Suggestions for stylish buffet food for about 15 people

[Bequietplease]

That's it, really. Having a gathering, want the food to be more than party food/snacks but not everyone will be able to sit down, so they'll need to be able to eat it standing up.

I like the idea of doing Indian food, but not sure.

Love cooking, am a great cook, but currently lack inspiration - so hit me up with your ideas, please. I'm a fan of Meera Sodha, Ottolenghi at moment.

I think Indian would work well.
A meat curry
A veg curry
Rice
Lots of mini popadoms, naan,
Some onion bhajis and samosas (I'd buy these ready done just to warm through.
Mango chutney
Raita
Onion salad.
The majority of the work is done in advance, the sides make it a bit nicer than a standard weekday curry, could be eaten standing up with only a fork.

Get a price from a caterer? Saves you time and time is money

Curry is useless if people are standing - things like samosa, tikka, would work but not sure what do do about vegetables/ fresh stuff to balance the richer food ( crudités don't seem to fit the theme !)

Indian curry is great as long as you have the meat in small chunks so they don't need to be further cut on the plate. That way guests can hold the plate in one hand and eat using a fork with the other.

Unlike PP, I wouldn't fuss around with things like samosa and bhaji. Better to have things where guests can skip a particular part if they want rather than things which come mixed up and self-contained. I'd go for a few different curry options, depending on the crowd with a different main protein ingredient, then rice and naan.

Costco do lovely buffet food

We’re having a party with a buffet soon.

Some of the things my husband is doing -

Baked Camemberts in rings of home made ciabatta

Nigella sausages - both the honey/sesame ones and cranberry/soy version

Stuffed and wrapped jalapeños

Smoked salmon blinis

Slow cooked bourbon glazed pork belly chunks

Crostini with various toppings

Brie and cranberry bites

Charcuterie board

Christmas ham (Coke/maple syrup/mustard)

Corn ribs

Figs with goats cheese and honey

Potato wedges with dip

Flat breads with humus and labneh

Chicken wings (incredibly popular)

Guacamole

There’s more that I can’t recall.

How about baked Camembert with sliced baguette to dip in it.

In my head a buffet is a selection of smaller items (a couple of bites and gone) so mini quiche samosa stuffed vine leaves etc as they are pretty self contained if you're standing up or mingling. (Obviously I don't mean just a table of beige , easy to eat salads and veg would also feature)

inspiration @Bequietplease?

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/collections/michelin-star-recipes

I think that if you love Ottolenghi then mezze may be the way to go. A similar vibe to doing curries but more smaller dishes and almost all can be served at room temperature. There are recipes on his website but also in a Guardian special from 2017 that's still available online: there's a charred aubergine and tahini dish on there that I've served a hundred times that is always really popular.
If you put Ottolenghi mezze into google they will both come up.

@WalterdelaMare buffet food sounds good! We often have a fuddle/buffet but it's not themed as one style of food. Crostini are easy to make ahead and can be a "vehicle" for so many different kinds food, dips, cheeses or cold cuts. We do home baked nuts the sweet salty mix works well and there are so many versions to try.

Home made cheese biscuits dead simple wholemeal flour , butter and cheese go down really well I have made them with various seasonings including chillie ,smoked paprika and cumin. The dough can be made in advance and thd shapes frozen. I do strips of smoked salmon wrapped in cream cheese spiked onto cocktail sticks. I do a spelt salad with grapes onion coriander walnuts and feta. I do stuffed poached dried apricots I think that's?from persiana. They are worth the faff. I make mini home made filo quiches. I may do a salmon side as well - maybe with a middle eastern rose petal pomegranate topping - can't remember which thats from. I would do grilled chicken legs marinated in kabsa spices. Maybe a vegan potato salad as well

Mary berry did puff pastry,pesto,(folded over) parmesan (sprinkled on top then lightly rolled in) cut into diamond shapes looked really easy.

If you do go for an indian food theme and want it to be easy to eat standing you could do some stuff on skewers- tandoori chicken, fried paneer
or stick some of the wetter stuff in puris
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aachi-pani-puri-kit-155g/dp/B09MNNBSVN/ref=pballsparkdpsimspaodesktopsessionbaseddsccl34/262-3361561-3186800?pdrdw=HIaqq&content-id=amzn1.sym.3d2941c4-8dbd-4559-a2da-3450ec26a618&pfrdp=3d2941c4-8dbd-4559-a2da-3450ec26a618&pfrdr=KE16T1T65SQSH16B1GVP&pdrdwg=235Y9&pdrdr=9d743ab3-cba8-4193-a520-de8bc795241c&pdrdi=B09MNNBSVN&psc=1

Do do some non spicy stuff in case everyone does not like spice though

You're all brilliant, thanks so much for the input

I wouldn't want to handle a skewer standing up! I'd it seated or standing?

I like to do a Mediterranean mix. Ottolenghi would fit right in, but you can get away with bits of everything- tapas, Italian cicchetti, Greek, Turkish, Moroccan… You can include everything from olives to proper substantial dishes, and it’s good for vegetarians as well because you can have things like imam biyaldi. Never fails to go down well.

I had some olives from Lidl & the food warehouse which are both surprisingly good Lidl £1.70 ish spicy, in oil, FW three pots for £5 olives in three varieties to choose from. Homemade hummus/ chickpea mash ( similar to tuna mayo ) or roasted chickpeas? If you like chickpeas but in glass jars from the world food section around £2 not the pulses section £4+
Mini jacket potatoes ( cook on skewers for ease)

Nigella did a yummy looking Indonesian Biryani on her Amsterdam Christmas special. With a festive fruit/ cucumber salad. Spoon to serve, bowls and forks.

I think something like that's a lot easier than tons of bits and pieces that look scrappy halfway through.

They were all standing up!