Is this enough food for a lunchtime spread?

[glitterpaperchain]

Hosting a family garden party in a month. There will be 9 adults, a 4 year old and two 3 year olds. Arriving at 11, staying at least a few hours. Plan is to just cover the kitchen table in food buffet style. 3 adults (including myself) are vegetarian. Plan is:

2 large quiches (one meat one veg)
Pasta salad with roasted veg + pesto
Potato salad
Sausage rolls
Lots of french bread and rolls
Range of cheeses
Range of sliced deli meats
Cooked chicken slices
Caprese salad
Crackers
Crisps and dips
Tomato, cucumber, pepper sticks etc.

Abundance of these ie the potato salad will be a big one, I am overweight and like a good portion so trust me when I say a large portion (anyone remember a similar recent thread? 😅)

Not sure on puddings yet, probably a fruit salad, biscuits and the birthday cake. Cake has not been planned so cannot give specific dimensions on size or volume of cake.

Is this enough? What else would you suggest?

Seriously??

Cold chicken slices, oh no they need to be hot

Must do pizza!

Must do nuggets?!

How about pavlova??

FFS the OP is enough food

Get yourself down Costco
platter and picky buffet heaven

I like this kind of spread. I’d add in home made potato skins (served warm/hot) with a variety of veggie and meat fillings- cheese and chive, pulled ham and cheese type thing and probably do a roast ham or pork joint to go in the rolls with coleslaw.

That said- I’m a feeder and would accept I’d be eating variations of ham for a week (great in fried rice, pasta, as a midweek roast with yorkshires etc, with jacket potato and coleslaw).
Or I’d bung a load of sausages in the oven (meat and veggie) to go in hotdogs. I do like a hot option on a buffet.

It’s no where near enough food, OP. What about adding some burgers, chips and chicken nuggets?

Oh and as well as needing something more substantial, you have too much cold foods. People need hot food

I must admit I'd prefer some ready made sandwiches I could help myself to without having to faff about trying to make my own.

I would not consider biscuits a buffet food and agree with the pavlova, trifle - maybe individual meringues dipped in chocolate and sandwiched together with whipped cream?
Your ideas sound great overall!

It all sounds lovely to me. Sounds like enough food especially if you are having deserts too.

Sounds great. Personally, I would like:
both quiches to be veggie;
a bowl of salad leaves; and
hot chicken wings (will need more napkins) rather than cold chicken slices.

coleslaw sounds good if the potato salad is not mayonnaise based.

Seems like a lot of meat given that a third of guests won't eat any at all.

I'd drop the deli meats and instead do two of hummus and falafels, samosas and bhajis or a vegetable topped pizzas, making sure there's enough for most people to have some as its normal food not 'something for the vegetarians'.

It’s plenty, Mumsnet always makes me laugh, most posters say they are stuffed for days after a pub lunch but come buffets you could have a groaning kitchen table for a handful of people and you’ll be told you’re under catering

I’m an over caterer I’ve learned to put out a third of what I prepare and plan to top up from the fridge if needed. It never is so we have that stuff for a few days, I feel prepared but don’t waste food that’s been sitting out for hours

No definitely the same - I remember the 2 quiches between 9 people!

😂 funny

(at least I think you’re sending up the posters who are all: ooh no, that’ll only feed one child with the appetite of a sparrow - get McDonalds on speed-dial)

I can't actually work out which replies are serious and which are taking the piss!

I think that unless the quiches are huge, you need more. And I agree with a pp that they should all be vegetarian, or at the very least 2 veggie and 1 meat. The other thing I would do is drop the cold sliced chicken because no one likes it. A variety of ham/cold meat and cheeses should be fine.

I hope you have a lovely time.

A lettuce leaf 😆

I don't understand this country's obsession with quiches for a buffet 🤮 vile things!!

That aside 😄 your buffet sounds great. Make sure there is loads of cheese!

As a veggie I would want more than quiche and salad. Veggie pizza, veggie sausage rolls etc.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

her poor guests will be hitting up McDonalds on the way home from OP’s if she doesn’t give them a lot more food - and I mean proper substantial food. If not they will leave starving

Sounds like a decent spread. If you're worried you might run out, I'd just get a couple of frozen pizzas or bags of sausage rolls as a backup and see how quickly what you have already goes.

I think it needs proper food like a cooked dish. A curry or two or lasagne would be nicer.
it sounds like alot of stuff, but not really filling.
‘lots of bread And rolls’ - but with WHAT? No dips or sauce?
I would do some filled croissants or something - much nicer

Just here for the “could you do a massive pot of chilli and bake a hundred potatoes?” brigade.

I love a MN food thread 😆

Oh you always get them - it’s not proper food and it won’t be filling

she didn’t say any of the guests had unusual stomachs

she had a verity of proteins carbs and veg and if that doesn’t fill you up but a McDonalds will it’s pyshcological

I think that sounds fine and I never knowingly under-cater!
A PP suggested olives (yuck)
Chicken thighs or legs instead of sliced chicken breast (yuck)
and chilli (triple yuck!)

each to their own... 😁

The only thing I would suggest is maybe some baked potatoes in case people don't like potato salad. I don't like potato salad made with mayonnaise - can't stand mayonnaise - so I always make mine with a non-mayonnaise dip instead, but given the choice I would still choose a baked potato.

Also - maybe a few cooked cocktail sausages for the little ones, not strictly necessary but I've yet to meet a non-vegetarian child who doesn't like them!

You wouldn't have French bread, cheese, crisps and dips?

I think a veggie sausage roll (stilton and walnut for example ) or some kind of extra protein choice is a good idea

the meat eaters have all the veggie stuff PLUs chicken , deli meats and sausage rolls