How to Coordinate a Tasting Bee Fundraiser

Tasting Bees are a great way to earn extra money for your cause. Every year our church holds a Tasting Bee and it is enjoyed by many people in the community, plus the funds raised are put to good use. Never heard of a Tasting Bee? Here's what it is and tips on how to plan one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. A tasting bee is a dinner where contributors make a recipe to share, and each participant gets just a "taste". By the time you get through the entire selection of foods to taste, your plate and your belly will be very full.

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   Set the date and start asking for people to contribute a dish to the cause. It's important for the person contributing to be available during the event to serve their dish. Ask each participant to submit the recipe they will be making so you don't end up with 29 desserts and no main dishes.

3. Tickets need to be printed and sold in advance of the event. Knowing how many people will attend enables cooks to prepare enough food. It also allows you to plan on seating, place settings, and beverages. Set the price and start selling tickets. Sell to everyone you know. Once the word gets out you will sell out quickly! We price our tickets at $8 per adult and $4 per child under 12.

4. Upon arrival, people will turn in their tickets and get in line. The food will be assembled buffet-style with each cook serving their own dish. As customers pass through the line with their plate, each cook will scoop a small bite-sized taste onto the plate. Remember it's a "tasting bee" not a buffet! Worried about people not getting enough to eat? If you plan on enough cooks contributing a variety of dishes, a taste of each item and will definitely fill up your customers.

5. You may wish to assemble a small recipe listing of all dishes contributed to the tasting bee. People who come to the tasting bee will be very excited to get a copy of the recipes they have tried. (Remember to give credit where credit is due and abide by all copyright laws.) So the dinner ticket includes a fun evening meal and a recipe book to take home for the price of an $8 ticket.

6. Set up of food should be in the following order: appetizers, soup, salad, bread, main dishes, vegetables, sides, dessert. A table of beverages should include coffee, water, and punch if desired. Planning a Tasting Bee takes a lot of organization, volunteers, and pre-planning. Enlist as many helpers as possible to make your event a success.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to ask for cooks to prepare recipes from all of the following categories: appetizers, soup, salad, bread, main dish, vegetables, sides, desserts.