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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it’s fine to cater a buffet for 14 myself

57 replies

Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 15:53

DH and I hosting a surprise weekend for SIL.

Lunch booked during the day (so most will have eaten) but want to have food for the evening as no doubt people will be peckish later.

I usually get M&S or a Waitrose type thing - but honestly they don’t taste great and am considering doing maybe sandwiches and a couple of salads myself.

There Will be a bit of time pressure on the day (as it’s a surprise I need to make it and hide it before 12pm) but I’d still rather do this than running around to pick up from Waitrose etc.

OP posts:
BoudiccaOfSuburbia · 27/05/2024 18:18

Charcuterie: buy a gammon joint from Aldi / Lidl, cook the day before, slice,
Same with a chicken: cook, cool, Cut thighs drumsticks, wings into a little heap, strip and slice breast.
Small sausages
Pack of salami

Roundroundthegarden · 27/05/2024 18:18

Are they coming for dinner? If so, then you need to do a proper meal. If just to pop by then a nice selection of savoury foods would be good.

Newmumatlast · 27/05/2024 18:12

Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:17

Thanks for the ideas all.

I won’t be doing hot food as this is off the back of going out for a meal in the day (but can’t expect people to not then eat in the evening) but switching to baguettes, quiches etc is a great idea.

im trying to work out how to get a charcuterie large enough (the ones in supermarkets are measly). I did look at buying in grazing boards - but again are pricy for numbers

Do your own. Loads of meats and cheeses and nice olives/marinated toms/stuffed peppers/mini mozzarella balls from aldi/lidl. Very very easy to assemble. You can use a series of cheap chopping boards covered in tinfoil. You can pre do this night before or get to the venue slightly earlier. A couple of bowls/platters of crusty breads (can even put knives for people to cut themselves and a couple of bowls of nice crisps and you're done

dreamingbohemian · 27/05/2024 18:07

Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:17

Thanks for the ideas all.

I won’t be doing hot food as this is off the back of going out for a meal in the day (but can’t expect people to not then eat in the evening) but switching to baguettes, quiches etc is a great idea.

im trying to work out how to get a charcuterie large enough (the ones in supermarkets are measly). I did look at buying in grazing boards - but again are pricy for numbers

Do not get a grazing board!

It's very straightforward, for 14 people you probably want about 800 grams total of charcuterie, just have a look here and get delivered:
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/shop/browse/groceries/fresh_and_chilled/cooked_meats_deli_and_dips/continental_meats_and_salami

Does not take long at all to arrange on a big platter

You can cook a ham in advance but personally I think it's nicer to give people some variety

Inertia · 27/05/2024 18:06

Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:17

Thanks for the ideas all.

I won’t be doing hot food as this is off the back of going out for a meal in the day (but can’t expect people to not then eat in the evening) but switching to baguettes, quiches etc is a great idea.

im trying to work out how to get a charcuterie large enough (the ones in supermarkets are measly). I did look at buying in grazing boards - but again are pricy for numbers

Do you have access to Costco? They can be good for this sort of thing.

londonmummy1966 · 27/05/2024 17:59

I did a lunch for 25 in the summer last year and had platters on the table for a first course - picked up the meats from LIDL for not a lot and served with whipped feta (quick and easy to do), hummus and tapenade (also quick and easy to make) plus baguette cherry tomatoes and baby peppers (LIDL sell them quite cheaply)

Original poster
Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:54

FlambeJones · 27/05/2024 17:44

I read the thread title as you were going to eat a buffet for 14 🤣🤣

Definitely go with a large joint of something cooked the day before and sliced up, then just keep it simple with bread, cheese and salad.

Oh I definitely could 😂

OP posts:
FlambeJones · 27/05/2024 17:44

I read the thread title as you were going to eat a buffet for 14 🤣🤣

Definitely go with a large joint of something cooked the day before and sliced up, then just keep it simple with bread, cheese and salad.

Apollo365 · 27/05/2024 17:38

I’m getting hungry reading these 🤤

ChaiLatteForTwo · 27/05/2024 17:38

Op are you in the UK and do you have a costco near you? Their sushi party platters are my go to for this kind of thing

Original poster
Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:38

mumonthehill · 27/05/2024 17:28

But a whole ham and cook the day before then slice thinly. Add pasta salad, salad, breads, loads of cheese and maybe cold sausages or pork pies.

