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?

I'm hungry, bye everyone

😂😂😂😂😂

@DustyDood I really fancy a parsnip and anchovy omelette now! 😋

I think your plan sounds good, but I would get some fresh supermarket pizzas and garlic bread as well. They can be popped in the oven if needed and if they don't get eaten you can just freeze them.

That is true, only the op can really guess how much her friends are likely to eat. We have one group of friends who would just want a cuppa and some birthday cake, (although they would be going home to bed much earlier than the first post suggested) and a different group of friends who would easily polish off a huge bowl of chilli and still have room for a bacon sandwich an hour later.

Fine for the evening but possibly depends how late people end up staying and drinking until. I’d buy some cheap frozen pizzas that can be stuck in the oven if people are still awake and drinking at 2am and need stodge.

I just read this out to my husband, love it.

Your suggested buffet is fine, as long as there is plenty of bread. Baguettes to go with the charcuterie/ cheese.

And personally I would rather have nice cheese, charcuterie , olives etc with nice bread than pizza. Or takeaway type stuff.

Get loads of crisps.

Then if they don't get eaten you're set for the next few weeks.

I can't understand people saying they will be starving by 7pm after a 3 course lunch?! Surely at Christmas for example you don't have 2 dinners? I think buffet style would be fine in the evening like you have said.

It’s absolutely fine, but maybe have it a bit later (8/8:30) if you’ve had lunch out. Lots of crisps and bread to bulk it out if need be,

😂😂😂 at the scrambled egg and omelette suggestions.

I’d probably bung some ‘naice’ hotdog sausages in the slow cooker and provide some rolls and sauces so people can help themselves if they feel the need. Have a lovely birthday!

At Christmas, we don't leave the table until about 3.30.

The OP (and her party) are going to a matinee at the theatre, so I'm going to presume will want to be arriving at the theatre by about 2pm. I don't know if there is travel between the place they eat and the theatre or not, but even if not, for a party to have finished (and presumably gone to the loo, paid the bill, waited for the one that's not ready, etc) in time to be at the theatre on time, I'm guessing they would need to be sitting down by about 12.15.

It's quite a difference.

Have you ever had a meal pre a matinee theatre show? The ones I've had, have been no where near as filling as a Christmas luncheon! Its generally small serving, quick options, and not he heavy things eaten in a Christmas meal!

The OP is planning drinking and carrying on into the night. Wouldn't you be peckish 7-8hrs into the evening after lunch?

This creased me 😂😂

That's exactly what I'd do too.

Sounds nice.

The thing is not what you would want but not being stingy with friends and providing good hospitality. A buffet in the line of what OP is suggesting allows people to have what they want.

Get some proper food in

don’t skimp, yes people will be ok with a few slices of salami and bread, and MNers could not possibly even eat that if they already had a 3 course lunch 😁 but lots of people love to eat when they are having a relaxed evening with drinks

A hot quiche or tart with salad and fresh bread would be delicious and easy.

I’m so surprised at people not wanting to eat after a lunch out, especially an early one. We host a boozy party every year, people come around 2-3pm, we feed them about 3-4 and guaranteed I’ll be bringing out more food at 9-10pm that gets eaten. Your day sounds almost like a wedding with no ceremony, nice lunch but then lots of drinking requiring an evening buffet to soak it up. As long as you have plenty of carbs and cheese you’ll be fine. I always over cater so would definitely have something like pizza in (I wouldn’t want fork food when you’re still drinking, and presumably curled up in armchairs/ on the sofa, you want something you can graze on close to hand). If it’s going on until the following morning then whilst scrambled eggs isn’t my choice I can definitely see the merits in a breakfast roll. Have a great birthday and enjoy!

Why do people always suggest offering a bit pot of chilli?
I'd be gutted if that was the food on offer - that's a midweek tea in this house and never really one that we all look forward to!

I woke up wanting green olives because of this thread

I never suggested the OP provide a take-away or 3 course meal in the evening! I agreed that the charcuterie and bits are a great idea. In my earlier post, I included a few other things she could add IF people are still hungry.

I found it strange that some people wouldn't want some snacks, 8+hrs after eating a lunch and with multiple drinks on board.

Sounds lovely to me and plenty of food, especially after a big lunch