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 ?

[AnnaMagnani]

Well I went to a v middle class Christmas party and they had not only sausage rolls and cheese twists but also cheese and pineapple hedgehogs.

Main difference was we ate them round an aga.

[ThanksItHasPockets]

grumios Labneh?

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

NOT black pudding sandwiches in stotty.

[PeridotCricket]

Stuff that isn't beige as put by a poster above probably sums it up!

I do a lentil salad with a couple of pouches of puy lentils, roasted red peppers (from a jar), chopped fresh mint and either coriander or parsley - bit of dried chilli - any other veg that's knocking round - roasted or otherwise. And put a salad dressing on while it's warm.

Bit of garlic v nice in it too.

Add a bit of feta if you want - or leave it out and proudly present it as vegan while you quietly trough the sausage rolls.

Home made sausage rolls with posh sausages and frozen puff pastry ...very nice. You could also add some cranberry sauce if you have any hanging over from Christmas.

[howabout]

I am a bit germ phobic about buffets as are many in the middle classes.

So I would go for finger food and canapes rather than salad bowls and dips or quiche and flans. For this reason I prefer cheese straws and crackers to crisps and nuts. I would also steer clear of chicken and seafood.


Can't go far wrong with a cheese and pineapple hedgehog, sausage rolls and cucumber sandwiches surely. Brownies and shortbread for afters.

[PeridotCricket]

grumiosmum labneh? I've made that - proper middle class me. Don't have an aga though.

[grumiosmum]

Labneh that's it! Thank you.

Don't think anyone has mentioned quails eggs with celery salt yet, have they?

[howabout]

Just another thought. MC people have a lot of angst around mess, portion sizes, cutlery, plate balancing etc. Best to stick to finger food to avoid all this

[waterandlemonjuice]

:Massive eye roll at all the whining on this thread:

My suggestions:

Puy lentils with feta and thyme, you can make a lemon juice and olive oil dressing (but add it at last minute). You can buy ready to eat puy lentils so this is really easy and quick. And cold.

Rocket and Parmesan salad salad. Use a potato peeler to shave thin pieces of Parmesan over the rocket. Drizzle with balsamic

Blinis: top with cherry tomato slices and tiny pieces of mozzarella and fresh basil. Easy, quick, veggie

You could add some cold meats and a cheese board too with good chutney

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

[grumiosmum]

Also, sausage rolls are fine but so much better if they are home made.

And I have observed there is a big class dividing line on the crisps style snack front - the more processed stuff is definitely Non-U. No Monster Munch or Quavers or exotically flavoured puffy things. Fine are Kettle chips (or Burts), Pringles, Doritos. Extra points for those vegetables pretending to be crisps.

[grumiosmum]

Beetroot also, but not the pickled kind.

[waterandlemonjuice]

And I was going to suggest quail eggs and celery salt but OP is on a budget and they’re fairly expensive!

[howabout]

Definitely not beetroot in case I spill it down my Daz whites.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

Genuinely baffled at class divisions in food. I know they exist but can't think of a logical reason for it.

It's not cost, many of the things that are apparently middle class are very cheap, eg hummus and carrot sticks and many of the working class alternatives are quite expensive, such as lots of meat.

Just about all the things suggested are typically Mediterranean, and standard food in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain etc, across all sections of society, it's just food there. So why is it subject to so much angst, discussion and divide in the UK .

[DailyMailFail101]

Watermelon, mint and feta salad?

[Time40]

As you're trying to keep the costs down, my suggestion is a big pasta salad. That's really cheap!

[otheractivities]

OP I take you wont be asked to partake? , as you you cannot be middle class if you don't know what to serve?

Is there some sort of secret handshake?, what if the riff raff got in?

[Orlandointhewilderness]

Mini pheasant, port and cranberry pies.

[LaurieMarlow]

Fine are Kettle chips (or Burts), Pringles, Doritos. Extra points for those vegetables pretending to be crisps.

I love the crisp class analysis

However I'd say that Pringles aren't really fine or on the very edge of fine.

[tillytrotter1]

I like the M and S crustless quiches, less claggy that regular quiche, especially cold. Morrisons do a decent shrink wrapped spanish omelette, take it out of the wrapping and lie.

[Orlandointhewilderness]

OP - I do sausage rolls. I mix good butchers sausage meat with either homemade cranberry or apple sauce, then do 50% butter shortcrust with rosemary and pepper. Roll, fill, glaze with egg and grind pepper mill and some thyme over.

[PurpleDaisies]

However I'd say that Pringles aren't really fine or on the very edge of fine.

I think if depends on the flavour.

[otheractivities]

lentil salad? , let's hope it's sit down buffett other wise it will get very messy , or any salad tbh
No paper plates , obviously

[LaurieMarlow]

I think if depends on the flavour.



Sour cream / original fine, others not?

[grumiosmum]

Agree. Barbecue Pringles are fine.