Buffet for 40 people - ideas needed

[carnivalqueenthethird]

Later this year my parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. They had their reception in a local village hall, so i have hired the same venue to host a surprise party for them.

It’s going to be a mingle and chat kind of event rather than a full blown party disco and will be held at 1pm. There will be tables and chairs to sit at, so it doesn’t need to be purely finger food.

I was originally going to do a mixture of hot and cold food - the hot being pulled pork and beef brisket with rolls, but I couldn’t think of a vegetarian alternative. We also have some quite greedy family members who would pile their rolls up with 4 people’s worth of portions, so I would need to stand there and serve which I thought would be just a bit too much hassle for 40 people.

So I think I’m going down the cold buffet route. I plan to make sandwiches, cocktail sausages and cheese and pineapple skewers as my parents had these at their evening reception. I will also do a tray of vegetable sticks with dips and get some crisps, but I would really like some ideas of other things I can serve that are a bit more exciting and not giving off children’s birthday party vibes. Particularly interested in vegetarian ideas as I always feel the veggies get left out a bit.

What are your go to buffet dishes? Maybe pasta salads or other skewer ideas?

The only thing I need to avoid completely is fish/shellfish as my dad is allergic and my mum isn’t a fan.

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.

I’d order or buy in ready made sandwiches from M&S, and get picky bits like mini pork pies, snacky food from there too and then maybe do warm food.

I used to do a ricotta and spinach lasagne.

How lovely to do it in the venue of their reception 🥹

No suggestions as I am a terrible caterer but I hope you have a lovely time

Morrisons sandwich platters are good

You can make a veggie tart thing. Use ready made rolled puff pastry and just put mascrapone. Then Mushrooms, courgettes, peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes etc on with maybe some kind of cheese and herbs. Cook for about half an hour. That could be served cold.

Or a tortilla style omelette with onions and potatoes and maybe some other veg?

Bean salad? A few types of tinned beans, chickpeas, sun-dried toms. Spring onions, sweetcorn and olive oil and lemon juice. That's easy and is nice if you leave it to marinate for a bit. So could make day before.

For the time, effort and cost of doing this yourself I’d either order platters of sandwiches & buffet food from a local caterer/cafe or get platters from M&S or Costco if you’ve got a card and one near you.

Do you know how many veggies are coming? I'd get an idea on numbers and I'd make big veg chilli and tacos and let the veggies have their first as probably a lot of meat eaters will want some as well. Not all veggies like eggs or mushroom so I'd avoid quiches and tarts personally, and a chilli could actually be vegan- people can add cheese, cream etc if they want.

Two mains should be fine then a couple different salads to go with and the taco shells/soft tacos sides (grated cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa) and some nice fresh bread. Potato salad is tasty and easy and this salad is a crowd-pleaser. It's delicious. You may not even bother with the avocado in it if you already had a guacamole.

This keeps it simple and elevates it away from a kids' buffet.

Then I'd do some nice easy desserts like tray bakes such as brownies and strawberries and cream.

Having the sit down aspect would be good I think as a lot of people prefer to sit and eat something proper rather than balance a small plate with a glass of fizz while standing around.

Exactly what I said! When my nana used to have parties in her retirement flat complex someone made sandwiches but otherwise they bought in picky snacky food and had no hot. Always went down well.

Vege chilli or pulled dragonfruit is a good hot option for vegetarians.

Second using someone for sandwiches, Morrisons do some fancier and more plain sandwiches made to order for the day. You can do a click and collect with normal food items along with the sandwiches and pick it all up at the same time. The cookie platter is a steal.

What a nice daughter you are and I love a buffet like this. Am veggie. A big quiche or 2 sliced up and a roast veg couscous salad with cashews in it (and feta on the side so it's vegan) would go nicely. And some little pickled onions which don't necessarily add any sustenance but must be included in these things imo.

Particularly interested in vegetarian ideas as I always feel the veggies get left out a bit.
One thing I will say about veggie food, especially if it something that looks really good and interesting or is popular put on more than you think you may need.
The meat eaters ( who normally whinge about not liking veggie stuff) will eat it as well.

