Cold simple buffet ideas

[Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns]

I'm at a loss! ( new parent possibly sleepy deprived )
Things I can buy and bung out on a plate.
I'll obviously have sandwiches
Cold sausage rolls? Sausages? ( is that now naff or perfectly acceptable? )
Quiche? ( does anyone actually like them?)
Salad?
Various cakes
Needs to be a few veggie options too

Only for around £30 people odd.

I think it's been that long since I was at any sort of party pre lockdown, I genuinely can't remember!

Fruit platter
Cheese
Meats
Breadsticks and dip

Is it for adults or kids?

Charcuterie and cheese, nice bread.

Hummus and pita bread
Veggie sticks

Cold chicken drumsticks which were marinaded before you cooked them
A couscous chickpea and roast vege salad
Pesto pasta salad
Sliced ham or other cold meat
Bread rolls

Do you mean 30 people or £30 budget?

I love quiche and all the standard buffet food. Sausages are lovely in my book, not naff!

Go easy on the salad - it doesn’t get eaten! I find mini pizzas, sausage rolls and cheese on sticks always goes down well! Crisps and breadsticks too. I always do devilled eggs but probably more effort than you are looking for! Quiche is a nice vegetarian option. Normally I’d do cold cuts and nice bread but not with sandwiches - one or the other.

I would have
French bread
Cheeses
Ham
Salad
Hummus
A big pork pie
Pickles
Maybe quiche
Bowl of mixed berries or grapes
Small cakes

Or if it was for kids
Sandwiches
Sausage rolls
Pizza slices
Cucumber and carrot batons
Hummus
Cherry tomatoes
Chocolate fingers
Fairy cakes

Cold new potato and cold salmon!

Cold cuts...ham, chicken, salami
Potato salad, green salad, cheese, bread

God I could nail this food 😂 I enjoy a cheese and pineapple personally! And there's a lovely tuna rice salad recipe on good food I'd recommend.

Go easy on the salad - it doesn’t get eaten!

Yep, people want filling up- pies, pasties, cheap crap

As you have a few vegetarians to cater for, I'd make it 80% vegetarian, ie sandwiches, quiche, pizza etc and then possibly one or two token meat items then most food is suitable for everyone.

Cheese board is always popular, add a variety of crackers & biscuits and a bunch of grapes.

Chicken drumsticks, pork pie, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages.

Potato salad, rice salad.

I would go for an ‘expanded’ cheeseboard

So a variety of cheeses
Some cold meats
Bread
Crackers
Grapes and apple slices
Pickles/chutneys
Quiche
Pickled onions
Olives
Small amount of salad
Crisps
Dips
Breadstick type things

@BarbaraofSeville

As you have a few vegetarians to cater for, I'd make it 80% vegetarian, ie sandwiches, quiche, pizza etc and then possibly one or two token meat items then most food is suitable for everyone.

Agreed. Most people are omnivores rather than meat eaters, so will try some of everything they like the look of.

Chicken drumsticks, pork pie, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages

This is the sort of thing you want to avoid. Three of those items are effectively the same food so significantly reduces choice for anyone who doesn't want a pile of processed pork.

You get some nice vegetarian versions of sausage rolls - not the ones with fake meat, the ones with vegetable fillings.

Homemade coleslaw / potato salad
Big bowls of crisps
Fruit kebabs

Oh I love a buffet. Deviled eggs, lots of cheeses, french bread, pickles, Italian meats, fruit, some cake, hot chicken ...

Def have some interesting salads eg
Greek
Grain eg quinoa or lentil with eg sun dried tomatoes, avo, olives, cucumber, feta or goat
Pear blue cheese chicory etc with dressing

A couple of big lumps of cheese one soft one hard with a big plate full of crackers, grapes, figs, dates, chutneys

Maybe a salmon

A homemade quiche or a good one from eg Cook

A few cakes and some artfully arranged berries maybe a tower of brownies

Get someone to bring a cheese and pineapple hedgehog. Teens love making them

Look on the sainsburys entertaining section for inspiration then replicate it cheaper by shopping at Aldi. I would do charcuterie, cheeses, antipasti, humous and crudités, selection of breads, and a platter of traditional finger buffet things like sausage rolls, mini pork pies, scotch eggs. Bit of salad garnish to make it less beige.

@BarbaraofSeville

I always do veggie quiche and pizza for that reason but I personally dislike typical veggie sandwich fillings (cheese, egg) so wouldn't suggest that, do a mix.

The quorn mini eggs are good, cheese and onion rolls

Cheeses. Bread. Cold side of salmon. Cold new potatoes. Big thing of roast/grilled ‘Mediterranean’ veg with maybe a bit of halloumi.

I'd have a Greek salad. Watermelon with halloumi and mint is also easy to put together and refreshing.