buffet menu - is it all right?

[ladygoinggrey]

I am entertaining more than I have room to seat so everything has to be edible with a fork, and where possible - make ahead. Is this menu ok? - Can you see any glaring problems or things to consider?

starter

• Double salmon roll

mains

• Roast chicken with couscous & pine nut stuffing wrapped in bacon
• Goat's cheese, potato & onion tart
• Pasties - not sure if I'm doing classic or vegetarian yet

sides -green salad -tomato cucumber salad -potato salad desserts -strawberries and cream -lemon tart -chocolate cake

drinks
-water
-juice
-pimms
-beer

Another starter for non salmon eaters?

What is double salmon roll?
Also the chicken breast not necessarily easy to eat with just a fork.

cold thanks - good point - will find something vegetarian
brillo also good points - this is the salmon roll

A great thing for a buffet is stroganoff, tagine etc. A tagine would go well with the cous cous. For starters why not do things that are finger food like smoked salmon blinis, crostini etc?

and this is the chicken

Agree, the chicken doesn't sound like fork food. How about this www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2363/lemony-roast-chicken-couscous, it's served cold and is absolutely delicious.

do your cous cous but with chicken strips, or roast a whole chicken and strip it down,put the pine nuts into the salad!

I also think it's not a buffet without a big giant home made quiche and some sausage rolls....buy the puff pastry and tittivate the sausage meat with herb and grated apple.

yes a one pot dish would make my life easier - maybe a beef and veg casserole with crusty bread.

some great ideas here - thanks a lot cats - the Goat's cheese, potato & onion tart is with shortcrust so it looks like quiche - maybe I'll do another flavour rather than 2-3 of the same

sausage rolls - perfect

Are there any wheat/gluten free people coming? Just as it's quite common nowadays, and neither couscous nor standard quiche would be suitable

dunno oneday but no one's mentioned it - I know who are vegetarians. What's the correct form - do I ring and ask - which I don't mind as it will give me a chance to confirm who's coming or just assume they would have said if they were wheat free?

It is the kind of thing that, for me personally, depending on how well I knew you, I wouldn't go out of my way to say if I knew an event was buffet, I'd just hope to scrabble together enough salady items from the buffet! I feel guilty for being 'fussy' (although it is a pretty serious health consideration for me). If you specifically asked id say that I have a gluten free diet though.

Don't gluten free people normally tell you? The people we know with allergies/intolerances/ lifestyle choices tend to be very clear about what they can and cannot eat.

It all sounds lovely. I'd possibly put out some cheeses (3) in addition. That means any GF people or veggies can bulk up their salads without having to appear fussy. It's dead easy as well.

(I'm low carbing at the moment but would be very embarrassed to say it and would just try to find whatever I could to eat - meat, cheese and veg!)

I'd echo what a pp said about the starter. Not everyone likes salmon (I don't!)

Other than that, what time would you like me to arrive?

bitoutofpractice if you can get yourself over to southern germany - from noon next sunday

cheers everyone.