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planning, planning
Aug. 10th, 2009 03:54 pmI've currently got 60 names on the list of "people who will be getting an email invite to the defense and party", of which there are about 10 which I know can't make it (being as they are in foreign countries or have real jobs). (Wait, make that 61. Just remembered someone else. That's why the email isn't going out for another day or two, 'cause I want to make sure I get everyone!). I also expect that there will be random ILLC folks who show up at the defense that aren't on the list, since folks generally go to whatever defenses look interesting, even if they don't really know the person in question.
So, the first question is: Do I want the "reception for < 70 people" or the "reception for 70 - 100 people"? (A difference of 80EUR, so worth considering)
The next question is: Drinks. I'm not going to do anything alcoholic, since that'll be covered by the party. While I'm amused at the idea of serving buttermilk, I think I'll skip that particularly Dutch peculiarity, and stick with tea, coffee, and juice. But what kind of juice? (Orange, apple, and tomato are my possibilities.) And how many of each kind? 1/3 each? Assume that more people drink coffee than anything else? Assume that since it may be a warm day, it should be half cold beverages and half hot?
The third question is: Snacks. I'm definitely having bitterballen. I can't imagine having defending my Ph.D. Dutch-style and not serving bitterballen. Especially since my parents have experienced this yet. So that narrows it down to the "Hollands Glorie" selection, which is bitterballen and mini cheese soufflés, at .70EUR each. Do I assume that everyone will eat two? Two of each? Or more? Or less? What about other snacks -- do I want assorted nuts on the tables? What about the "Amsterdams bittergarnituur" (cheese blocks, two kinds of sausages, mini pickles, pickled onions, and mustard, again a very traditional Dutch snack)?
Luckily the dinner for family and committee members, and the post-dinner party is easy -- I'm going to make a reservation at Savvas, a Greek restaurant, for the dinner; it's my favorite restaurant in the city, and their mixed table option is only 20EUR per person. For the party, we're having everyone show up at the Arendsnest, which has every single beer produced in the Netherlands except for those who production runs are too small to do any distribution, of which about 25-30 are on tap. Joel and Raul talked to the owners and they said that while they don't rent out their bar for parties, a Tuesday night in early September is unlikely to be very busy, so we can just show up there. We're planning to open a tab for all the beers on tap, and let people choose whatever they like.
I've never done catering for something like this before. For our wedding, we had a guestlist so we knew how many people were coming, and a few days before, Mom and I went to Sam's Club and bought everything ourselves (yup, I spent the night before my wedding slicing fruit. We were still doing so the next day). Joel and I picked up bottles of New Glarus raspberry tart and kriek and served that instead of wine or champagne, so we didn't have to deal with an open bar or anything. It's kind of amusing, there's a good chance that my defense alone will cost more than our wedding did -- certainly the two of ours together will!
So, the first question is: Do I want the "reception for < 70 people" or the "reception for 70 - 100 people"? (A difference of 80EUR, so worth considering)
The next question is: Drinks. I'm not going to do anything alcoholic, since that'll be covered by the party. While I'm amused at the idea of serving buttermilk, I think I'll skip that particularly Dutch peculiarity, and stick with tea, coffee, and juice. But what kind of juice? (Orange, apple, and tomato are my possibilities.) And how many of each kind? 1/3 each? Assume that more people drink coffee than anything else? Assume that since it may be a warm day, it should be half cold beverages and half hot?
The third question is: Snacks. I'm definitely having bitterballen. I can't imagine having defending my Ph.D. Dutch-style and not serving bitterballen. Especially since my parents have experienced this yet. So that narrows it down to the "Hollands Glorie" selection, which is bitterballen and mini cheese soufflés, at .70EUR each. Do I assume that everyone will eat two? Two of each? Or more? Or less? What about other snacks -- do I want assorted nuts on the tables? What about the "Amsterdams bittergarnituur" (cheese blocks, two kinds of sausages, mini pickles, pickled onions, and mustard, again a very traditional Dutch snack)?
Luckily the dinner for family and committee members, and the post-dinner party is easy -- I'm going to make a reservation at Savvas, a Greek restaurant, for the dinner; it's my favorite restaurant in the city, and their mixed table option is only 20EUR per person. For the party, we're having everyone show up at the Arendsnest, which has every single beer produced in the Netherlands except for those who production runs are too small to do any distribution, of which about 25-30 are on tap. Joel and Raul talked to the owners and they said that while they don't rent out their bar for parties, a Tuesday night in early September is unlikely to be very busy, so we can just show up there. We're planning to open a tab for all the beers on tap, and let people choose whatever they like.
I've never done catering for something like this before. For our wedding, we had a guestlist so we knew how many people were coming, and a few days before, Mom and I went to Sam's Club and bought everything ourselves (yup, I spent the night before my wedding slicing fruit. We were still doing so the next day). Joel and I picked up bottles of New Glarus raspberry tart and kriek and served that instead of wine or champagne, so we didn't have to deal with an open bar or anything. It's kind of amusing, there's a good chance that my defense alone will cost more than our wedding did -- certainly the two of ours together will!
