Nibbles. Buffet or Snacks? Help!

[Christmasmunchies]

I've invited about 20 family and friends around Christmas Eve. Pretty casual invite - "drop in anytime between 12-2 for a Christmas drink and nibbles if you're free" (type of text sent).
One of my friends yesterday was grilling me on what I class as nibbles, in a slightly condescending tone. I explained its only a pretty casual drop in affair, so won't be a buffet. She then asked me to be more precise about what food will be served (I found it a bit rude tbh!)
I said, crisps, chocs, nuts, cheeseboard- that type of thing. She looked disappointed! Now I'm concerned that everyone else will be expecting a Delia Smith Buffet and I'll have to up my game and get more food in.
If someone sent you the above invite- what would you be expecting?

Nibbles to me means snacks like crisps, breadsticks and dip, maybe mini sausage rolls.

As you are hosing right over peak lunchtime I think you need something more substantial than crisps and nuts.

Doesn't need to be anything fancy could just be some nice breads and charcuterie to add to your cheeses. Bake a big quiche or pie, or even just bung a load of supermarket party food in the oven, the shelves are bursting with spring rolls and the like at this time of year.

If it was 2-4 or 3-5 then your plan is fine but you're hosting at lunchtime so people will want lunch.

I'd expect a hot or cold buffet.
Breads, cheese, meat, pastry and meat, pastry and cheese.
Maybe a salad to offset the carb guilt.

Hmm, might do this, thanks!!

Yeah, it's the timing. People don't know whether to have lunch or not before or plan to have it after,.or not at all!

Bloody hell. "Peak lunch"? Surely grown adults don't need a full blown meal 3 times a day. Crisps, nuts and a cheeseboard is fine.

I had a party of similar size recently. We did a big cheeseboard with breads and lots of different types of crackers, grapes, figs, pickles, crudites. We also did lots of sausages on sticks, hot from the oven, and some mini baked snacks - canape-sized pies. Add crisps, nuts, olives, mince pies, stollen, yule log etc - that's loads.

I agree, it’s the timings. People are wondering if there will be mini quiches and sausage rolls.

I think as it’s over lunchtime you need to make the nibbles more of a buffet.
Do what you was going to do and add some part baked baguettes, maybe a gammon and some pickles and crisps.

its over lunchtime so you’ll need more, especially if there’s kids. I’d do baguette slices, ham and pate to add to the cheese, sides such as pigs in blankets, sausage rolls or mozzarella sticks, some nice mini cakes or biscuits and mince pies.

As it’s lunchtime I would add something more substantial. Winter pasta salad, fresh crusty bread, sausages, couscous etc to pad it out. Just having nuts and crisps is an evening drink thing in my eyes.

12-2 is lunch time. I would expect a light lunch eg party food. Bread, cheese, ham. I doubt your friend was being rude. Probably just trying to understand whether you were offering to feed people

I don't think your friend was being rude at all, I think you've made things hard by hosting over lunch. You either provide a substantial offering or host not at meal time

Oh I love this, we've got a new Mumsnet Undereating Bingo item! "Adults don't need 3 meals a day". Love it.

You're inviting people round at lunchtime. Hardly a surprise if they'd be expecting more than crisps and nuts.

This thread is a gold star Mumsnet eating thread:

nice breads and charcuterie

Bake a big quiche or pie

Winter pasta salad, fresh crusty bread, sausages, couscous etc
baguette slices, ham and pate to add to the cheese, sides such as pigs in blankets, sausage rolls or mozzarella sticks, some nice mini cakes or biscuits and mince pies.

make the nibbles more of a buffet. Do what you was going to do and add some part baked baguettes, maybe a gammon

We did a big cheeseboard with breads and lots of different types of crackers, grapes, figs, pickles, crudites. We also did lots of sausages on sticks, hot from the oven, and some mini baked snacks - canape-sized pies. Add crisps, nuts, olives, mince pies, stollen, yule log etc - that's loads.

I'd expect a hot or cold buffet.
Breads, cheese, meat, pastry and meat, pastry and cheese.
Maybe a salad to offset the carb guilt.

I bet you wished you'd never asked @Christmasmunchies - seems you need to get yourself in the kitchen and start rattling those pots and pans and produce a veritable feast laden table groaning under the weight of nice, crusty breads et al.

Jesus Wept 🤣🤣🤣🤣

If you didn't want to do a lunch buffet why did you choose 12-2 ?

No of course you don't 'need ' full 3 meals a day. But why invite people over lunchtime if you don't intend on providing lunch.

So, I genuinely thought people would 'pop in for an hour for a Christmas drink. I never intended a full on buffet party and made that pretty clear in my msg. Or so I thought. I will do light bites, but no way on God's earth am I spending all day Christmas Eve bloody baking, then the evening cleaning. My guests will just have to be disappointed 🤣

Yes I get that, but 2-4 timing would have reduced the food expectation.

Tbh some baguette, cheese board and ham/gammon is more than enough for a light lunch and minimal prep.

If you don't want to provide lunch, don't invite people round at lunchtime 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'd probably loosely expect a wee sandwich or savoury pastries in amongst the other stuff you mention. I would have an open mind though, and probably eat a snack mid morning and I could easily get more food once I left. So I wouldn't be shocked or judging you or annoyed I'd just be enjoying your festive spirit!

You need to either change the timing or buy some bread, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages etc. That is what I would be expecting if invited for nibbles at lunch time.

Or maybe a ham sandwich or something