Is this enough food and what else would you do if not?

[thinkprint]

I’ve got six people (not including me) around for drinks in the garden tomorrow from 3pm onwards. One is vegan.

I’ve got a roast chicken (and a vegan ‘chicken’ joint), a medium ham joint, two loaves of crusty bread, butter, coleslaw and a potato salad. The potatoes will be vegan.

I’ll also have olives, cheese, ham, hummus, guacamole and crisps out.

Is this enough?

If it’s intended to be a full meal rather than more of a snack, I don’t think that’s enough meat for six meat eaters, unless you are expecting that some of them will also eat some of the vegan chicken.

In addition to a green/vegan salad, I would serve watermelon slices. They always go down well on a warm day, and can act as a light dessert too. Enjoy the evening!

I'd definitely eat that, it sounds lovely. Go easy on the spinach though, it can be a bit industrial if there's too much of it in relation to the other leaves.

Sounds like plenty as the bread and potatoes will be filling. Agree I'd do a simple roasted brocoli side also...easier and in my experience more likely to be eaten than salad (and if not, can be used as leftovers whereas salad goes slimy!).

I'd also put a good olive oil out as a vegan alternative to butter.

I don’t think anyone will eat the vegan chicken except the vegan.

i was working on the basis that a third of a chicken or gammon joint is enough for one person?

Been for parsley and lemons and will do the broccoli.

I presume your guests know that you're preparing a full meal for them?
If someone invited me for "drinks in the garden" I wouldn't expect more than drinks and a few nibbly things in bowls. 🙂

Personally I think you need more veg. I’d never either eat coleslaw (greasy with the mayo) or potato salad (more mayo). Perhaps a big green salad and some brocolli?

Yeah they’ll be expecting to be fed. It’s 3pm onwards so they’ll be here till late.

I’m doing the potatoes with lemon and garlic, not mayo. I wouldn’t describe coleslaw as greasy, but we all have different tastes. I do think there’d be a large chance of most of a big salad being left.

Ooh drain chickpeas and dry, add fave seasoning, garlic, paprika etc and air fry. They are a lovely "picky" treat.

My salads always go down well but I think its because I use my veg chopper so its small chunks rather than 1/4 tomato etc with some balsamic vinegar tossed in.

I’d do this but leave out the beetroot! I’d be happy with what you are offering

I used to make a big effort with salads. Waldorf and Caesar and feta and watermelon, but there is always a lot left over.

I’ve bought some halloumi too.

Mine always gets tubbed up and taken away.

Im not good with vegan food but cous cous, with red onion (tiny chopped) with beetroot always goes down well, I usually split it and the other half has feta.

Get some vegan mayo for the coleslaw / potato salad but I actually prefer a vinegar based slaw which is meant to be vegan - more refreshing than mayo based and goes great with the ham especially

i would ditch the second lot of ham to go with the ham joint, and add a green salad or some green vegetables,

The second lot is just chorizo type ham to go with the cheese and olives.

I’ve shop bought the coleslaw but will do the potatoes with lemon and garlic. Good to know for the future though!

Potatoes are carbs would eat a couple but would feel veg / salad was missing. Anyway you know your guests.

As a vegan, I would definitely wonder where the vegetables were! I would do some cooked green veg, just steam some broccoli and asparagus and make sure there's plenty of it. Otherwise the vegan just has potatoes and dry bread to go with their protein which all sounds very beige and stodgy.

I’ve got olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the bread too. I’m doing the broccoli recipe a previous poster sent.

There’s also olives and guacamole.

Add in a big green salad and it sounds lovely

Olives and guacamole are starters though really. The broccoli recipe will be good though. There's definitely plenty of food.