Buffets at parties

[BrilliantBetty]

Pre Covid I wouldn't have given this a second thought.

But, do we really want to go back to a table of uncovered food and people just picking bits out and putting on to their plate, handling the same serving implements, potentially chatting close to the food (sneezing?!!).

I am hosting a family and close friends party early next year for approx 60 people. There won't be space for a served & seated meal. It is in a small hall. What are my options? Please tell me what you would do.

AIBU to think the typical party buffet is not exactly desirable any more?

I’d happily eat a buffet without thought.

Covid has changed people - mostly people now stay at home when they’re unwell.

We went to a party once that had a catered curry buffet. So big vats of rice and curry etc made by a local restaurant and served by their staff. So only the staff touched the implements etc and served it all up. Would something like this be an option? Could be a different cuisine but the curry went down really well.

I still love buffets.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

I’d happily eat a buffet without thought.

Covid has changed people - mostly people now stay at home when they’re unwell.

I wish that were true, Covid has just spread through my friendship group because someone thought they had a minor cold. They came out to a pub beer garden and passed it over the table to 2 friends. The 2 friends then took it home.

I had a party at a hotel a couple of months ago for my birthday and made the decision not to have a buffet. I put on the invitations that there would be no food provided. That way people weren’t expecting a buffet and would have dinner before attending the party.
It honestly didn’t make any difference to the evening or feel like anything was missing.

Personally, I would just do the buffet as normal in pre-Covid days. I went to a leaving party with an afternoon tea buffet today and didn't give it a second thought. But you could buy/hire some kind of perspex screen if you are worried, and have someone behind it serving the food out to people. It would slow things down and might be logistically more tricky, but it might make you and your guests feel safer. I don't know whether it would actually be safer, though.

I had the opposite problem. DP and I had colds with negative PCRs (I’d already had covid with about two months of this) and he was convinced we had covid and wouldn’t go anywhere.

We didn’t. We had colds.

I would say the biggest health risk would be the same as it's always been at buffets - lukewarm food sitting out. And surely the biggest post-covid risk at parties won't be transmission via the food, but people standing around talking to each other?

If you’re worried about covid the buffet is the least of your problems, you are hosting a party inside- that’s the risk. So if fine to go ahead with that then crack of with the buffet- love a buffet

We went to a party recently for about 100 people. Instead of all the food out, the caterers put trays out and kept replenishing them and changed servingspoons regularly. There was hand sanitizer, paper plates it was all finger food.

We've been to 4 weddings this year and there have been buffets at all of them in the evening, the first wedding I said to DH that if there was a buffet in the evening then I wouldn't be eating it. Umpteen glasses of champagne later and I was happy to munch away

Went to a celebration with a fish and chip van (no doubt other food varieties are available). It was fabulous and no worries about Covid.

We had pizzas and salad served by staff for our wedding instead of a buffet.

Buffet: no problem, crack on, so long as there’s actually enough food and the last table up isn’t left with half a cracker and the weird salad no one wants.

Grazing table: go to prison.

I’ve seen a local caterer make fancy afternoon tea type individual boxes and put one at each place setting. Maybe everyone could collect their own in this way? Veggie/ meat/ childrens boxes?

Either host a party or dont host a party but don't host a paranoid party

@TotallySuper

We went to a party once that had a catered curry buffet. So big vats of rice and curry etc made by a local restaurant and served by their staff. So only the staff touched the implements etc and served it all up. Would something like this be an option? Could be a different cuisine but the curry went down really well.

This is what a buffet I went to recently (post covid) was like. Staff served all the food and guests stayed back from the table and said what they wanted.

Although I’d be fine with a normal buffet, I think among 60 guests there will be some who feel uncomfortable with it.

60 people inside together is a risk in itself, so buffet or not meh

Another option is canapés, you would need to pay for them to be carried round and served. Bit less risky than a buffet but not massively. If there's not space for a seated meal then most other options are out. Do a buffet, accept its a small increase of risk to the risk from a group mingling indoors.

The main danger is from people all breathing in the same space, nor the buffet.

Being in a closed space with 60 people and talking (especially if you have to stand close and speak loudly because of the ambient noise) will spread covid much more effectively than a cheeseboard. If I made a decision to go to the party I would not think twice about the buffet.

Still love a buffet. Not the least paranoid about normal germ exposure of human beings living and socialising in groups.

Thank you all, reading your helpful replies.

I would be ok with a buffet, those awful grazing tables though, no thanks!

Bloody love a buffet. I thought covid would kill them off but I’ve been to a few things recently with a full spread, thank god.