Gaurabh Patodia
Gaurabh Patodia is the owner of Party Meals and the researcher behind its guides.
He compiles each guide from food safety agencies like USDA FSIS and manufacturer specs and the tips hosts and home cooks share in their own communities. He reads the sources side by side and keeps the numbers that agree. When they don’t agree the guide says so.
He does not test the products in the guides and every page says that. Each guide ends with a list of the sources it used so you can check the work yourself.
Read how we choose products to see the steps behind every pick. Or read about the site.
Guides by Gaurabh Patodia
Best Chafing Dish Sets for Home PartiesThe chafing dish sets worth buying for a home buffet. Reusable steel sets and roll top chafers. Plus an electric chafer and a disposable kit for one big day.
Photo: Renessaince, CC BY-SA 3.0
Best Drink Dispensers for PartiesThe beverage dispensers worth buying for a party. Glass dispensers on stands and a big plastic one with an ice core. Plus a cooler jug for outdoors and an airpot for hot drinks.
Photo: John Beans, CC BY 2.0
Best Electric Roaster Ovens for Turkey and a CrowdThe electric roaster ovens worth buying for Thanksgiving and big parties. Which size fits which turkey. How to use one safely. Plus the thermometer that goes with it.
Photo: Dan Bock, CC BY 2.0
Best Food Warmers for Parties (Electric Servers, Trays and Mats)The electric food warmers that keep a party buffet hot without fuel cans. Buffet servers and warming trays and a roll up warming mat. What each one suits.
Photo: Faisal Ahammad, CC0 1.0
Best Serving Platters for PartiesThe serving platters worth owning if you host. Plain white porcelain sets and stoneware and unbreakable melamine. Plus a big wood board and a tiered stand.
Photo: skenmy, CC BY 2.0
How to Set Up a Taco Bar for a CrowdHow much meat and how many tortillas to plan per guest. Plus the best line order and how to keep taco fillings at safe temperatures.
Photo: “Guero's Taco Bar” by Numinosity by Gary J Wood, CC BY-SA 2.0
A Vegetarian Party Menu That Everyone EatsHow to build a vegetarian party menu that fills up meat eaters too. Hearty mains and easy sides. A sample menu for 20 and tips for vegan and allergy needs.
Photo: Andrea Goh, CC BY 2.0
BBQ Party Menu PlanningHow to plan a backyard barbecue for a crowd. What to grill and how much to buy. Sides that survive the heat. Grill timing and the safe temperatures to hit.
Photo: Peak Yard, CC BY 2.0
Catering vs DIY Party Food: Costs and Trade-offsWhen hiring a caterer makes sense and when cooking yourself wins. The hybrid options in between. The hidden costs on both sides and how to compare quotes fairly.
Photo: Faisal Ahammad, CC0 1.0
Finger Food for 50 Guests: A Planning GuideHow to plan and prepare and serve finger food for about 50 people. How many pieces to make. A sample menu. How to serve it all without living in the kitchen.
Photo: mikecogh, CC BY-SA 2.0
How Much Food Per Guest? A Practical Party Planning GuideRule of thumb portions for mains and sides and appetizers and desserts. How much to drink and how much ice. How to adjust for party length and time of day and who is coming.
Photo: Faisal Ahammad, CC0 1.0
How to Set Up a Party BuffetWhere to put the buffet table and what order the food goes in. How to keep hot food hot and cold food cold. The small details that stop queues and spills at a home party.
Photo: foshie, CC BY 2.0
Kids Birthday Party Food Ideas That Actually Get EatenSimple kids party food that small hands can manage. How much to make and how to plan around allergies. Plus a plan to keep the parents fed too.
Photo: Steve Snodgrass, CC BY 2.0
Make Ahead Party Food: What to Cook WhenParty dishes you can cook days or weeks ahead. How long each kind keeps in the fridge or freezer. How to store it and reheat it safely for a crowd.
Photo: Rubbermaid Products, CC BY 2.0- Party Food Prep Timeline: What to Do and When
A countdown plan for party food from three weeks out to the last hour. Spread the work so cooking for a crowd feels calm on the day.
Photo: foshie, CC BY 2.0 
Party Food on a BudgetHow to feed a crowd well for less. Cheap filling dishes and a smart menu shape. The shopping habits that save the most and the corners not worth cutting.
Photo: Amphion27, CC BY-SA 4.0- Party Serving Equipment Worth Owning (Buying Guide)
The serving gear that makes hosting easier. What each piece is for and what to check before you buy. From chafing dishes to drink dispensers.
Photo: Faisal Ahammad, CC0 1.0