Light nibbles?

[Hanooooooo]

I am throwing a surprise 60th for my mum at her house for about 50 people. I'm going to get plenty of wine, beer and soft drinks in but definitely couldn't afford to do an "evening meal" amount of food for everyone coming. It starts at 7.30 on a Saturday and I have said in the email there will be light nibbles. I plan to provide olives, crisps and nuts. AIBU?

Fair enough! I will look into some extra bits but am keen to do as much myself as possible rather than buying frozen stuff. Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

Like a PP, when I've done things like this making a big pan of meat chilli and a veg one and rice can be simple to do in advance and work out cheaper...with paper bowls etc...

That will be a squeeze OP

I have similar sized place. 35 people and it was…. Rammed.

Toilets!

50 people in a house sounds very crowded. We have a big kitchen extension and large garden, but admittedly only one toilet and pre covid hosted an annual family bonfire for about 20-25 people and it was probably more than comfortably could be hosted even though most people stayed outside most of the time.

I won’t be doing 35 again that’s for sure!

There’s no way I’d put my fingers into a shared bowl like that, even prior to covid. I second all the people saying places like Iceland for platters. Is it too late to specify ‘bring a bottle’, even if it’s just family that you ask? I certainly wouldn’t mind if a friend or family member asked me. Times are tight for everyone.

I always think lots and lots of one thing is more appealing than lots of individual things like a plate of 12 random mini quiches etc. A German theme is super easy - proper bratwurst, baguette, warm potato salad. Make it more interesting with posh mustard etc. Or pulled pork on brioche buns with apple sauce. If you stick with one theme it’s much easier to bulk buy and reuse what you’ve bought if you over cater. If there’s too much variety I worry I don’t have enough and end up wasting stuff.

YABU to use the term nibbles 😳

Don’t think that’s enough - but you don’t have to provide dinner - just get shove in the oven party things from m and s, or if that’s over your budget then quiche, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, etc from Lidl or somewhere.

Otherwise you might have a lot of drunk late mid lifers on your hands. And they can be frisky

A good party requires food. You are serving drinks so you do need to provide food or people will be leaving early to go get food. Lots of budget friendly ideas. Pasta, curries with rice and Flatbreads, lasagnas.

@Hanooooooo

Okay I am very glad I asked! Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I am thinking:

Olives, crisps, nuts
Cheese and pineapple (retro)
Toasted ciabatta with tapenade and roasted tomatoes
Chickpea frittata
Maybe some mini lemon drizzle cakes

So even this is too little. I do think at least one proper meal with finger foods will be fine.b

Cups of tea

Are you looking at doing something more on the ‘sophisticated’ side of things?!

If frozen pizza and sausage rolls isn’t your thing then I’d maybe go for…

Charcuterie board
Cheese board
Naice bread
Chutneys and pickles
Olives, sundried tomatoes and grapes etc

I think the challenge is that for 50x people it's still a huge amount of food. Even if you have said 'light nibbles' it's difficult to police the amount that people will take, particularly if they have been drinking and want to mop up the alcohol.

I would cook a couple of large gammon joints that you can slice, lots and of crusty bread, a couple of big pork pies, maybe a couple of big quiches and pizzas and then a cheeseboard and crackers. I agree with a PP to go 'big' rather than lots of variety - so for cheese get 6x blocks of cheddar, 6x brie rather than 12x different cheeses .

Add crisps, nuts, olives etc. Maybe something sweet.

i am just reading this and thinking of food and going for a nosey around iceland to look at their party food.

Why not ask everyone to bring something?

Just call it drinks, then the food is there as an extra thing. If I saw an invitation with 'light nibbles' I would be expecting canapes.

@Hanooooooo

I am throwing a surprise 60th for my mum at her house for about 50 people. I'm going to get plenty of wine, beer and soft drinks in but definitely couldn't afford to do an "evening meal" amount of food for everyone coming. It starts at 7.30 on a Saturday and I have said in the email there will be light nibbles. I plan to provide olives, crisps and nuts. AIBU?

Yes YABU.

People will be hungry and they will remember being hungry a this party.

Don’t let that happen, it will ruin it (even if people eat before) and may result in people leaving early (is that what you want?).

Why the focus on booze, but no real
Food though?

Hmm. It's not enough food for 50 ? regardless of how much you put down of a few items people will arrive at different times and want different things, and had different meals ect. I've not read the full thread granted butttt

...is it money, time or effort? that's what it boils down too really.

'how to feed 50 on a budget' 'how to feed 50 with minimal effort'

Any sisters/brothers/cousins giving a hand with the party? Is there decorations? Or are you soley responsible for food?

Sandwiches/wraps/pittas are always a must for me (plus cheap and easy to do)

I think keeping half out the way (fridge/freezer/upstairs/whatever depending) can always be an good to top up extras later on.

We'd probably do a bbq because burgers & hotdogs are always a hit, they seem to go well, especially with booze!

I mean if its a money issue (I know you said you couldnt afford a full meal, but i'm assuming you're thinking restaurant for everyone? - forgive me if i havent rtft i'm tired)

Morrisons donuts like 50p for 5, asda do 12 for either 2.50 or £3.
Tortilla chips and salsa (gotta deal with gross people double dipping)
Big bowls of tuna pasta / pasta salad
Cheese boards and crackers, pickles, chutneys are always great.

I think 7.30 is quite late as a side note, so i do believe most people will either eat earlier or skip dinner in favour for this.

Mini sausage rolls are your friend here.

I second Iceland, great for party food.

I'll also add the MN classic, a nice big salad should fill everyone up

@Vodka1

I think 7.30 is quite late as a side note, so i do believe most people will either eat earlier or skip dinner in favour for this.

S M O R T.

I think people who normally eat at 5/6ish, will probably eat a bit earlier. (so maybe peckish again by 8/9ish)
People who normally eat 7/8ish, won't bother having dinner because you know, partyy. *

I think that is a better way to word it

Have a look at Morrisons party platters (if you have one nearby)

Imho you need food at a party. It eases things socially, breaks things up a bit as if a conversation is drifting people have an excuse to move on by heading off to the buffet first.

I'd be disappointed by a party that only had crisps/olives/cheese.

My house is similar size OP and you might have underestimated what it's like having 50 people inside your home. We've had 30 and it was summer so people drifted outside and it felt heaving.

If I was going low effort:

• premade platters of bite size party food

If I was going posh:
Flatbreads, hummus, plenty of charcuterie & cheese, crudites, olives and tomatoes, plus crisps, nuts, dip, then sweet stuff put out later - brownies or something.

Low cost: pulled pork & a ton of buns, few pots of coleslaw & a load of crisps, then lots and lots of biscuits.

See if I got an invite that said light nibbles I would be expecting crisps, nuts, maybe some breadsticks, or something. I would not be expecting a buffet or a meal as the invite would have said buffet or meal