Give me your easy party buffet food

[FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant]

Cold food only ideally as I'll be transporting this in my car and setting up at the venue.

Assuming the usual is a start but more suggestions welcome..

Sandwiches
Crisps
Cupcakes
Sausage rolls
Cheese and onion rolls
Salad
Cocktail sausages

What else would you include?
Around 50-60 guests of all ages.

Personally I really dislike food served cold that could / should be served hot (pizza, pakora, drumsticks etc). I’m not a fussy eater at all. Actually eat anything other than offal. But I really do not enjoy cold food like this. On speaking to people I don’t think I’m alone in that. Which is why I would go for obviously cold food if you do not have the option to heat it up.

Lots of good suggestions above.

I always include a large cheeseboard and lots of French bread and butter for people to cut and butter themselves.

I'd like to see something spicy such as chicken satay or tikka on wooden skewers

Remember the coeliacs and vegans

I would. It's a bit stodgy and beige otherwise.

I was going to say the same @LWSnow

I'll be asking about vegans (not sure if we have any coming) but we've definitely got three coeliacs so I'll do a separate table for them with gluten free options. I'm in an allergy household anyway with anaphylaxis risks so all prepared for cross contamination control etc. I also think we'll have a few people who don't eat pork or beef, so I'll be making sure we've got extra vegetarian options too.

Ham, and other cooked deli meats. Chorizo and similar if you're feeling inclined.

Baguette or nice bread with softened butter. Nothing worse than delicious soft bread served with just out the fridge butter to rip it shreds

I don't mind cold drumsticks and thing but others might. And only if they can be properly stored.

Wraps cut in to pinwheels is something a bit different to sandwiches, lends itself more to pesto chicken and similar, as less likely to go soggy. Google also tells me you can make similar with puff pastry!

Reflecting on previous buffets I've enjoyed - I prefer ample amount of a small selection of nice bits, than trays and trays of choice!

@WhamBamThankU So would 1 pizza for three teenagers not be enough?? Maybe I should do 1 between 2…

A big joint of pork or beef sliced and some crusty bread

If you are doing dips, how about a smoked mackerel one? It's simple and makes a change from the usual cheese/hummus dips.
Vodka jelly shots? Just make up a raspberry jelly with 50/50 water and vodka and fill tiny plastic shot glasses. One jelly makes loads of shots. Or Pimms shots with tiny bits of fruit in, if you're feeling fancy 😁
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/smoked-mackerel-dip

We're allowed to self cater for the event but not provide our own drinks as there'll be a bar provided. Not sure I'd trust jelly shots around so many kids either, just in case 😂

You can do jacket spuds in a slow cooker, depending on the size you can get quite a few in.

The party platters from Tesco aren't bad value either. Much easier than making all your own stuff.

@Sgtmajormummy We got 5 16" pizzas for about 15 kids and there were a few slices left. Half Margherita half pepperoni

Omg I'm exactly like this.