This is perfect! Thank you

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 27/05/2024 17:32

I often do “French Lunch” for a light meal: baguettes, cheese board, pate, salad.

A variation is to put out bits for people to make a Ploughman’s: baguettes, couple of cheeses, ham, salad and pickles.

Basically anything you can throw on a couple of serving platters and let people help themselves!

If you have pudding at lunchtime, you can just put out a fruit bowl or some strawberries and cream.

It’ll take no time at all beyond the shopping.

mumonthehill · 27/05/2024 17:28

But a whole ham and cook the day before then slice thinly. Add pasta salad, salad, breads, loads of cheese and maybe cold sausages or pork pies.

Apollo365 · 27/05/2024 17:26

Costco, if you don’t have an account borrow someone’s card

Ineffable23 · 27/05/2024 17:25

Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:17

Thanks for the ideas all.

I won’t be doing hot food as this is off the back of going out for a meal in the day (but can’t expect people to not then eat in the evening) but switching to baguettes, quiches etc is a great idea.

im trying to work out how to get a charcuterie large enough (the ones in supermarkets are measly). I did look at buying in grazing boards - but again are pricy for numbers

Could you either go to a supermarket that sells cooked meats on a counter (might be more expensive) or go to Lidl/Aldi. They single meat platters, chorizo etc and you could get a few of those.

Apollo365 · 27/05/2024 17:25

My mum does a lot of this for events, they buy rolls, and all the fillings and just present it in a way people can make their own (meats, cheeses, pickles etc)

Quitelikeacatslife · 27/05/2024 17:22

I hate the big grazing boards with everything mixed , just unpack from supermarket on to separate plates and bowls , chopping board for cheese , pile of plates , napkins , cutlery

Quitelikeacatslife · 27/05/2024 17:20

Cheese board , add on charcuterie, grapes figs, chutneys , olives pickled onion, pork pie , with sliced up baguette. Maybe crudités and dips if you can be bothered . Perhaps then buy crisps, breadsticks . Could buy some party food to heat up like mini samosas or quiches, whatever looks nice .

Original poster
Whoisthewalrus · 27/05/2024 17:17

Thanks for the ideas all.

I won’t be doing hot food as this is off the back of going out for a meal in the day (but can’t expect people to not then eat in the evening) but switching to baguettes, quiches etc is a great idea.

im trying to work out how to get a charcuterie large enough (the ones in supermarkets are measly). I did look at buying in grazing boards - but again are pricy for numbers

OP posts:
dreamingbohemian · 27/05/2024 16:24

Sandwiches and salads are actually the faffiest things to make and won't be nice sitting around all day

Far easier to get a lot of charcuterie and cheese and bread and just put on platters at the time
Get some pre-cut veg and dips from Waitrose, coleslaw
Get a couple quiches (or make yourself ahead of time)
Crisps and fruit
Maybe a couple nice cakes?

mitogoshi · 27/05/2024 16:15

For this quantity of people I'd be tempted to buy sandwich fillings etc and cut bakery bread or rolls and let them assemble themselves for ease

mitogoshi · 27/05/2024 16:14

Easy, I have catered for 80+ so 14 is nothing. Just work out what you buy in ready made, what you buy in for assembly and what is from scratch ... when it's comes to this sort of thing, the crowd pleasers tend to be the very things we shouldn't really eat but it's a celebration!

Confortableorwhat · 27/05/2024 16:11

I wouldn't make sandwiches but absolutely a spread for 14 is perfectly reasonable.

Fwiw I often find a big chilli or curry (or a couple) easier than a cold spread for large numbers

Emptyjars · 27/05/2024 16:09

I love a food thread.

Definitely go with cold cuts, cheese and chutneys, bread, salad bowls, crudites, crisps and dips, cold pies, cocktail sausages. Fresh fruit platter of grapes, berries and whatever else.

Hinkuy · 27/05/2024 16:08

Hot rolls
Baguettes
Quiche
Pork pies
Picnic eggs
Charcuterie
Cheeses
Veggies
Fruit
Butter block
Coleslaw
Etc

Not sandwiches