Nibbles.

[Mysocalledlife77]

Would you say it’s acceptable if you invite someone round to your house at say 5pm until evening to serve just nibbles (quite a lot of them though-buffet ish) it should you make a proper *Dinner?
Any idea what to serve as picky bits? I’m thinking crisps, dips, crudités etc
Would you rather that or a bbq or a takeaway pizza if dropping by someone’s house for a few hours?

I usually put a tapas style buffet on. It's easy to make in advance. I make different flat breads, homemade labbneh. Hummus, date yogurt, bourekas, babamesco, honey whipped feta, shakshuka, home made falafel, olives and sun dried tomatoes etc. Friends keep coming back so they must like it.🤷‍♀️

Are they just coming for pre-dinner time ie 5-7? If so I think nibbles are fine if you’re confident they’ll leave on time. If they’re someone that it’s hard to get rid of or you might want to keep chatting longer I’d do a proper dinner.

Lunch is very different to dinner in terms of catering

How do you eat lasagne with one hand don’t you need to cut it up? Or do you mean it’s already cut into bite-size pieces?

Any buffet I have been to has had lasagne alongside chicken curry, rice and goujons etc. It's cut and easy to take a piece and you can eat with one hand standing up if needed.

That's a hot / fork buffet. If you say 'buffet' to most people in the UK they'll thing of the stuff OP is thinking of doing.

If it's a casual drinking, chatting maybe in the garden thing, I'd say buffet. If it's a come over for dinner thing, in the dining room I'd say a proper dinner. But a good buffet lasts a long time so you can pick at bits even after dinner time.

@Carrieonmywaywardsun This is it, we’ll likely be in the garden etc and informal, that’s why I was thinking a table laid out with bits or a simple bbq with burgers, salads, wedges etc? with a nice dessert

5pm is not dinner time for an adult.

OP as long as people know what to expect it’s absolutely fine. We used to invite people for pre-dinner drinks and canapés. No one expected dinner. Occasionally we’d all get so drunk and be having such a lovely time we’d order pizza.

Yeah sounds lovely OP can I come haha x

I love picky bits! I wouldnt expect you to feed me thouhh. O would bring nibbles / order a takeway or whatever you want to do

@NewYorkLassie

The Post said they'd be there until evening

Unless these people all stay for max 2 hours it will go over dinner time for most

The picky bits/buffet is perfect. Plenty of fresh fruit and veg with dips, bread, cheeses, cooked bits like sausage rolls, goujons etc. Plenty of soft drinks to keep hydrated. A lovely victoria sponge, trifle or fruit tart for dessert. It's much easier to please a guest when there's plenty to offer and they won't go hungry.

5 is far too early for dinner, so it depends what you mean by from 5 until evening. If it’s 5 ‘til 9 or 10 then I’d expect something more substantial than nibbles I think. It it’s drinks for a few hours starting at 5, then nibbles would be all I’d expect. Though I would then wonder what to have afterwards ;)

Everyone is BU for saying "picky bits" repeatedly! It sounds like toenail clippings!

Yes feed them properly - just do a big bowl of chilli or something - lasagne is not an easy meal it's a faff - tomato pasta and crudités for fussy kids. You can freeze leftover chilli.

5 is reasonable time for dinner, especially for the children

There was a thread the other day about dinner times and many posted 5-6

Proper nibbly bits is absolutely an acceptable meal for picking in the garden, I think most commenters don’t quite know what you’re talking about. Nice dips, flatbreads, sliced meats, crisps and crudités, falafels, maybe Samosa type things, sausages maybe. Plenty to eat. Sounds like a fab plan OP

Yep I would enjoy this! I have 'normal' meals every other day so it would be a nice change and great for a garden event. I await my invitation

Yes who?? Pretty rude to serve them nibbles at a meal time instead.

I agree. Hate that term. People also use it to refer to their privates. So all I'm thinking of is people digging into their privates 🤢

If they’re coming at 5 for drinks, then leaving at 7, then serve a few nibbles alongside. Crisps, dips and crudités are fine.

If they’re coming at 5 but not leaving until 9 or 10 then you need to serve proper food. A buffet spread of quiches, breads, meats, cheeses is fine for that.

People call their privates their picky bits? Wtf

I'm going against the grain here. My in laws, when they were still with us, used to do a big spread of quiches, pizza, salad stuff, there's be loads of veg, chicken that i think came from the cooked section of the shop, roasties, loads. It was a really nice way to eat and visit given that their set up was too small for us to all sit together around. It was loud and good natured and we were all well fed. I miss those times.

Me!

Just order pizzas (or they will!!)

I'd be more than happy having nibbles for my evening meal, so long as there was enough to make me feel full. I like grazing so I think I'd enjoy an evening at friends with stuff like that available.