Having a Christmas buffet.. instead of Christmas dinner.....

[ShinyHappyStarOfBethlehem]

.. we are considering this. Christmas dinner on cChristmas day is just so much hassle and hard work, with extra people in our very small house, all that cleaning up, not much fun for the main cook or the main bottle washer on what's supposed to be a "holiday"... and we never end up having a Christmas day "tea" anyway (even though we buy stuff for it) because everyone is still stuffed form the dinner...

If you would going to replace Christmas dinner with a nice Christmas buffet.. what would you do to make it special? What would you include?

Too boring, right?

Or bad idea?

IME a buffet is hard work too, but it is a nice idea. I would do a whole poached salmon, a ham, salads, nice bread etc.

No it sounds like a nice idea...

As for what to include - I'm rubbish with ideas! Nice ham?!

Do a Kerry Katona and buy it all from Iceland! [vomit]

I think it's perfectly reasonable, and you can do it in advance too. You could give it all a seasonal twist, you know, turkey and cranberry vol-au-vents or something

Is a buffet actually less trouble than cooking a meal?

Personally I love Christmas dinner, its not that much hassle to cook (no more than a big roast) but buffets are a pain !

How many people are you talking about.. if its for your lunch what would you eat for dinner (we tend to have cold cuts and pickles in the evening)

I'd probably do that for the buffet and eat it all day !

To make it special

Champers
Smoked salmon
Roasted vegetables

I'd have to have some meat (cold or not)

It will be for 9 people and we usually end up eating about 2 - 3pm.

Surely a buffet will be less wasing up?

Do you think it would be less expensive? Possibly not I suppose.. we are struggling mightily with cost issues too..

Yes would definitely have some turkey.. I don't think champers and smoked salmon are likely tbh Nice thought though! (I should have mentioned budget should'nt I!)

We do have a bottle of champers.. it sits in the kitchen like an ornament! Ellbell bought it for us for our 10th wedding anniversary.. but we decided to save it for my graduation.. which, God willing will be in 3-4 years!!

Shiny - don't keep Champagne. It doesn't keep well, best drunk within 12 months of purchase.

Can your guests bring a dish or 2 -ie salad and pudding- to keep costs down? I think it could be a nice idea as i don't think the cook ever appreciates Christmas dinner and you don't have the hassle of keeping everything hot. Good luck.

Chicken often nicer than turkey (Throwing my traditionalist leanings out of the window) How about cold roast chicken or salmon fillets (2 for £5.50 at sainsburys ATM .. just freeze them)
Pickles (if doing chicken)
Jacket (done in the oven) spuds
Roasted veg

Bottle of champagne (and then go on the Cava .. they're all on special at the supermarkets ATM)

For 9 people definately get guests to bring the pudding or booze !

I sincerely hope you are wrong about Champagne Hula as I have recently paid £56 for a bottle of 1999 Dom Perignon (by mistake, on Virgin wine auctions!). I will be MOST upset if it is not extraordinarily delicious.

Shiny a buffet will be as much work if not more than a trad dinner. The only thing you will save on is the seating arrangement.

M and S! Go to M and S. They have some great stuff.

I had a fantasic poached side of salmon last year, dressed with asparagus.

Farcically expensive, but it was my gift to me, from me

and for me, I'd rather have more bottles of cava than a bottle of the real stuff!

look here

I would do a selection of cold meats (turkey, beef and bacon). Also a selection of cheeses with a selection of crackers.

Some salads - rice, potato green salad.

I would also have some nice breads (bought christmas eve and freshen up in the oven on the day).

Maybe jackets potatoes and some boiled new potatoes.

and perhaps some crisp/snacks and dips.

For dessert i would have a fresh fruit salad with cream and ice cream.

then christmas cake and mince pie and coffee.

Brilliant idea - do as much as poss beforehand, and don't have much hot stuff and everyone can sit around and pick...and drink...all day! Definitely ask guests to bring a dish and a bottle of cava each - you can make Bucks Fizz, top tip - save on the cost of fizz and use good OJ.
I suggest roast potatoes (even better cold), bread sauce (ditto) roast veggies, ham, a chicken, cocktail sausages, various pickles, crisps, salads, trifle, chocolate tart... Yum!

Thanks!

Cripes.. is that right about champagne? Would hate to think it's not going to be any good.. makes me want to drink it!! (But you can't drink champagne on a cold Friday evening when the only thing you have to celebrate is having convinced the bank to waver one of your bank charges! )

DH is going to peruse this thread.. he the chef around here. And as Trokodile said, he never appreciates the lovely Christmas dinner he cooks.. or even eats much of it, having slaved over it for hours.. usually in stressful, cramped circs.. We just thought a buffer might be easier all round, if not actually cheaper. But we will have to give it some thought..

Some lovely ideas though..

Does anyone else actually do it/have done it rather than the traditional christmas dinner?