Ten people is the point where an improvised aperitif stops working: you need a list. Here are the quantities for an aperitif for 10 people, as a simple aperitif (a meal follows) and as a finger-food dinner (the aperitif is the meal), with the budget and the shopping list.
Quantities for 10
| Item | Simple aperitif (1 hr) | Finger-food dinner (3 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Charcuterie | 600 to 800 g | 1.2 to 1.5 kg |
| Cheese | 400 to 500 g | 800 g to 1 kg |
| Bread | 2 baguettes | 4 to 5 baguettes |
| Bites (hot and cold) | 40 to 50 | 80 to 100 |
| Raw vegetables, olives, nuts | 3 bowls | 6 bowls |
| Wine | 3 bottles | 5 to 6 bottles |
| Beer and soft drinks | 10 cans + 3 L | 15 cans + 5 L |
The basis: 60 to 80 g of charcuterie per person for a simple aperitif, 120 to 150 g for a finger-food dinner. Details by format (slices, whole saucisson, ham) are in how much charcuterie per person.
The charcuterie: the box that covers it all
The Box XXL Conviviale (€59.99) is designed for ten: saucisson, an award-winning dry sausage, mild PGI chorizo, a 500 g quarter of Serrano TSG ham and two Catalan fuets. For a finger-food dinner for 10, add the Box Charcuterie Fine (lomo, Serrano, saucisson, fuet) to reach 1.5 kg, or a whole boneless ham for a special occasion.
Minimum variety for 10: five different cured meats, including a mild one for children (fuet), a bold one (spicy chorizo or saucisson) and a delicate one (lomo or Serrano).
The budget
- Simple aperitif: €60 of charcuterie (Box XXL), €25 of cheese, €10 of bread and sides, €30 of drinks: about €125, or €12.50 per person.
- Finger-food dinner: €90 of charcuterie, €40 of cheese, €25 of bites and sides, €50 of drinks: about €205, or €20 per person. Less than a restaurant, and nobody watches the clock.
The shopping list (finger-food dinner for 10)
Order 7 days ahead: Box XXL + Box Charcuterie Fine (or a whole ham).
Cheese counter: a goat's cheese, a hard cheese (Comté or Manchego), a blue cheese from Auvergne, salted butter, cream cheese for the roll-ups.
Bakery: 4 baguettes, 1 country loaf, 1 walnut bread.
Fruit and vegetables: tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, 1 melon (summer) or figs (autumn), grapes, lemons, herbs.
Pantry: olives, almonds, gherkins, mustard, chutney, puff pastry, dates, vegetable crisps.
Drinks: 3 light reds, 2 dry whites or rosés, 15 beers, 5 L of juice and sparkling water. Pairings: which wine with charcuterie.
Organisation
- Two boards rather than one: one at each end of the table to avoid a crowd.
- One knife per board with the whole saucisson on it: guests cut their own.
- Hot bites in waves of 20 pieces every 20 minutes.
- A backup bowl in the fridge: opened charcuterie goes back in the cool between rounds.
To build the boards: how to build the perfect charcuterie board. For ideas: finger-food dinner, 25 easy ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How much charcuterie for 10 people?
600 to 800 g for an aperitif followed by a meal, 1.2 to 1.5 kg for a finger-food dinner.
How many bottles of wine for 10 people?
3 for a one-hour aperitif, 5 to 6 for an evening, assuming some guests will drink beer or soft drinks.
Which box for an aperitif for 10?
The Box XXL Conviviale, designed for ten. Add a Box Charcuterie Fine if the aperitif replaces dinner.
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