Really have a think about how you will keep everything refrigerated , that's a lot of food to shop for and then keep cold once sandwiches etc are made. I regularly cater for 12 and my big fridge is packed.

It sounds lovely and so nice of you to do this for them.

I do agree with people saying buy it in though, but if you're seeing this as an act of service for your parents and don't want to do that, I get it.

I follow a youtuber Sonyas Prep. She prepares massive buffets every week for the Jewish Sabbath and also for big holiday events. She also has a very great many children so her posts are usually about cooking in bulk for food that has to be served in the next day or so.

I highly recommend her. She cooks alot of Salmon for example, and salads. her food is truly inspirational.

https://www.youtube.com/@SonyasPrep

I'd go mostly for sandwiches, sausage rolls, vegetable samosas, falafels and dips etc, but bean salad as previously suggested looks good and tastes good. I usually do a big bowl of roasted vegetables. Last big do we had I did two and both went down well. Both were roasted in a big roasting tin till soft and served at room temperature or slightly warm.

1. Spicy mixed roast veg: baby corn, chunks of/small carrots (more than one colour if possible), chunks of sweet potato and butternut squash, baby or chunked red potatoes, florets of cauliflower, baby or quartered mushrooms, red onion slices/quarters, all tossed in oil and tandoori or similar spice mix, salt, pepper, garlic etc.
2. Mediterranean roast veg: chunks of courgettes, aubergines and red, yellow and orange peppers, quartered red onions, tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil. Some people add balsamic vinegar to this. Sundried tomatoes, olives and capers are good additions. Sundried or other tomato paste could be added to bring it together a bit. Green beans are another possible addition.

This is because most people are omnivores and like to try everything. For this reason when I am catering I make mostly vegetarian food even though we're not, because then I know there will be enough for everybody. The meat and fish are there too, but not in huge quantities.

I was at my father's funeral on Friday, we had a buffet afterwards.
This was made by a caterer but you could do similar.

The vegetarians, vegans, and lactose intolerant had their own small 'platers' for want of a better word. They had a clear lid and a label I'm the lactose free one, mine had, from memory:

ham sandwiches, tuna tortilla rolls, falafel, onion bhaji, mini spring roll, sweet chilli dipping sauce and a small salad.

The platters were similar to these www.ikrafts.co.uk/product/black-plastic-buffet-platters-and-clear-lids

The general buffet had, as well as the above, cheese sandwiches, pork pies cut in half, sausage rolls, mini quiche then a couple of platters of cakes, scones, pastries.

Sorry for your loss @sashh

40 is a lot to cater for - do you have the space to prep/ store water you decide on. I’d be be buying it in!

Exactly. A lot of food is naturally vegetarian, such as samosas, bhajis, cheese or egg sandwiches that everyone eats etc not special weirdy food only attractive to vegetarians.

But a lot of people have very odd ideas about buffets, that they should have every single processed pork food imaginable and then a token cheese sandwich 'for the vegetarians'. So then everyone gets up in arms if someone who does eat meat might want something other than a sausage or ham.

Samosas and bhajis are brilliant for veggies and meat eaters alike. Do you have an Indian sweet centre nearby? You could order in bulk and collect them just before the start of the party. They'll be deep fried and hot. And fine for a good 4 hours afterwards.

Thank you.

Quiche

Baguettes, cheeses

Rather than making sandwiches which is a massive faff, why not do a big cheeseboard, a big charcuterie board, some pork pies, sausage rolls, dips and crudités, olives and other antipasti and get some nice bread or rolls? If you want something hot you could do pizza or quiche, and if you want something more substantial add in some salads - pasta salad / coleslaw / bean salad.

@carnivalqueenthethird would afternoon tea themed not go down better? Sandwiches, cakes in bite size portions (catered by M&S or something for sure) and scones with jam and cream and then you could have savouries like pork pies, sausage rolls and chutneys etc too