such things before, or just been to a well done setup - how do you feed the teeming gaming masses?

Inexpensive and/or moderately unique suggestions are a plus. And please don't say pizza or spaghetti - I know they'd work, but its done to death.

 

[Mark]

Where will it be?

How many people?

Formal or casual?

More details (as many as you have) are needed...

 

[maddman75]

Pizza boats. Not quite the same a pizza, and very cheap. French Bread + Tomato sause + cheese + pepperoni. Bake in over. This is the perfect food for a gamer, and you can feed a lot of them for very little money.

 

[William Ronald]

Pizza boats. Not quite the same a pizza, and very cheap. French Bread + Tomato sause + cheese + pepperoni. Bake in over. This is the perfect food for a gamer, and you can feed a lot of them for very little money.

Pizza muffins, using English muffins, also works well. Other alternatives include hot dogs, and lunch meat. Also, don't forget snacks.

 

[Torm]

About 100 people, casual.

Wow, you guys are on the ball. I basically just had time to walk over and start a PC doing a virus scan, come back and there's already 3 responses. Keep 'em comin', though.

 

[fafhrd]

Buy one bottle of champagne flavored soda. I've had it. It's godawful. Fill a number of empty soda bottles with water and a little food coloring. After the first bottle, no one will be asking for soda. They'll be begging for tap water.

 

[JimAde]

You can't go wrong with Buffalo wings. If you belong to BJs or Sam's Club or something you should be able to get a good price on an enormous package.

 

[Henry]

Buy one bottle of champagne flavored soda. I've had it. It's godawful. Fill a number of empty soda bottles with water and a little food coloring. After the first bottle, no one will be asking for soda. They'll be begging for tap water.

My God, that's such lateral thinking. That's awesome.

Torm, you're talking a hellacious catering bill, no matter the food types, unless you're taking a collection beforehand. I know what this is for, but what's your budget? - that'll make a huge difference.

P.S. Also, any vegans or lacto-ovo's in the group?

P.P.S. You still haven't checked the Gameday Site, have you?

 

[Desdichado]

Build it yourself Mexican food is pretty cheap and easy -- assembly line tacos. For a slightly smaller group I'd suggest fajitas, but skirt steak to feed 100 is starting to turn into a bit more money.

Those big party subs like they do at Quizno's or Subway (or just about any comparable place) are fun too, and relatively reasonably priced.

All in all, I wouldn't worry about the eclectic nature of gamer's hobbies translating into a more eclectic taste in food than you'd expect from any other sampling of the population either.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Are you looking for hors d'oevres to snack on, or do you want to feed them enough that they won't want to get dinner on the way home?

The former is pretty easy, even for a hundred people. The latter is a *lot* more difficult.

What's the venue? Will you have a way to keep things hot if you need to (chafing dishes, etc)? Will you have to prep before hand, or does the facility have some sort of kitchen? Are you going to do all the food preparation yourself, or will you have help?

I've got suggestions, but more details would give me a better idea of what will work for you and what won't.