To Ask Guests To Bring NYE Food?

We had about 25/30 people for nibbles/drinks after carols in our local tiny church. (People didn't need to go to the carols!)

I knew some would have eaten earlier but as we started about 5.30 wanted to provide food for those who wouldn't be eating that night.

Bit trad (would normally work on a theme - mezze/tapas/Mexican/Greek) but went down well. In addition to canapes that were handed round at intervals, I cooked and thinly sliced a gammon joint and did some twice baked half potatoes as well as a cheeseboard.

Mini mince pies and shortbread and some dates were all I provided for pudding. Kept everyone going through a long and fun evening.

We do NYE parties at 9pm and after for arrivals. We host every year and just do a cheese board, crisps, sausage rolls. Then I'll make cocktails and everyone brings their own drink. No need for fork out !

I'll admit I haven't read the full thread so I might be wrong but I am someone who both rarely hosts and has an eating disorder - I feel like you might be a similar person?

I had a house party a few months ago and was so worried about what to provide (as, like you, I have zero concept of normal!) that I posted on here for advice and got what seemed like a great menu. I spent SO much money and almost nobody ate a thing! I was mortified, horrified by the waste of money and just wanted to cry. I don't think there was anything wrong with the food (I do think I put it in the wrong room away from where people were chatting) but it wasn't a meal time and they just drank and picked at bits. But then you get experiences like yours where you run out. It seems unpredictable and like you can't win either way tbh!

I think I agree with the suggestion of doing what you did before but doubling the amount. Or you could do what the hosts I'm going to this year are doing and cook an actual meal (will still be self serve style but a full meal at a set time and then no more food around). That would probably be a lot cheaper for you and fill people up.

Provide your nibbles and some drinks.
Ask the guests to each bring some nibbles or cheese/fruit platters to share.

Have the BBQ on for a while and cook up sausages, Shish Kebabs and rissoles.
Prepare some cheese toasties to toast later on.

YES, I was trying to think who this was reminding me of, Amanda it is 😂 Also agree with the pretending.

I’d want the Viking feast tbh

They're not posh enough for saxa salt, they just reuse whatever falls off of their non-imported crisps as they guzzle them by the multi pack.

Imported crisps. Lol

You seem to have quite an odd relationship with food to the extreme, fair enough your diet sounds healthy I’m not knocking it but I don’t think you can force your habits on others, you either need to make it clear from the offset to guests to eat before as you’ll be serving a light buffet only or cater for the majority and you stick to your regular food.

😂

Not sure if I might be lowering the tone here a tad, but what about pie and peas? Buy in a truck load of pies from your local farm shop, get one of those extra large sauce pans for the mushy peas, and a few jars of mint sauce.

Don't be silly. No one else can possibly host because the OP is the only one with a massive country pile (Reading semi) while all the rest live in little teeny tiny cell-like boxes with only Saxa salt.

It does seem a bit unfair if you are always the person landed with hosting amongst your friendship group. Maybe start laying the ground for someone else to do it next year, or to go out to a restaurant or something?

I'd want nibbles, pibbles, tibbles and lashings of ginger beer. IYKYK

Ah right - it was satire. How drole.

Also the number of people responding to the OP on good faith makes me a bit concerned for the general public’s ability to recognise satire. Did we read the same thing?

You don't sound like you have a normal eating pattern on any level. I get that fasting works for some people but most people don't fast from 5pm to noon the next day

A very good satirical effort let down by your failure to improvise on subsequent posts. Still, four stars from me

I’ve missed the issue with chilli 🤣

Bacon and sausage rolls (baps) are a brilliant idea

I voted YABU because bringing snacks they like is a bit sad.

You would NBU to suggest bring a dish though. And have a loose agreement about dishes.

Otherwise (if you can afford it) just cater for them.

If I was invited to a NYE party I would assume there would be some sort of buffet late on to keep people going - maybe 10.30pm.

To keep costs down ditch the imported crisps and charcuterie - either make an easy to make ahead dish like a curry or chilli (or both if big numbers) make the rice fresh.

And have out snacks - crisps, dips, fancy bread sticks, nuts if no one is allergic.

OP apparently lives on half an elegant grape and soda water. She needs to triple the quantity of food at least. And nibbles are not enough because people are drinking, so pizzas, caseroles, a turkey crown, a ham, bread and cheese, crisps. The left-overs can be donated to departing guests once they all go home (and stuff elegant nibbles - I hate parties without proper food and people well fed always think a party was great, which is worth a thought).

Its a bit off if you are having a crowd for a long night for friends to think you will provide hours and hours of snacks etc., especially if its more than 4-6 people.
Very normal for people to bring a dish to be shared.
We always do a dip/salad/sweet with good friends when we or friends host.
Host might provide a main like a curry, lasagne, chilli, etc.

I cater for twice the number I am entertaining. You should triple that since you have a tiny appetite. Grazing food gets eaten quickly and you need food out till after midnight.
Several platters of cold meats, several types of cheese, lots of bread (I mean several french sticks, coburgs etc and cobs (rolls). A turkey or a beef joint - a turkey crown is least hassle - backed up by a ham and some flans (some veggie) and pizzas (put them out hot). Crisps and crisps and crisps. Sausage rolls, cheese rolls, potato skins...as others have said caseroles and soups...and keep going...

You've literally done nothing but judge their eating habits since you started the thread

They have the same amount of fat / oil as any other crisps. 🙄