Is this enough food - and if not what else?

[Mayrain]

DH significant birthday this weekend and we're having 20 adults and 10 kids - in the garden from 1 (weather permitting):

2 x savoury tarts (large)
bread
potato salad
3 x large salads
olives
crackers
Grapes
cheese board
Houmous
crisps type things
Brownies
birthday cake
pizza for kids

Doesn't look much now I've written it down!

Any other ideas would be great.

I cater a lot of vegan and veggie events. There's some fantastic plant based "meat" in tesco and I do mock charcuterie platters.
I would do a huge Fruit salad too.

We have a Rangemaster cooker and meat goes in the larger oven and veg food in the smaller one. DH has a microwave with grill and oven but I just have a basic microwave. We have 2 panini press as well as DH won't eat from one that has in his words 'been contaminated by meat'. Also separate chopping boards and utensils. We have a big kitchen so it's not a problem. I have a severe mushroom allergy too. We have had this set up for almost 18 years. When we host we serve some veggie/vegan food and some meat.

My DD would devour that :)

Any parties/buffets I've been to irl always serves meat 😊 which makes me very happy. You need a mix of both IMO. I love salad also.

@cacaringcarer everyone I know are meat eaters. I know one vegan. I guess it does depend on your circle.

I am aware that I am not invited to your party, but for me, I wouldn't mind the lack of meat or fish, but I can't eat anything beany/pulsy, and DH can't eat onions/peppers. Quite a lot of people we know can't. There's a lot of carbs inc. the beany stuff. What I see missing is anything actually green, like a green leaf salad.

If ever you come to one my get togethers I'll make sure you're well catered for ;)

Awwww, thank you 😊

Falafel

No where near enough. Sorry but I don't understand why there is no meat or fish because your DH is veggie - it's a party what about everyone else!

Let him eat the tart and get a whole salmon to have with a lovely new potato roasted with wild garlic and salads.

Sorry hadn't read the full thread. It's not about 'needing' protein it's about catering for different tastes. Personally I've found all the vegan food I've had horrible, it all seems to be 'fake'. However I would respect its your party and your choice, of course 🙂

It's a vegetarian meal/buffet why should they slap a bloody great salmon on their table if they don't want to. I'm sure their guest know its vegetarian and won't starve to death.

Halloumi skewers? With some flat breads and nice dip so people can make a kebab, nice and filling.
Onion bhaji/samosa and indian pickle/dips
Veg spring rolls and sweet chilli
Roasted veg puff pastry parcels

I am really, really not one of the MN 'oh I'm so stuffed after half an olive that that's me done for the day' types but I am absolutely astonished by how much people are insisting they would need to eat for a buffet lunch. A piece of quiche, some bread, some cheese and salad is surely a pretty decent lunch? You really don't need to start making lasagne (which I think will be a bit bizarre with the other food) or putting meat on the table against the active wishes of the person the party is for.

Oh my goodness yes those fruits and vegetables and beans and pulses are all so fake. I had some hummus the other day - absolute fakery at its finest. Though the thing that really took the piss was the big takeaway portion of chips that I saw someone eat. Omg absolute frankenfood. Get that vegan food away I say. Bring me a whole salmon instead.

Thank you all again. I’m pretty happy with final menu, going to bulk it out with mezze type things and make a few more bits. I can always order extra pizza if needed (DH happy to eat birthday cake 😉).

Also to person who talked about vegan food tasting fake, you’ve been eating the wrong vegan food because most of the when I’ve eaten vegan it’s been delicious.

I think the fake vegan food comment relates to the huge number of vegan products that emulate non vegan food and are ultra highly processed foods.

Which of course could be said about meat.

I think the point of that post was about the poster not liking the taste of "fake" vegan items.

So DH dictates his food preferences to 30 other people? 😬

I wouldn’t eat vegan food due to all the crap in it…

This makes no sense he is vegetarian more than likely for his.own ethics of course he isn't going to serve pulled pork and a whole salmon. I'm sure his guests know this and won't waste away because they ate some quiche and salad !

Meat eater here and wouldn’t care at all about lack of it. Sounds delicious!

So 30 people have to be vegetarian because your DH is?

Everyone does that to some extent when they host.

I don't like chilli (the dish not the spice) - if someone makes me chilli for dinner have they dictated their food preferences on me? Yes, in a way, but that's just going to someone else's house for a meal. It's not a restaurant