3 ways this grocer cooks for 200 guests with Gemini

Running Edy’s Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, means balancing a buzzing deli counter with catering, pop-ups, and community events. As owner Edy Massih has learned, scaling his family’s delicious Lebanese recipes into giant party spreads quickly creates operational bottlenecks.

To skip kitchen math and streamline workflow, Edy uses Gemini as an on-demand sous-chef and strategist. Here are three ways Gemini keeps Edy’s kitchen running efficiently:

1. Scale recipes without kitchen math errors.

Hand-calculating measurements wastes time and risks costly errors with delicate spices and pastry ratios. “You can't just multiply ingredients by 50,” says Edy. “You'll ruin the dish.” Instead of scribbling math on scrap paper, Edy uses Gemini to convert family recipes into bulk catering batches instantly. Gemini scales every ingredient, so the team can start prep immediately.

Try this to scale your recipes: Scale a recipe for chicken shawarma wraps from 8 servings up to 50 for a large event, adjusting spices so they don't overpower the dish, and group ingredients by grocery aisle.

2. Auto-generate shopping lists.

Building catering grocery runs usually requires manually combining ingredients across recipes. Edy turns to Gemini to convert event menus into organized, aisle-by-aisle prep sheets, total shared ingredients, and structure prep schedules days in advance. “It serves up precise ingredient breakdowns and creates a complete shopping list with everything I'd need, all while keeping our food waste and cost to a minimum,” says Edy.

Try this to autogenerate your shopping lists: Create a grocery shopping list for a large mezze platter serving 10 to 12 people. Include dips like hummus, baba ganoush, and tzatziki, along with warm pita and vegetable crudités, organized aisle-by-aisle with exact quantities.

3. Adapt menus for dietary restrictions without sacrificing flavor.

Accommodating dietary restrictions makes sure everyone is both safe and well-fed. Edy asks Gemini for quick, creative swaps that meet dietary needs without compromising classic Lebanese flavors. “Modifying the recipes on top of scaling would be incredibly challenging,” says Edy. “So, I have Gemini do all the math and logistics for me." Gemini delivers instant adjustments that keep every menu item authentic, flavorful, and in line with guests’ dietary needs.

Try this to adapt menus: Adapt a dessert spread of pistachio baklava and salted tahini brownies for guests who are strictly gluten-free and nut-free. Suggest ingredient swaps that preserve the flaky texture and nutty, rich flavor.

For small business owners, Gemini can be a game-changer. “Gemini has freed my time up,” says Edy. “I’m able to spend less time doing administrative tasks and more time introducing people to Lebanese food, our culture, and all of its beautiful flavors.”