What would you serve for a hot buffet?

[VeryStressedMum]

I'm doing a buffet a boxing day, but I would like to serve something hot too. Is there such a thing as a hot buffet? And I would like things that go with each other, so not fish pie and a chicken curry (although that could be very nice). Or should I just stick to cold?..

Thanks

Can I do different dishes or would I have to do one type of cuisine eg Indian or Chinese and make loads of dishes which people can load onto plates themselves. IT's just that I do that quite a bit, and wanted something a bit different.

You can definitely do different types of cuisine, with some linking elements.

For my hypothetical buffet (assuming for quite a few people) I would do:
a really big lamb tajine
a chicken casserole (maybe moroccan chicken, or cider and cream)
a huge bowl of couscous
a big tray of roasted mediterranean veg
a tray of normal roasted veg
a roast (beef or venison) with a nice sauce/gravy
If children coming - a lasagne.
Maybe some yorkshire puds and falafel.

The tajine and casserole can be made in advance and just reheated. Couscous dead easy and quick. Roasted veg just into the oven in the morning. Lasagne premade and in the freezer. And the meat very slow roast over night, or just in the morning.

I think hot buffets are really nice, especially at this time of year.

Hot buffets are nice for winter events. Helps, obviously, to keep the hot things hot... nothing worse than cooling, congealed offerings. I find cast iron (le Creuset type) dishes hold the heat really well and those little pot-warmer things with tea-lights that they use in some chinese restaurants are also very good.

For a Boxing Day buffet, depending on how many people are coming, I would probably go with one or two traditional/seasonal centrepieces like a hot, glazed roast ham, Coq Au Vin, Baked Salmon or Boeuf Bourguignon, a big dish of minted new potatoes, another of spiced red cabbage and a selection of salads, breads, sauces etc on the side.

We have a HUGE family party. WE have lots of hot stuff and cold. We all contribute.
Hot:
chicken , gammon, beef, chilli, chicken curry, rice, hot new potatoes, loads of french stick, coleslaw, ..... trying to think what else we have.
God, its good. I'm sure yours will be too !!