How much food???

[Maxwellthecat]

I am doing the evening buffet for Christmas Day this year, we are going out for dinner so won't have leftovers and I am totally confused by how much food to provide. I'm so bad at portions, I hate waste and in the past my DS has complained that I am stingey with the food portions (not in a horrible way I think she has a point).

So is this enough for 6 adults and 2 children.

Two packs of Indian snacks (24 items each)
Mini spring rolls
Vegetable samosas
Veggie sausage rolls
Hummous
Falafel
Crisps
Nuts
Pretzels
Chocolate churros
Christmas pudding
Celebrations

If it's not enough can someone suggest what else I could provide?? (We're a vegan household so needs to be vegan).

Thanks!

[MiddleClassProblem]

When is this for? You said evening buffet but how close to dinner is it? Are you having lunch?

[Maxwellthecat]

We're having Christmas dinner at 12.30 so I imagine we'all be eating around four

[Orangedaisy]

Needs some crudités to go with hummus. Perhaps pitta too?

[Orangedaisy]

And olives.

[Maxwellthecat]

Ooh yes olives! We've got mini breadsticks would that door should we buy crackers too?

[Orangedaisy]

I would think crisps and pretzels are enough crunchy stuff. But depends how many you have! I reckon a big bag of each enough for that number of people, but does no harm to have more in cupboard to top up bowls if people eat through it. Same with freezer bits-samosas etc. Tell your sister and other guests there is plenty more if they eat it all so not to hold back. If frozen/packets it's not waste-you just get a buffet for tea another day.

[Reality16]

Christmas dinner at 12.30 then a buffet at 4!! TBH I wouldn't be wanting anything until at least 7/7.30pm

Don't do too much as I doubt anyone will be much interested that early

[Maxwellthecat]

That's a good idea re frozen stuff. I don't mean to drip feed but I'm a recovering bulliemic and buffets are really hard for me that's why I tend to under provide because then I don't have loads left over for a binge, but frozen food is a great idea.

[Maxwellthecat]

Haha reality you've never met my family! They will definitely want feeding.

[ClashCityRocker]

Cheese? It's a bit pastry heavy. I think there's enough food but perhaps not enough variety, maybe.

Is it vegetarian?

[Maxwellthecat]

It's veggie/vegan I don't mind having celebrations and stuff but wouldn't want to buy cheese.

[Reality16]

Haha reality you've never met my family! They will definitely want feeding. no I haven't met them, but a Christmas meal booked for 12.30 means you are likely to be finishing up about 2pm. I think a lot of food will be wasted if you do a buffet at 4pm.

[Maxwellthecat]

Well if they don't want their dinner then we'll have it a bit later, no big deal.

[ClashCityRocker]

Sorry just read that you mentioned it in your op! Facepalm.

Id maybe do a cous cous salad type thing so it isn't all pastry or chocolate,

[BrieAndChilli]

Cherry tomatoes stuffed with guacamole
Fruit salad
Pickles - onions and gherkins and baby beetroot

[Maxwellthecat]

Ooh cous cous is a good idea, could get one of those ainsley harriet thingies

[HeCantBeSerious]

Soup?

[Reality16]

Well if they don't want their dinner then we'll have it a bit later, no big deal.. Wasn't trying to be funny with you, you were wondering if you would have enough food, I was merely suggesting that no one is likely to want much to eat a couple of hours after dinner. I didn't know that changing time was optional.

[Maxwellthecat]

Pickles, yes! My Ds loves them.

These ideas are great, thanks everyone!

[Garyfetacheese]

Oh where did you get vegan churros?

[Maxwellthecat]

to be honest I don't think I'll be wanting anything all evening as our dinner is 5 courses but I have a warped sense of how much and when to eat, and my family will feel robbed if there's not a buffet and it will be talked about for years. (My DS swears there wasn't enough food at my wedding when all the other guests said their was too much and loads of it went back to the kitchen).

[Maxwellthecat]

Tesco! They're amazing

[Maxwellthecat]

They aren't in the vegan section or anything just happen to be vegan

[MiddleClassProblem]

If you have frozen bits or extra bags of crisps etc you can just add as you go along and if you don't use them then they can be used another time, particularly the bags of crisps and pretzels etc.

[ifigoup]

I'd get some loaves of nice bread - sourdough or something like that - to cut up for people to dip into olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Some bowls of grapes and cherry tomatoes.