Christmas Day Buffet Ideas

[Titsywoo]

So it's been a very hard year for me (health issues, cancer scare and a very very stressful time at work) and I have decided although I am happy to host MIL here I really can't be dealing with cooking a roast on xmas day. I suggested a buffet so MIL can bring a couple of dishes and I can have some stuff pre-prepared and just heat a couple of bits 30 mins before.

Any ideas of what would be good for a xmas day buffet? Cost isn't an issue so can get some nice bits from M&S or Waitrose I guess. What would you fancy if you did this instead of a traditional lunch?

Pigs in blankets
Brie and cranberry something
Cheese and meat board
Olives
Lobster mac and cheese
Turkey sandwiches
Meatballs
Cheese and pineapple on sticks
Cinnamon bun bites
Black forest gateaux

I know you said you didn't want to do a roast but could you do a ham? Can even be done in the slow cooker. Then have broad buns for people to make their own sandwiches. That can be the main bit then just get some pre prepared trays of whatever looks good.

Smoked salmon, I am buying a royal cut one from M & S, ham, chicken drumsticks, pork pie, sausage rolls, salads, crudités & dips, breadsticks, nachos & dips, crackers & cheeseboard, fancy bread, pickles, then sweets, cheesecake, trifle, fruit salad

Smoked salmon - one of those huge ones- with a bunch of salads and a chocolate pudding

Honey glazed gammon
Cider pulled pork
sausage plait with caramelised onions
Yotam’s cauliflower salad
Christmas slaw
Potato and bacon salad
Bread rolls

I honestly think that a roast is easier than cooking and preparing lots of little bits of things unless you buy everything ready made and literally just have to open containers.

I think a buffet is a lot more special than a roast dinner!! Most people have roast dinners every Sunday but when do you have a buffet? We've got the carvery booked for Christmas Eve and I'm doing a buffet on Christmas Day (need to sort out the freezer before I can start buying stuff though) and then a takeaway on Boxing Day 😋

Mini desserts like:
chocolate coated profiteroles
mini eclairs
mini cheesecakes
churro's

That sounds like an amazing idea, @Titsywoo! Also, I hope things are better for you now and you have a lovely, stress-free Christmas

I also think a buffet is more work than a roast.

Is it not easier to stick some fresh herbs into a turkey, slather it in butter and roast it, buying in trays of prepped pigs in blankets, roasting veg and red cabbage from M&S and just heating them up?

If I was having a buffet on Christmas day I'd love a ham (way more faff than a roast though - boil it, take off skin, criss cross fat, glaze it, roast it etc.) Or some freshly baked savoury pastries (again, more faff than a roast)

To keep it really simple and work free, I think a brilliant cheeseboard (good cheddar, good brie or camembert, Stilton or Dolcelatte, roule) with fresh crusty bread, lots of types of cracker, grapes, fresh figs, quince jelly, good pickles and chutneys is a good bet. Add olives, mixed roast nuts, big bowls of clementines and christmassy sweet things like mince pies, baby stollen, lebkuchen etc.

Thats my favourite Christmas food - grazing on cheese and fruit and nuts.

Whole (or half) poached salmon
Cold joint of roast beef
Loads of salads
Hot potatoes
Fabulous cheeseboard with interesting crackers
Nice selection of breads

Sorted

If money is not an issue, then I did Xmas dinner with all ready made stuff from Waitrose during the first Xmas lockdown, and it was really easy- all came in foil containers, so just shoved a load of stuff in the oven, gravy in microwave and job done. Might be easier?

I would FAR prefer a proper Christmas dinner than a buffet. I've never actually known anyone in real life who does this.

If money is not an issue I would buy everything prepped and oven ready in Waitrose / M&S and literally shove it all in the oven. I assume you have a dh since you have a MIL coming - why can't he cook or help with it?

Buy ready made luxury gravy and sauces

Prepared desserts and lots of nice wine - job done!

I would be so sad to have a buffet on Christmas day but I know it's popular on MN

Is that really still the case? I don’t know anyone who still cooks a roast on a Sunday, apart from my mum (only if we’re visiting), or if they’re going out to eat.

Id be quite disappointed with a buffet on Christmas Day.

If money's not an issue why not order it in catered? I'd love that.

I agree, unless everything is cold and you are simply pulling off lids a buffet is more work, and more clearing up. I have done an everything from M+S some times after or during difficult times. Trays just need heated and put on table. You could even get a ready cooked turkey/other roast and have it cold. Less washing up too.

Have a browse on Waitrose, they do some really lovely buffet trays, and salmon and prawns etc. You need to order three weeks before so if I were you I would organise it now and then not worry about it.

There have been several similar threads lately, so everyone is likely sick of seeing this smoked salmon terrine. It can be made a day or 2 in advance.

I did similar when there were only 3 of us for Christmas. Everything went on the table and we helped ourselves.

I think so yeah 🤷‍♀️ we often have chicken or beef or a stew or pie on Sunday's 🤔

What would disappoint you about it? I've never really understood why you have to have a specific meal on a specific day.

I suppose it’s the break with tradition, for me personally. We’ll have a roast only a handful of times a year, so I tend to associate it with a special occasion. I can see why that wouldn’t be the case for people who eat them more often.

A buffet just doesn’t feel like a complete meal to me, no matter how much I ate of it 🤷‍♀️

You'd be a bit of an arse to be 'disappointed' at a buffet provided by someone who you know is in this situation: it's been a very hard year for me (health issues, cancer scare and a very very stressful time at work)

Roast dinners are very boring to me, show a lack of imagination! A good buffet is brilliant.

A side of salmon is always on offer round Xmas time and so easy to cook wrapped in foil with butter and lemon juuce . You can do it the night before. It always goes down very well at mine since we have a couple of vegetarians in the family.

They're not vegetarians if they eat salmon 😂

Emma the dilemma

🤣🤣🤣 yes they do eat fish

only not the flesh of animals

no they don't @Quitelikeit ! vegsoc.org/info-hub/definition/
Pescatarians eat fish but not meat. 🙄