Turning several recipes into one catering plan can mean tracking ingredient totals, quantities and dietary needs. Edy Massih, owner of Edy’s Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, says he uses Gemini to help with those tasks. Google’s account describes three uses: scaling recipes, organizing shopping lists and suggesting menu adaptations.
Massih’s business balances a deli counter with catering, pop-ups and community events, according to Google. The examples concern a professional kitchen, but the shopping-list prompt could also be tried for a home gathering.
1. Scale recipes, then check the quantities
Massih says he uses Gemini to convert family recipes into larger catering batches. Google gives a sample prompt asking the tool to scale chicken shawarma wraps from eight servings to 50 and adjust the spices so they do not overpower the dish.
That is more than multiplication: the prompt asks for a flavor adjustment as well as larger quantities. Massih warns, “You can't just multiply ingredients by 50.” Review the resulting measurements and seasonings against the original recipe before cooking; Google’s post does not report an independent accuracy test.
2. Organize a combined shopping list
Google says Massih uses Gemini to turn event menus into aisle-by-aisle prep sheets, total shared ingredients and structure prep schedules days in advance. He says it creates a shopping list with ingredient breakdowns while helping keep waste and costs low. The post does not quantify those savings.
For a smaller, checkable trial, Google’s suggested prompt asks Gemini for a mezze-platter shopping list for 10 to 12 people, including hummus, baba ganoush, tzatziki, pita and vegetable crudités, organized by aisle with quantities. Compare the list with your recipes before shopping, especially where ingredients appear in multiple dishes.
3. Treat dietary substitutions as suggestions
Massih also says he asks Gemini for ingredient swaps to accommodate dietary restrictions while keeping Lebanese flavors. Google’s example prompt asks for gluten-free and nut-free adaptations to pistachio baklava and salted tahini brownies.
The post describes the proposed adjustments as meeting guests’ needs, but provides no independent validation that a suggested dish is safe or suitable. Check every ingredient and preparation detail yourself, and do not treat a chatbot response as confirmation that food meets a guest’s dietary requirements.
Massih says Gemini frees time from administrative tasks so he can introduce people to Lebanese food and culture. For your next gathering, try one bounded task: provide your recipes and serving counts, ask Gemini to total shared ingredients and group them by aisle, then verify the draft against the recipes. Which planning step would you be comfortable asking an AI tool to organize?
Source image: Google.