Christmas Eve buffet- would would you like?

[Villagegreenpreservation]

What do you fancy?
Without outing myself I usually do :
Sausages, home made puff pastry savouries
Crisps and nuts
Chips for kids
Cake and pudding
Cheese and biscuits
Mini pizza / satay sticks
Chocolates for kids to sneak off with (they appear and disappear with handfuls )

This year I fancy doing either:
Hot meat sandwiches
Halloumi for non meaty people like me
Coleslaw
Chips

Or
Curry or chilli
Jacket potatoes

Plus puddings
Can’t be arsed with trad buffet but the above is boring me, if easy
What are you serving or what would you like?
Drinks- mulled wine and fizz, beer, fizz of some sort for children- Appletise or juice and fizzy water and whatever people bring
I love the party and enjoy cooking but want to mix it up a bit - and it’s steady flow of people for a few hours so I want it to require little intervention so I can have a drink with my lovely friends

I think the number you are catering for is critical.

It can be hard to keep food hot enough for loads of people and keep it 'available' for people who want seconds. It also depends on what you are having for Christmas dinner - you don't really want repeats. So no ham if you're having a ham for dinner on The Day.

My kids come over after spending Christmas Eve with their dad, and timings can be unreliable, plus I usually work Christmas Eve, so food tends to be cold and very much 'help yourself'. Plus can't lay it out on the table or the dog will steal it, so has to be compatible with fridge to work surface and back again.

Fresh crusty bread and lots of real butter always goes down well. Also good bread with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping...

Real samosas.

I used to do a buffet, now get takeout. No washing up!

Pork pie with English mustard. It’s not Christmas without it!

Outed by buffet spread

Cheese, all the cheese
Delicious bread
Pate
Fresh fruit

I’m doing a Christmas tea for DH family this coming Sunday and we are having -

Roasted gammon joint
Jacket potato skins filled with bacon and cheese (homemade)
Mini potatoes cooked in herbs
Homemade coleslaw
Potato salad
Cheese board
Pate and melba toast
Chutneys
Warm baguette cut into slices
Pizza / mozzarella sticks and Indian selection for the kids
Pork pie
Scotch egg
Sausage rolls
Crisps
Nuts

For dessert I have some mini mince pies and I am making the Sainsburys chocolate orange trifle and the Jane’s Patisserie gingerbread loaf with mini gingerbread men on top

For drinks we have beer, vodka, gin, lemonade, coke, soda water, J20

That’s quite traditional, my family are coming for Christmas tea on 22nd December and we will be doing a Mexican feast with burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, Mexican rice, basmati rice, fries, chilli, homemade salsa, guacamole and sour cream and I’ll do the same desserts again apart from that time I will handmade the mince pies.

I can’t wait!

20 people plus us 4.
I was being over cautious about being outed apologies. So far in real life, hot stew and bread is winning - stays warm and as times are staggered might work better
Not for me though as I'm not a meat eater.
Cheese and crackers will sort me out though

We had a Mexican one once and it was a welcome change! Fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and churros with lots of tequila sunrises!

I make a chestnut stew when I’m making a meat one for others at Christmas

For me my dream buffet would be a huge cheeseboard with crackers plus Parma ham type bits and olives!!

Quiche
Sausage rolls
Baked ham
Potato salad
Coleslaw
Green salad
Greek salad
Pate
Huge cheeseboard to include: celery, walnuts, pickles, chutney and grapes.
Nice breads.
Peanuts.
Twiglets
Dips.
For pudding;
Berry pavlova
Choc fudge cake
Mince pies.

Pickled onions, lots of cheeses and nice bread, chutneys and a baked ham 😋

I know that people always suggest things like curries, chillies, stews etc, but I have to say if I was going round someone's house on Christmas Eve and that was what was served I would be rather disappointed. They are just normal everyday dinner meals.