What's the ultimate buffet?

[LePetitMaman]

Usually we are very traditional in all things Christmas, but for various reasons, this year, we aren't doing a full sit down dinner. Mainly so most stuff can be prepped in advance and neither of us have to spend any time in the kitchen and we can actually enjoy the day with the children. So we're going for a buffet, but luxury, decadent vibes.

There will be 5 of us at lunch. Rising to 8 for dinner.

We'd like some ideas for a gorgeous sumptuous fancy buffet....but nothing that's overly a pain in the ass to prep on the day.

So far, we've got: cheeseboard from naice cheese shop, charcuterie board from their also, fruit de mer platter, greek salad, finger rolls and pate.

What can go with it?....

It’s not posh, but delicious - cheese and pineapple on sticks.

You could buy a whole layered pie. Like a pork pie but with chicken and stuffing in it too, often topped with cranberries - the sort of thing they sell at this time of year if you know what I mean. That usually looks quite spectacular. Don't forget a mixed artisan bread basket and some really good butter. Also quails eggs (you can buy them ready cooked and peeled in Waitrose) cut in half with a sprinkling of celery salt and arranged on a platter.

Half a side of poached salmon
Caprese salad
Rice with roasted vegetables
potato salad with crème fraiche, cheese and chive
Posh quiche or tart
Marinated chicken on skewers
Dessert platter with mini cheesecakes, tarts, eclairs etc

Maybe not all above but just for some ideas ☺️

Oooh yes side of salmon, delish!

And caprese, and potato salad, and quiche/tarts.

Pud I was going to make an enormous Christmas trifle and serve as centrepiece.

Centrepiece trifle in lovely trifle dish sounds beautiful, you could top with pomegranate seeds or flecks of gold leaf to look extra special. Homemade pavlova with berries can also look great.
I probably wouldn't bother with the side of salmon as poaching and serving can be a faff, I'd probably do some kind of smoked salmon hors dourves or beetroot cured gravadlax.
Maybe some nice "Christmas" fruits for those that want to include some lighter/healthier foods e.g. Mejdool dates, good quality satsumas and black sable grapes or similar?

I'd love to see crusty granny bread/rolls, variety of cheeses, smoked or fillet of salmon, ordinary salad, any other type of salad, quiche/crustless quiche (the latter if anyone is gluten free, diabetic, prediabetic).

Are you happy to warm things up? Some rings of baguette lightly toasted and topped with melty Brie and cranberry. Sticky honey and mustard sausages.

A whole Iberico ham (Lidl sell them on a board with a slicer). Similar to Parma ham in flavour but better imo

Pigs in blankets regardless of its a buffet! I love the contrast of fancy buffet food and beige classics.
beautiful charcuterie board, with olives and sundried tomatoes. Olive tapenade, Granary bread. Side of smoked salmon, garden salad. Mushroom pate.

but also beige mini sausage rolls, cheese and pineapple sticks, crisps etc

A topped (with whatever you want but I love balsamic, chilli, thyme and garlic) baked Camembert.
Also, not remotely posh but a buffet isn’t complete for me without proper homemade sausage rolls - can be made the day before but must be kept in a competely airtight container once they are totally cooled otherwise the pasty isn’t crisp and delicious.

DH has actually declared he will be doing a cheese and pineapple hedgehog in the name of nostalgia.

My envisioned opulent jewel like table has been sullied