What you need for a dinner quiz
A dinner quiz needs more than food and question sheets. You are combining a seated meal, a buffet or serving area, team scoring and a presentation setup, so small shortages become noticeable quickly. Plan place settings for every guest, plus a few spares, and match food quantities to your confirmed sign-ups and dietary requirements. Check borrowed equipment at least one day ahead, especially the projector, screen, speaker and microphone.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 48
- Buffet tablesqty 2
- Coat racksqty 2
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 50
- Dessert platesqty 50
- Soup bowlsqty 50
- Glassesqty 60
- Coffee cupsqty 50
- Knivesqty 50
- Forksqty 50
- Spoonsqty 50
- Coffee spoonsqty 50
- Serving utensilsqty 12
Kitchen
- Soup bowls for buffetqty 3
- Serving plattersqty 8
- Serving spoonsqty 8
- Cutting boardsqty 3
- Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
- Pansqty 4
- Food warmersqty 4
- Coolersqty 3
- Water jugsqty 6
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Kettlesqty 2
Equipment
- Laptop
- Projector
- Projection screen
- Portable speaker
- Microphone
- Extension cordsqty 3
- Power stripsqty 3
Quiz materials
- Answer formsqty 60
- Score sheetsqty 10
- Pensqty 60
- Answer cardsqty 10
- Prize trophy
- Prizesqty 3
Decorations
- Tableclothsqty 8
- Menusqty 8
- Team badgesqty 10
- Name stickersqty 50
Lighting
- Mood lightingqty 4
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
Catering
- Groceries
- Ground beef - 4 kilograms
- Vegetarian mince - 1.5 kilograms
- Penne - 5 kilogram
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Tomato paste - 6 cans
- Onions - 2 kilograms
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Celery - 1 kilogram
- Zucchini - 2 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Vegetable broth - 8 liters
- Tomato soup - 8 liters
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Basil - 4 plants
- Parmesan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Grated cheese - 1,5 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Herb butter - 1 kilogram
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Corn - 6 cans
- Feta cheese - 1 kilogram
- Salad dressing - 3 bottles
- Vanilla ice cream - 6 liters
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Food storage containers - 10 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Floor cleaner - 1 bottle
Tips
- Count one complete place setting per guest—dinner plate, dessert plate, bowl if soup is served, knife, fork and spoon—and add 10% spare tableware for breakages or unexpected guests.
- Plan drinks by service moment: allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per hour, and chill them at least 4 hours before guests arrive.
- Keep quiz materials separate from food supplies: prepare printed response forms and score sheets for every team, plus 10% extra copies so one mistake does not interrupt a round.
- Test the laptop, projector, screen, speaker and microphone together at least 24 hours before the dinner. Keep presentation files on the laptop and a second copy on a USB drive.
- Label diet meals before guests arrive and reserve a separate serving utensil for them. Confirm dietary requirements no later than 3 days before shopping so portions and ingredients can be adjusted.
Frequently asked questions
- How much tableware do I need for a dinner quiz?
- Prepare one dinner plate, dessert plate, knife, fork and spoon per guest. Add around 10% spare pieces; for 30 guests, that means 33 of each commonly used item.
- How many drinks should I buy for a dinner quiz?
- For the first hour, plan 2–3 drinks per person, then about 1 drink per person per additional hour. For 20 guests over 3 hours, this is roughly 80–100 drinks, including water and non-alcoholic options.
- How many quiz answer sheets should I print?
- Print at least one response form per team for every round, one score sheet per team, and 10% extra copies. If you have 8 teams and 6 rounds, print 53 response forms rather than exactly 48.
- When should I buy food and chill the drinks?
- Confirm dietary requirements at least 3 days before shopping. Buy chilled food as close to the event as practical, and put drinks in the cooler or refrigerator at least 4 hours before guests arrive.
Start this plan in Lizzt
Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.
Organize this event for free with LizztOrganize for free and invite your contacts!