Food ideas for an 80th please

[DeclansAFeckingDream]

My mother in law is 80 in a few weeks and we are having a day time get together here for her, a few of her friends and her children, grandchildren etc. Nothing huge, about 15 people but too many for a sit down meal.

I need ideas of what to serve that doesn't mean that I'm in the kitchen all day. Not too fancy, not to casual if that makes sense! Cake is taken care of. I would love some ideas please.

Afternoon tea? Nice sandwiches, scones, quiches.
For 15 I would be tempted to just buy something in. Morrisons and Sainsburys do great party food.

The sandwich platters from either of those places are very good, with lots of meat, veggie, fish options

How about a Boxing Day type spread with a big gammon as a centre piece?

Old-fashioned high tea. Sliced ham, quiche, egg & cress sandwiches, fruit cake, trifle etc.

Would she like a grazing table type thing (only ask because my 80 year old granny would be horrified at all the food mixed together!) but they can look so pretty and there are usually companies that will come in and do it all for you if you don't want to put it together yourself (but would be simple to do if you don't mind!)

Grazing tables remind me of a chimps' tea party to be honest. They always look dreadful after about 2 minutes.

This.

Covers all angles

• the fact you want to have served a 'meal' if people are coming for a while (rather than a "Drop in any time during the day for a cuppa")
• easy to prepare / not much needs cooking, and what does can be prepared the day before
• people can choose the bits they want / like so you aren't worrying about people all liking whatever you make

Can others chip in bring something? My go to easy party good prep in advance
Simple buffet food, can someone do a big piece of salmon with sliced cucumber , get good sliced ham and beef from butcher, slice some onions in malt vinegar overnight to have with beef, nice white baps , salads
Maybe couple of quiches or pork pies.
Big cheeseboard
Couple of cakes, bowl of berries , meringues cream

The cake will be massive (I'm a baker) and will take me bloody hours so I don't want to have too many other cakes. It has different tiers with different flavours because she wants to take some to her various different clubs. I like the idea of a 'centrepiece' with a lovely cheeseboard etc.

I’m doing a similar but 75th soon. Haven’t altogether decided yet but will probably cook a big piece of gammon (or two smaller ones) to have cold (room temp, cooked the day before) and a macaroni cheese pie* (cuts into nice portions, always goes down well) jacket potatoes, salad or homemade coleslaw or both, probably some fishy M&S starters first, probably a huge apple and something crumble, as well as bday cake.
*made the same morning but will grate all the cheese - the only faffy bit - the night before.

If you're not strapped for cash, then go to Waitrose or M and S and buy packets of nice sandwiches to cut in half.

Then add sausage rolls, crudités, quiches and posh crisps.

Have a great party!

I don't know if you're near a Morrisons but the do lovely platters with sandwiches, cakes , chicken and snacks to order . You can ask at customer services for a brochure .
I've used them before and they were superb .

@BorisJohnsonsHair why would you do that rather than just order a sandwich platter?

Keep the food soft and easy to digest. So a chilli and rice or baked potatoes?

Some nice deli bought quiches