Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

buffet food for 18th birthday.

122 replies

screamingsiblings · 01/06/2023 00:53

DH are both adamant we are right. Please solve.

Village Hall type party for a few family members, plus 18th birthday DC's friends. Disco/Karaoke type thing. probably around 40-50 people in total.

One of us wants to serve food like a chilli, salads, rice, quiches,
One of us wants to serve hot dogs, salads, pizzas.

We will be cooking/serving the food ourselves.

Which would you serve up?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Beachhutnut · 01/06/2023 05:37

Pizza and hot dogs sounds more of an 18 year old thing, chilli quiche etc more old fashioned.....

Gunpowder · 01/06/2023 05:39

I wouldn’t do rice because of the food poisoning risk. If you are set on chilli I would do chilli and flatbreads.

OttoGraph · 01/06/2023 05:44

I did

indian, pakoras, samosas, etc and quiche and salad with a salmon at my dds 18th

the Indian food went fast, was left with the salad and quiche

DrMarciaFieldstone · 01/06/2023 05:46

Not chilli and rice, you want things you can eat with hands

marshmallowsforbreakfast · 01/06/2023 05:48

Neither! Do sandwiches, sausage rolls, chips, dip etc.

If it absolutely has to be one of those options then pizza and hot dogs but I'd be disappointed if I was attending.

PiscesScot · 01/06/2023 05:53

Echoing cold finger food, inc. the mention of vegan/gluten-free/dairy-free options.

And food available early as definitely don’t want that amount of 18 year olds drinking on an empty stomach!

Sandwiches from a supermarket or local caterer is a good option, can always add veg crudités, crisps, dips yourself to increase options but keep costs down a bit.

mrsbitaly · 01/06/2023 05:53

OP what are the table and seating arrangements? If there are proper sit down tables then although it's not something I would do it would be possible. If there's no tables it's going to be very messy with rice ect.

Where does your son and his friends love to eat out? You could base it on this style of food. Even a bbq outside if it permits with kebab sticks, burgers, sausages ect. Or pulled pork baps ect

EggDaisy · 01/06/2023 05:54

Chilli and rice sounds awful for a party!

Pizza, sausage rolls, hot dogs, crisps, the usual beige crap that's cheap, can be eaten cold, easily eaten and are crowd pleasers.

I'm guessing your DH wanted chilli?!

Mumdiva99 · 01/06/2023 05:56

Pizza. (But do yourself a favour and order them in). They will be hot when they arrive. You can enjoy the party instead of spending the whole time cooking pizza. When I've done home cooked fir entertaining I always kick myself after because the cost doesn't seem that massively different but the hassle is massive.
A few hotdogs kept warm in a slow cooker with a stack of buns, cooked onions and ketchup.
Plates of cookies for desert. (Or ice cream handed out in cones.....who doesn't love an ice cream).

Maddy70 · 01/06/2023 06:29

I would get pizza delivered.
It'll. Be hot and easy

frockhopper · 01/06/2023 06:34

screamingsiblings · 01/06/2023 01:25

no one fancy the chilli option?

No 😂 I can’t imagine a bunch of 18 year olds wanting to eat chilli amongst celebrating. They just want easy finger food like pizza/hot dogs that they don’t even really need a plate for.

pilates · 01/06/2023 06:41

Pizza and hotdogs
Definitely not chilli

PineappleLatte · 01/06/2023 06:52

screamingsiblings · 01/06/2023 01:25

no one fancy the chilli option?

Nope. Strange choice.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 01/06/2023 06:53

screamingsiblings · 01/06/2023 01:25

no one fancy the chilli option?

No, it’s an 18th birthday not a 50th wedding anniversary. Quiche and chilli seems like something my in laws would serve up at a buffet.

id go for pizza, maybe hot dogs, but probably would go with other finger food type things. Chicken nuggets, cocktail sausages, crisp and dip, mozzarella sticks etc.

InsomniacVampire · 01/06/2023 08:23

Why cant it be a mix of both?
I would love a quite and salad. But if it is a party for 18yo they probably would prefer pizzas and hot dogs.
You could have a bit of everything?

Divorcedalongtime · 01/06/2023 08:25

Neither!!!

Sissynova · 01/06/2023 08:27

DH are both adamant we are right.

Should you not be considering that the birthday DC wants rather than bickering with each other?
I wouldn't go for hot dogs but pizzas, chips and dips and a few salads sounds more age appropriate and easier to eat in a village hall than chilli and rice.

Everyone is dressed up for 18ths and no one wants to be standing drinking in a nice dress, while trying to eat chilli off a paper plate.

BellaJuno · 01/06/2023 08:28

Pizza and hot dogs all the way, I couldn’t be faffed with having to use cutlery for a buffet.

Sissynova · 01/06/2023 08:29

marshmallowsforbreakfast · 01/06/2023 05:48

Neither! Do sandwiches, sausage rolls, chips, dip etc.

If it absolutely has to be one of those options then pizza and hot dogs but I'd be disappointed if I was attending.

Most 17/18/19 year olds would not want a sandwich over a slice of pizza at an 18th.

BarbedButterfly · 01/06/2023 08:29

Pizza and hot dogs

BellaJuno · 01/06/2023 08:29

Although if it was me, I’d offer bacon or sausage sandwiches at 10pm rather than a buffet during the evening. I’d presume everyone would eat their dinner beforehand.

Hbh17 · 01/06/2023 08:31

I am just amazed that an 18 year old wants a party with their family in the village hall 😂 Shouldn't they be going clubbing with mates? But, yes, as everyone says - ask them.

ivfbabymomma1 · 01/06/2023 08:32

Definitely not chilli & rice for an 18th!! Or any party tbh

LubaLuca · 01/06/2023 08:32

I wouldn't fancy either of those, but would have a bit of pizza. I definitely wouldn't want the chilli.

A standard buffet would be a better and easier to prepare and serve option. Teenagers will chip away at it through the evening, I bet there'll be very little left at the end.

Doggymummar · 01/06/2023 08:35

Get a load of nandos delivered.

Swipe left for the next trending thread