Christmas Eve Buffet

[PippaRabbit]

I'm hosting a Christmas Eve buffet for 50 people. I've put together the following menu, does it sound ok or should I add more or put on less choices?

Ham hock and pea soup
Red lentil soup
Mushroom and onion mini tarts
Parmesan, pancetta and sage mini tarts
Butternut squash, sage and nut quiches
Stuffed baked squash
Cheese and onion rolls
Cranberry, almond and spinach salad
Baked Camemberts
Sausage rolls
Smoked salmon and horseradish bruschetta
Goats cheese, basil and tomato bruschetta
Roasted veg cous cous salad
Marmalade glazed gammon
Roast beef
Bread baskets
Breadsticks and dips
Cheese board
Sherry trifle
Strawberry pavlova
Poached pears
Christmas cake
Mince pies

Sounds yum
Will soup be tricky/messy to serve or eat?

Personally I would reduce the choices to one meat one veggie for each category, and stick to a single soup. Fewer desserts too - make your life easier! Sounds yummy but time consuming to do from scratch.

I was going to leave it in the soup kettles so people could help themselves? Should I leave the soup out? I'm wondering if I'm serving too much and have overthought the full thing.

If people could suggest what they'd leave out I'd be really grateful.

This is far too classy for me. You are missing:-

Ritz crackers
Cheese and pineapple
Prawn cocktails
Prawn ring
Coleslaw
Potato salad

(otherwise it sounds fab)

Agree with ? soup. Will guests have tables to sit at, or are they standing, dancing, milling around?

Are there any children?

I'd drop the soups and then just have mince pies and one pudding as people will be stuffed after the first course.

You are a very considerate host to have included so many non meat and fish options! Nothing worse than arriving at a party and having nothing to eat.

Definitely drop the soup - I'd limit it to things that can be eaten without sitting down...

I would skip the soups and do a seafood platter instead.

Don't do soup!

I'd leave out both the soups.
Also limit the puddings, no poached pears or Christmas cake.
Leave out the stuffed baked squash as you already have several vegetarian options.
Leave out the baked camembert, too messy to eat for a buffet, and has to be served hot.
Leave out the bread sticks and dips, as you've got lots of nibbles already.

What is left is still going to be a lot of work for you!

Guests will be milling around and he's there will be approx 10 children aged 5-12. Maybe I haven't catered for things the children would like? Should I also put on child friendly things? I'm so stressed out about it already and want to get the menu right. Nelly I think I've overthought the full thing! I love cooking and entertaining. We decided to invite family and friends round this year for drinks and a buffet never thinking they'd all accept. A few are vegetarian and vegan and I want to make sure everyone is catered for.

It sounds absolutely amazing! I would love to come. Soup sounds gorgeous - how about cups/mugs to drink it out of rather than bowls and spoons?

Drop the soup. Keep the desserts- it’s nice to have a choice.

Just saw you have poached pears- definitely drop that

Another vote for ditching the soup. Too faffy and messy.

If there’s bread and cheese/ham most kids will be ok.

Drop the soup and poached pears, add mini pork pies and roast potatoes maybe.

It's too much, too fussy, need to pare it right back in my opinion.

If soup is mug based and sitting in slow cookers keeping warm, then it is no trouble and an easy win. Supply ladles, bread and job done for the starter.

Drop the soup and as others have suggested re the squash and Camembert.

Add a kids section:
Cheese and tomato pizza
Wedges
Chicken goujons
Sandwiches - ham, cheese
Cucumber and carrot sticks

Whilst I've called it a kids section, you will find adults will eat this too. If you want to make it poncey , keep flavours simple, don't over season the wedges for instance but do lovely dips and sauces to try.

What time is it? People may well plan to eat before/after on Xmas eve and may be expecting something more like nibbles?

It's at 4.30. I'll think about it again and repost the menu to see what people think. I love to cook and make an effort but your're all probably right that it's too fussy - I've over thought it! I'd probably be better with simpler food and child friendly options. I've said to everyone it's a buffet but I never thought that perhaps people had planned more food when they got home? I looked at it as a dinner and tend to be a "feeder".

I like the soup idea - serve it in mugs

You don't seem to have much for salad or coleslaw - drop a few baked items and replace with some fresh stuff

I'd LOVE the soup!!! Pea and ham with crusty bread ♥️

We went to a lunch thing at out next door neighbours earlier in the year and she served 3 different soup flavours in mugs and it worked really well! Don't drop the soup!!!!
She also had a table set up with other buffet bits. It was yum!