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?

So many people don't understand the etiquette around invitations - 'drinks and nibbles' clearly means ... drinks and nibbles not lunch or a substantial meal and drop in between 12-2 doesn't mean stay for two hours ! What you have described is perfectly acceptable. If people can't cope without a big meal at midday then they needn't accept your invitation.

You could buy a decent fresh ready made soup (mushroom or potato?) and serve in small bowls with bread and some cheese etc.

And I can't believe the rudeness of someone actually asking what food you are planning to serve!!

She is asking because you’ve arranged it over lunch, it’s not rude, I’d be a bit perplexed by being invited somewhere at lunch and being offered light nibbles.

Of course they can plan if they know what’s being served, hence the friend asking OP!

Was she REALLY condescending though? Sounds like she was just asking.

I am doing a buffet for 10 adults tomorrow. 2 are vegans, and are vegetarians, the other 8 meat eaters.... I'm serving...

1. 2 large pork pies
2. 36 Sausage rolls - half vegan half meat
3. A couple of bowls of cheese and onion crisps and plain crisps
4. 2 big cheese and pepperoni pizzas cut up into 12 slices each
5. 1 big vegan pizza cut up to make 12 slices
6. 24 vegetable spring rolls
7. 16 veggie samosas
8. Bowl of pringles and pretzels
9. Tray of cheese cubes and pineapple cubes on a stick
10. Another tray of cheese and pineapple with vegan cheese.
11. Slices of bread and butter. Some with vegan butter.
12. Selection of numerous crackers including ritz, peppered crackers, cream crackers, cheese and chive and plain cheese cheddars.
13. Slices of ham and chicken.
14. Walnuts, cashews, macadamia nuts, salted peanuts, dry roasted peanuts, pistachio nuts.
15. Potato salad and coleslaw
16. 20 Vegan fake chicken nuggets
17. Onion rings
18. Various desserts
19. A choice of 8 types of alcohol + coffee, hot chocolate, and tea
20. After Dinner Mints, Ferrero Rocher, and a tin of Quality Street

Hope that helps @Christmasmunchies . But THAT is more like a buffet, than a few crisps and chocolates.

Even if the invitation said ‘nibbles’ so you know to have lunch before or after if you prefer something more substantial?
So many oriole would be ‘perplexed’ or ‘confused’ by the invitation… honestly how do you get through life if such a simple thing causes such confusion?

Surely you’d just go along and be grateful for whatever you get - it’s not the end of the world if you go slightly hungry for an hour?

OP specifically said in the invite drinks and nibbles

Therefore people will be expecting drinks and nibbles.

Not lunch. Not a buffet

I would be expecting crisps, nuts, sweets, maybe a bit of cake, olives etc.

Those are nibbles.

I don’t think it’s that odd to want to plan your food on Christmas Eve.

You have reminded me why I do not entertain anymore OP. Nibbles are nibbles, having lunch after 2 pm is not a massive leap, unless you have invited my elderly relatives who still seem to base their lives around the time of their childhood meals. If you can be arsed- also provide a table for people to help themselves to some nice bread, meat and cheeses etc but do not put yourself out too much. You have made it quite clear it is just drinks and nibbles.

You’re the one who mentioned adults planning around an invitation, that’s exactly what the OPs friend is trying to do, hard to plan if you don’t know what’s being served

And of course all those people who can’t cope with a full meal between 12-2pm are welcome to decline the invitation.

Noel ... you can plan your food on Christmas Eve ... you have been invited for drinks and nibbles so plan around that.

I’ve been to ‘nibbles’ where a full buffet was served, and nibbles where it’s just a mince pie and some mulled wine.

The friend isn’t rude for asking, if anything the OP is rude for planning an event over a mealtime on Christmas Eve no less and not providing appropriate refreshments

Your friend just wants to know whether she ahould have some lunch beforehand. No one wants to drink on an empty stomach. Yes agreee with others, its the timing.

Rude for inviting people to an event, which they have no obligation to come to, in which she is opening up her home and providing drinks and nibbles out of her own pocket?
Alright then 😉

This thread is the gift that keeps on giving now we are on to soup and crusty bread, desserts, the need for guests to plan their Christmas Eve food consumption and the last truly batshit comment about the OP being rude for not providing appropriate refreshments on Christmas Eve no less. Comedy Gold.

wtf …
id think that’s nice , maybe think we’re have a drink and some crisps or nuts. If I’m Hungary il get a kebab on the way home .
glad my friends are a bit more chilled than half of the reply’s you got on here.
have a lovely time your friends really won’t care x

On Christmas Eve ?

you’d just get a kebab

@WaddleAway i was thinking the same 😂😂

I'm in this camp

I know!! I often don’t eat until after midday and I’m far from a competitive undereater! If I was that bothered about being hungry I’d plan to eat before or after. Surely if you were that way inclined, just have a late breakfast and then pick at bits if you’re still hungry. The OP is just trying to organise a meet up, not feed the 5000!

@PetrasPony if I was Hungry I’d grab something on the way home. Maybe even a sandwich from the garage proper splash out 🙄

I don’t like kebabs so if I was still hungry I’d go home and make a sandwich.