Is this enough food? Or do people expect a cooked dinner

[Erter]

I’m trying to figure out my birthday, any input would be greatly appreciated.

We’re going out for a posh lunch, musical (matineee) and then back to mine for games and cocktails.

Im going to get dh to put us out a charcuterie board (cheese, olives, pickles, fresh bread, chutneys, grapes, cured meat, pears, crackers), some sweet treats, crisps and dip, fruit and a few samosa, spring rolls, sausage rolls etc. This will probably be eaten at 7-7:30.

Bear in mind we will be drinking and going to bed very late. Do you reckon I will have to budget for a late night Chinese/Indian/Pizza.

Or the picky bits is fine?

Just to reiterate please don’t offer/feed me scrambled eggs in the evening if we’ve been drinking
I think a couple of frozen pizzas added to your list OP would help bulk it out, or some French baguettes to make sandwiches

I think it sounds plenty if you've eaten a 3-course meal earlier in the day. You wouldn't have Chinese for lunch then go out for a three course dinner, so it probably wouldn't be necessary the other way round.

I mean you could buy a few marinated chickens from somewhere and put one or two in the oven every 90 minutes starting from about 8.30pm...

Or have gigantic bowls of buttery popcorn and corn on the cob at 11pm...

I'm not suggesting a fondue, or anchovy paste sandwiches.

When ever I have hosted after a big lunch out we’ve been left with masses of leftovers. What you have suggested is absolutely fine unless your guests are complete fat bastards.

I curse the person who first coined the phrase “picky bits” it’s on par with lush and hun.

😫

Only thing I'd add is a few crackers to go with the cheese and maybe a pate for the bread.

But with a decent lunch what you're setting out sounds lovely..

Do you usually have a 3 course lunch then a full meal in the evening?

If so it’s no wonder this country has such a weight issue.

After a three course lunch I think it will be fine

What kind of games? Board games? Guessing games? Charades? BDSM? Will there be dancing?

If people have been sitting hunched over the Battleships sets that's very different from if you've had an energetic session of lindy hop or flagellation.

That's ideal stage setting for a midnight Dominos - hotdog stuffed crusts, garlic bread, wings, the whole caboodle.

People are getting hung up on the three course lunch as a ton of food and I don't know why.

Three course meals can be a ton of food. But at upscale restaurants they often really aren't... three courses just means it doesn't all come on one plate. A little raw winter vegetable salad with goat cheese, a piece of fish with a few potatoes and an herby sauce, and fresh berries with cream and some sugar art is a three course meal but it's certainly not going to be helping soak up alcohol 7+ hours later. And if people know they're headed to sit in a theatre for a musical directly after in their nice clothes they're more likely not to gorge themselves.

If you plan to have people drinking late into the night then have both nibbles and a solid but simple meal on offer late. Don't count on them having stuffed themselves sufficiently at a fancy lunch 12 hours before to not need or want another meal.

I'm not suggesting a fondue, or anchovy paste sandwiches

NO ONE has suggested anchovy paste sandwiches on this thread, but after the late night scrambled egg suggestion- nothing would surprise me! 😕

Just silly social games like charades, who am I?, cards against humanity, heads up etc. There will probably be a bit of drunk dancing. Not board games.

I would organise a fondue for the evening with french stick, cooked potatoes and crudités. Focaccia and salad on the side.

Scrambled eggs would seem a very odd choice but I do remember a former housemate of mine making pancakes as post pub food. Those always hit the spot!

I’d probably go for things like hummus and pita, quiche or tortilla, a variety of salads, cheese (including baked Camembert or similar), some big bowls of crisps and cake. Leave people to figure out whether they need light snacks or a more meal like quantity of food.

I would have a few pizzas in the fridge just in case and a big pack of salad. What you are suggesting is fine for me and DH but clearly some people think differently.

I think picky bits sounds lovely, especially as you’ll be sober and feeling all lovely and sophisticated after your posh lunch and theatre trip.

However, after a few cocktails and party games, someone is probably going to get a carbs craving about 10pm. I’d have the option of sausage and bacon sandwiches or they can order their own bits on Just Eat.

I would do a big curry/chilli in the slow cooker ans some frozen pizzas I hate it when people just do pizzas not all of us eat them

If lunch was at say noon or 1 pm, then the musical, then drinks, I'd be starving by 7pm.

This is my thinking.
As you are going to a matinee performance, I have to presume this isn't going to be a lingering lunch, finishing at 3.30 ? So I would want more food during the evening.
If I've had a big meal at 1 / 1.30 and sat there 1/2 the afternoon, not having finished eating until 3 or later, I wouldn't normally want much for an evening feed BUT, if there is then going to be a lot of alcohol, I'd really really appreciate a feed later.

You seem to have a combination of both the lunch being over early, and lots of alcohol, so I do think you need substantial carbs, but that could be bulking out with extra bread (I love toast at 11pm if it's not been eaten), or, as other say some pizzas added to your food table. (or offered later).

Just wanted to add that with charcuterie board and snacks it’s the amount that matters so if you have a lot….also if someone wants hot food you can always warm up sausage rolls.

Depends on the quantity of charcuterie provided - if it is 2 slices of salami per person, then of course you will need pizzas, etc. afterwards. If it is mountains of charcuterie, cheeses and baguettes, then of course no pizzas.

Of course it’s enough! What the heck, you are going for a massive lunch, this is the evening with wine. Just stock up on extra bread and crisps, plenty of cheese. Job done!

Crisps and order pizza. People will be hungry if they’ve eaten at 1pm then partying till 1am.