Buffet Calculations

When you are ready to plan and present your garde manger buffet, you must perform a number of calculations. One of the most important tasks is calculating how much food will be needed to serve your guests. In order to have the right amount of food, you must understand how to do basic quantity calculations. Your worst nightmare is running out of food! But if you prepare too much food and cannot sell it to other customers, your buffet will not be profitable—and may actually incur a loss.

When planning your menu, you may be required to stay within a specific food cost percentage. Or, you may be asked to come up with a menu and establish its per-person price. Both require food costing and other calculations.