What's a good treat for 150 people?

October 10, 2022 7:27 AM

I'm tasked with ordering a treat for a group. On a weekday afternoon - something fun to follow an outdoor lunch. What should I get? Toronto-specific reccos would be great.

Here are the particulars:

Time & Place:
- Weekday lunchtime
- Outdoors in October in Toronto (so, hoodie-under-a-jean-jacket type weather)
- The group will be coming outside for the treat and to mingle, but can go back inside any time so the people won't be too cold.

Demographics:
- The group is mostly working class men, age 25-50.
- The group contains very few picky or restricted eaters, so just one option is fine.
- They like "delicious" food more than "pedigreed" type food.
- Catered lunches, snacks, and a good selection of coffee drinks and standard treats are already on hand, so this would be a special occasion treat for a group of people who are well-fed every day. (It's the last day of a big project).
- Some aspect of novelty would be nice.
- Sweet is probably better than savoury, but savoury might be ok.

Logistics
- 100 people must be served within about an hour, and the other 50 people can trickle in more gradually
- Speed is important, I don't want people standing in line for their whole lunch hour
- I have parking spaces and power, so food trucks would be fine
- I can pick up the food and lay it out on a table, but there's nobody to serve it or manage the table, so something that's self-serve or comes with staff is best (like a food truck).
- Budget is flexible

Ideas I'm considering:
- Churros truck
- Cupcakes laid out on a table (but this has been done before)
- Beaver Tails truck (deep fried dough with sweet toppings)
- Poutine truck? (I think they'd prefer sweet stuff tho)

I'd be grateful for any other ideas, or tips to make it special and run smoothly / liase with the vendor. I've never ordered food for this many people before, especially with a tight serving timeline!
Thanks so much!

posted by nouvelle-personne to Food & Drink (20 answers total)

There’s this fantastic macaroon shop somewhere in Toronto that a friend took me to. The flavors were fantastic and they were decorated to look like adorable little cartoon characters. I don’t know if this would be widely appreciated or not but it’s my most memorable Toronto treat.
posted by eirias at 7:43 AM on October 10, 2022

Omg, I would be SO happy if someone brought a BeaverTails truck to me. On the other hand, have you ever NOT tmstood in line at a BeaverTails truck? It seems unlikely thus would work for your time requirement unless you bring out 2 or 3 trucks.

But on the other hand, MAYBE if you're just paying for all the beavertails and/or if you limit the options (e.g. classic or apple only) then you'd really reduce the time spent ordering and paying which might speed things up.

I think you need to talk to the BeaverTail people about what's possible time-wise.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:01 AM on October 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

Minimal waiting suggests not a food truck. Whatever it is should be ready-made and laid out for people to pick amongst.

As a special treat, cheesecakes and pies are really nice. How about a dozen pies and a dozen cheesecakes of various types already cut and ready to serve with plates and forks and napkins at the ready.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:02 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

The amazing macarons in Toronto is Nadege But that’s not your clientele. I’d vote beaver tails or Bundt cakes.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:16 AM on October 10, 2022

I'm a vegan who is routinely left out when my workplace orders food. My complaints go unheeded, and it sucks to be dissed like this. My two gluten-free colleagues are also left out routinely. I urge you to make certain that out of 150 people, everyone can eat whatever you order.
posted by alex1965 at 8:27 AM on October 10, 2022 [15 favorites]

One party that I went to at work had a fantastic concept - candy and gum bar!

Because this was before COVID, they were all unwrapped bulk candies and gums, in various dispensers. People got neon colored bags, and could grab whatever candies that they wanted.

I could see the same thing happening here: On the table, have various bulk wrapped candies and gums and snacks that people could select, at their leisure. If your employees already have access to candy, you could change it up by getting different candies and gums than what's in the office. For those who can't/don't eat sugar, you could add some savory snacks as well.
posted by spinifex23 at 8:29 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far!

If we do a truck, all the items would be pre-paid, so people can just order and take. For something like beavertails or churros I think they can usually pre-fry a bunch and keep them warm to stay ahead of the rush.

Thanks for the nudge on the dietary stuff, I think I can get access to the restriction info from the catering people.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:36 AM on October 10, 2022

My office (in Toronto) ordered for us fancy ice cream sandwiches from Sweet Flour. We were all pretty excited about them. It was a fun treat.
posted by ice-cream forever at 8:37 AM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

You can commission a special mold for chocolate, and then everyone gets a chocolate shaped like whatever project they just finished.

Bonus if you also get some non-chocolate memento made from the mold too!



cotton candy

There's a special chocolate called a "mendiant" that is lovely and has a cool backstory.

occasion-made gourmet candy

petit fours
posted by amtho at 8:37 AM on October 10, 2022

Hot drinks like apple cider and hot chocolate? Otherwise I'd suggest something they can take home and eat later, since there is already a full lunch spread. Fancy flavored popcorn, nice cookies, brownies etc, granola, a tin of nice mints.
posted by emd3737 at 8:41 AM on October 10, 2022 [5 favorites]

Are you allowed to set up smallish contained freestanding fire pits or fire tables? A massive make your own s'mores buffet with an abundance of toppings (including vegan options) would be delicious and fun. Bonus: the fires would help people stay warm and would be very pretty and atmospheric. Also maybe a special hot drink like mulled local apple cider.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 8:51 AM on October 10, 2022 [7 favorites]

Crave Doughnuts and coffee. Elevates it slightly beyond a box of Timbits, and they have vegan options.
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:55 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

You could try brigadeiros - I've heard good things about Chocollatta. No vegan or lactose-free options though.

Oishii sweets does awesome custom cookies.

If everyone's good with nuts, Crown Pastries' baklava is amazing.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:58 AM on October 10, 2022

I was going to suggest hot cider and donuts. I think doing a drink + food is nice since it gives people an option even if they're feeling full - I mean, who doesn't have room for good cider?
posted by coffeecat at 9:05 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Tiny Tom Donuts do catering and hot cinnamon donuts are the best thing ever.
posted by Kris10_b at 9:31 AM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

Donuts with apple cider and / or cocoa.
posted by jennstra at 9:56 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Apple cider donuts? Maple glazed donuts? With cider/tea/coffee this would be fantastic, and you can fill large drink thermoses to keep the drinks hot for self-serve. Even if you have a savory course before, this would be a seasonal sweet to serve after.
posted by citygirl at 11:27 AM on October 10, 2022

No Torontonian I've met can resist offerings from Glory Hole.
posted by dobbs at 3:14 PM on October 11, 2022

I think Craig's Cookies has a food truck, and they are incredible!
posted by monkeys with typewriters at 3:23 PM on October 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Can't believe I didn't suggest Craig's Cookies. He offers a number of gluten-free varieties as well and they're really fucking good.
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:30 PM on October 11, 2022