To ask what you would make for a middle class lunch buffet ?

[Lotsofsausage]

I get the impression sausage rolls and cheese twists ain’t gonna cut it.
Has to be cold so don’t have to reheat it, and travel in a car. Also not break the bank!
I was going to make a feta tart type thing with filo pastry, possibly a frittata with lots of herbs. Any other suggestions ?

[MyNewBearTotoro]

I went to what I’d call a ‘middle class buffet’ a couple of weeks ago. Food on offer included:
Samosas/ Bhajis/ Spring Rolls (just the frozen ones heated up)
Falafel
Pitta Bread, baguettes, flatbreads
Crudités & dips (hoummous, sour cream, guacamole etc)
Quiche
Posh breadsticks
Vegetable crisps (the beetroot/ parsnip etc ones)
Bowls of nuts
Chicken drumsticks
Various salads including a regular garden salad, pasta salad, roasted veg salad and a bean salad
Cheese board with crackers & chutneys
Olives

[delboysskinandblister]

does it have to be a buffet? Make life easier and instead preparing lots of fiddly dishes serve a big plate of something hot. It's the weather for it!

Lamb tagine and couscous/mash (Nigella)

and a Vegetable pie (Robert Carrier does a fab one)

Buy churros and make a chocolate dip (nigella)

[irregularegular]

Chardonnay you are absolutely right. Wasn't thinking about the season now. Just thinking about what I usually take for these things. Admittedly they are usually in the summer!

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

It’s my favourite summer lunch, Irregular.

[RiaParkinson71]

don't forget the Jamón ibérico. And a vegan alternative.

Serve gimlets for drinks

Eh... What? Never heard of any of this?

Nothing wrong with a salmon paste sandwich ( crusts off obvs) and a tin of Del Monte fruit salad and aerosol squirty cream. It was good enough for the queens silver jubilee street party... it's good enough for your guests!

You and your fancy London ways!

[RiaParkinson71]

Oh, I see.

[waterandlemonjuice]

I thought of this thread today, our lunch was

Honey mustard sausages with chorizo
Baby spinach salad
Puy lentils, feta and a lemon, olive oil and thyme dressing
Beetroot with feta
Griddled halloumi
Garlic flatbread with parsley
Sweet potato wedges with smoked paprika and Creme fraiche

[whatnametouse]

We got a Fouchon hamper as a gift - had a jar of rillets de st jacques in - took my right back to my childhood - fish paste sandwiches 😂

Slice a french bread into thin sliced - bake until crispy and then add toppings - smoked salmon, roast beef, chargrilled veg or steak tartare if you want

[Roguebludger]

My husband's family are very Hyacinth bucket and they would never call it a buffet. They have afternoon tea and everyone brings a plate, a lot of cucumber sandwiches. The end result is much like a buffet in fact....

[Mammylamb]

Poor OP getting a hard time here when we all know what she was meaning!

Following so that I get some inspo

[Ninoo25]

I’d look on something like M&S entertaining food section for ideas. The most ‘middle class’ buffets I’ve been to haven’t had sausage rolls. They’ve normally had a mixture of:

Selected finger sandwiches or selection of breads, meats and cheeses
Mini chicken skewers
Individual size frittatas/Spanish omelette
Antipasto
Selection of salads
Houmous and crudités
Cheese platter
King prawn/smoked salmon/seafood selection
Fruit platter
Cheese cake
Tiny little dessert tartlets

[Housingcraze]

Marks and Sparks platters
Waitrose platters

[Daysofpearlyspencer]

Take them Greggs sausage rolls and tell them you're being ironic; they will think it's a real hoot!

[Franheaton]

Bottle of buckfast and leftover donner.

What's that? Oh, you mean we're not all class-blind after all?

[delboysskinandblister]

@RiaParinson71

if it were me, I'd prefer your menu!

[showmeshoyu]

Deviled swan, organic fairtrade social justice snack-fluid hummus, the ghost of kale, photographs of ethically sourced single estate quinoa and kale a la plate.

[SleepWarrior]

Devilled swan sounds more poachers' buffet than middle class!

Op, hope you're found sound actual ideas buried within the thread - there have been some sensible ones.

[RiaParkinson71]

@delboys 😂😂

[OhTheRoses]

Small whole salmon £25
Bottle cheap white
Peppercorns, 2 bayleaves, bunch parsley
2 lemons
Big bag watercress

Buy from waitrose and they'll lend you a fish kettle.

Remove gills and bung in kettle
Pour in wine and top up to cover with water
Add pcorns, bay and parsley
Bring up to tiniest bubble and turn off. Leave overnight
Remove fish in morning straight onto serving platter
Peel off skin (easy peasy)
Shove 8th of lemon in mouth
Thinly slice a lemon and decorate along middle with overlapping slices
Arrange watercress artfully around it

Always pleases and hardly any prep time. Plenty of bang for yiur bucks.

Goes well with coys cous salad. Half bag cous, good mug and a bit of marigold stock. Tip into big shallow bowl, add juice of two lemons and tbs olive oil infused with garlic, add peeled chopped cucumber, bunch chopped mint, half block feta, and black pepper.

[allthgoodusernamesaretaken]

I'm still keen to know what the event is. OP, are you hosting this event yourself? Or organising the whole event? Or just taking a contribution towards the food?

[doctorbarbie]

I love a middle class buffet. Reading this thread has made me hungry.

[Lotsofsausage]

allthegoodusernamesaretaken I think I said up thread it was just a celebratory gathering at a house (I was taking food)
I made a fancy sounding dip and some moroccan chicken skewers in the end.
For those asking : it was all home made, lots of eastern and asian nibbles and salads and some hot dishes which you could help yourself to. Plents of veggie and vegan options. Very NAICE. Not a greggs sausage roll in sight.