AIBU to think this dinner spread will be enough for nine?

[geminicancerean]

Nine people for dinner tomorrow, 6 adults, 3 kids. It’s going to be really hot. 5 of the guests will have travelled some of the day.

I’ve actually been unwell this week so have relied on M&S to do the actual work. DH isn’t sure my planned spread is going to feed everybody so I’d like some opinions

I have bought:
2 quiches (one bacon and cheese, one cheese and onion)
2 packets hot flaked salmon
Ingredients for big Greek style salad (cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, feta etc)
Big bag of green salad
2 big pots of pasta, pesto and pine nut salad
6 sausage rolls
Big bag of M&S wotsits
Big bag of M&S bacon crisps
Huge double punnet of strawberries
Meringue nests
Cream
oh and cake

The sausage rolls and crisps are for whoever wants them but I obvs had the kids in mind picking those - I know all three kids like these things and eat them.

So that’s it. I think it’s enough. DH suspicious and thinks we might need ‘extras’.

Over to you Mumsnet (don’t worry, I’m braced for criticism and I can take it!)

I don't eat them either, not sure why it's sad. If you ate a whole sausage roll you'd be too full up to then have a slice of quiche, a spoonful of potato salad, salmon, potatoes etc so no one is going to eat a WHOLE sausage roll!

What!?
Its well known in catering circles that you provide 1-2 of each item pp
4-6 if mini

Keep it simple: No egg flan, pizzas etc, If they have an allergy that is their problem, not yours, and they can bring their own. Just do one choice, you are not a canteen with multiple choices. The more choice the more stress.

You need actual food. We took a lot of that for a picnic light lunch. That’s not dinner food. Something cooked and filling.

Hot quiche ?
Yabu

Exactly! People are only going to put a spoonful or 2 on their plate. If they ate a full adult serving of pasta eg 75-100g they'd be too full to eat anything else! I do feel people on this thread don't seem to understand buffets.

The host has a budget it is not their problem if you have an allergy: bring your own. One choice is plenty.

The 'that's lunch not dinner food' weirdos have entered the thread.

Food is food. It can be eaten at any time of day. And in what world is pastry and potatoes as well as a load of other stuff 'a light lunch'?

Agreed. Those quantities tend to be used for semi formal or formal buffet catering.

How big are the quiches?
6 sausage rolls - that only 1 each for the adults.
I would add bread and a cheese spread and bread sticks.
plus some fruit for the kids.

There is quiche and there is quiche. Home made. Room temperature. Lovely.

Typing this with slight hesitation as I know I’m a feeder, but honestly I would double all of this and probably add some bread and cooked meats, and possibly a cheese board with a few dips!

You'll be fine op you know your family and what they'll eat . If I was to add something it would be some nice bread and some chicken and maybe a few cocktail sausages ! Cake sounds incredible by the way, have a wonderful day with your family and I hope you are feeling better soon too

It sounds nice but agree you need more - if it’s picky food a couple of baguettes sandwiches (obviously cut into small sandwiches) to make it easy, one ham and tomato one egg mayo? Some pitas for people to have with the salad then just because I LOVE them cheese and pickle sticks (hedgehog) (just more filling snacks). Though in the nicest way it sounds more like drinks and nibbles catch up rather then dinner if that makes sense.

Indeed but I would be sad if I was served quiche for dinner and judge them forever 😂

Id buy the m and s roast in the bag chicken...done in 90mins

I don’t think anyone other than caterers would use those portion sizes. They give you a tiny finger-sized portion of cake, as PP have said,

Also, if your cake is as delicious as you say, it would be disappointing to have a teeny tiny slice. From your description, it sounds lovely.

I reckon you could probably get eight reasonable-ish sized slices from the cake, nine would be a bit of a push but do-able.

However you also mentioned your ND child who would want to mainly eat sausage rolls, crisps, and cake. On that basis I’d probably have another cake - doesn’t have to be as big, could even be shop-bought if you’re not up to it. Just as an extra.

Your family might be different to mine but if we’re all getting together, people tend to like a generous helping rather than a typical small slice they might have if they were just at home.

Also, as it’s a buffet style people might want to go back and pick a bit more, something to factor in maybe?

On a total side note, my DS is autistic with various other difficulties too, and he will clear a full-size punnet of strawberries (400g? 450g?) on his own, given the chance 😂 He has bowel issues so lots of fruit is essential and honestly, it costs me a small fortune 🤦🏻‍♀️

I did catering in various roles for 13 years, plus roast dinner meals for up to 20 for 10 after that. Keep it simple, no messing around. Guests are there to enjoy the company not cordon bleu catering! I have worked in many settings. Enjoy your guests and their company, if they are hungry that is not your concern, but they will not be. See my post above,

That’s not dinner, that’s a light lunch.
Dinner implies a good meal.
But if I go to someone’s house to be entertained, I go with the flow and am grateful.
Maybe add a charcuterie board, selection of cheeses, some dips etc.
Buy lots of Waitrose desserts and ice cream and anything you don’t use, you can eat up yourselves.

Sorry but each person will get a slice of cake that is 1 inch by 9 inches by 6 inches. That’s a big slice.

whilst I agree OP has under catered the savoury the cake with fruit and meringues is more than enough dessery

(but still wouldn’t say the cake is enormous!)

I would add
a couple of French sticks
Cheese and biscuits
Meat platter
Coleslaw
Pork pie
Chicken drumsticks

It must also be well-known in catering circles that you cannot expect people to finish 100% of whatever food is served. For a wedding, the biggest faux pas is to calculate food based exactly on the number attending because some choices will go extremely quickly and others will get left behind. Nothing is worse than being the last one to the buffet and only getting the most unappealing leftover dishes that nobody else wanted. It will fill you up, but that's not the point of a party. You need to provide every guest with the chance to eat every dish if they choose to.

Its not the Ops concern if her guests are hungry?!

I have this punnet currently and it’s nearly gone for us as a family of 3 with a small bowl for breakfast each day. It’s not enough.

As you will know by now, that’s absolutely not enough. Do people just eat salmon flakes on their own, seems a weird and costly addition and not particularly filling. No more strawberries!