buffet food for 18th birthday.

[screamingsiblings]

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.

We’ve done a few birthdays in halls we’ve always done pulled chicken tacos and a jackfruit veggie version. Then loads of mini wraps, taco shells, shedded iceberg lettuce grated cheese, nachos and dips etc always gets completely eaten up. We keep in warm in an electric buffet server or slow cooker.

Chilli is sitting down food, discos are inherently standy uppy.

For middle aged people maybe. But not for teenagers.

i Have just done one of these. Pizza van plus sushi ordered from Waitrose of Costco, some desserts from Costco and some fruit platters.

I'd do this 😂

Bottomless Crisp Buffet

https://www.kicksbarandgrill.co.uk/crisp-party

Buffet type foods,
A few different types if sandwiches,
Salads,
Sausage rolls,
Mini eggs,
A couple of quiches,
Chicken strips,
Cheese and pineapple sticks,
Breads rolls,
Etc, etc.

Birthday cake for pudding.

A lot of things can be served cold and made in advance or shop bought.

Definitely not chilli and rice, trying to keep rice for that many people at the right temperature for a long time is just asking for mass food poisoning!

Some really mean replies here! My ds just turned 21, he only has a small circle of friends but a huge family with lots of similar age cousins. He also has aunties and uncles who he enjoys socialising with. He wanted a family party (friends also came) and we hired a room and did a mix of cold buffet and hot food which included, shock horror, chilli! Everything was eaten. We did get a caterer in though so it definitely wasn't a budget option.
My Ds2 is 18 soon and has requested the same. He has a large circle of friends and is very different to Ds1. He's requested the same type of party.
The only difference is that Ds2 and his friends will probably leave the party at about midnight and go into town. Ds1 chose to invite everyone back to our house for the after party!

Pizzas
Possibly a choc fountain

Nothing else (from bitter experience!!)

I don't get why your DC is not more involved in planning?
My 17 year old would be completely micromanaging this!

If it's an 18th aimed at 18 year olds id just do pizza.

I could cater for 60 without much bother. I'd not have chilli or rice though. I have four large hostess things for keeping food hot. I'd put cocktail sausage rolls straight out the oven in one, cheese and onion mini rolls (for vegetarians) in another, small roast potatoes in another, chicken dippers in another, then sandwich on 5 large foil trays you can make in afternoon and keep in fridge, probably cheese, ham, chicken, egg and tuna. Several tubs of cherry tomatoes, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, houmous, scotch eggs cut in half, 5 pringles out onto large foil trays, 3 large shop bought Margarita pizza cut into slices, vegetable samosas and ready salted crisps on a large foil tray. I'd put all vegetarian food on different coloured trays so people know and put all veggie food at one end of the buffet table with Cup cakes too, one per person. You might find others will help out eg by making Cup cakes for you in advance. I'm assuming the village hall has a catering oven. I know most do.

Hot dogs and pizza

In my experience doughy foods are better for soaking up the alcohol. Especially alcohol drink by inexperienced drinkers

Personally I’d ask the birthday kid.

but given a choice pizzas and hot dogs are way better for an 18th.

Definitely pizzas and hot dogs for 18 year olds. Maybe some bowls of crisps, crudités, dips as well.

I’d order pizzas in thought to save the hassle of cooking so many. They’ll be much nicer hot.

5 pringles out onto large foil trays
I know people under eat on Mumsnet but personally I’d serve 30 crisps for 60 people.

Agree there are some catty comments here. I think it’s lovely and have been to parties my friends have thrown for their 18 year olds in which everyone has had a great time. The 18 year olds have often had seperate big nights out with their mates. They are able to enjoy both! There’s nothing wrong with this at all.

I choose pizza 😊

Personally I'd rather pay a bit extra and go for the pizza delivery option. You get 50% off deals, it doesn't have to be mega expensive (depending on numbers of course). I'd also provide nachos / dips / bowls of potato salad and coleslaw to go alongside pizzas. Plus birthday cake and a few sweet options [muffins / mini cupcakes]. I'd also be opting for paper plates / napkins / disposable cutlery.

Will there be booze? If so you'll need to make sure there's enough food to prevent anyone getting shitfaced.

No way would I want to do the catering myself.

@caringcarer lots of good advice there

Never mind the food how much alcohol have you ordered because that’s all they will really care about.

For food Costco pizza and crisps should do.

@Crunchymum and good tips here too

Same! This has m and s food hall written all over it; perfect party food.

For an 18th disco setup, definitely pizza. Hotdogs maybe as they are quick and easy and cheap to do too.

I'd also maybe consider a ton of mini sausage rolls, nuggets and various crisps out on a table they can have throughout the evening?

one of my daughters attended a similar setup for a friend of hers and they went mad over a shit ton of sweets/mashmallows and chocolates on a table.

The main food served at that one was a load of wraps put out and 2 huge saucepan things, one containing taco beef and one containing fajita chicken, with some pots of salsa, sour cream and some shredded lettuce/salad etc and they just went and made their own wraps. So still finger food as such but a bit more interesting i guess than a cold buffet.

Hotdogs and pizza, no salad

Thanks all.
yes, chilli option was DH’s choice!
to put a few minds at rest…
-dd happy with village hall. - her suggestion.
-we are rural.
-buy your own drinks at the bar. ( I know drinks will be smuggled in also. )
-two nice areas, a quieter area and the main hall
-There’s already been several celebrations out with friends!!!!
-this party will also serve as “end of A levels”. Birthday has already happened and been celebrated.
-proper plates, tables, cuttelry, kitchen , provided.
-most kids being collected by parents, some staying over with us.
Hope that helps.

some great ideas being suggested, will ask DD about Indian type food. Hadn’t thought about that.

Well exactly teens are not going to want to eat "dinner" at a party. Pizzas crisps and hot dogs is going to go down better