finger buffet for christening

[nappyaddict]

ds' christening is in just over a week and a half and my cousin (a head chef) is doing the buffet. any ideas of what i can ask her to do. want something a bit different than the normal sausage rolls and sandwiches. can only be cold stuff cos we are hiring out a room and there is no where to keep it warm. so far i have thought of:

melon with parma ham
waldorf salad
pasta salad
rice salad
prawn mayo and coronation chicken vol au vents
indian and chinese snacks
quiche
scotch eggs
smoked salmon and cream cheese on brown bread

Don't forget the cheese and pineapple on sticks - gotta have the cheese and pineapple on sticks!

bump

anyone?

what about fab leg ham and mustard on french baguettes sliced.

oh yes that sounds nice. think we are having that coke ham though .. might be a little much ham!

We had a big salmon on a platter, a big beef joint thing, a ham joint thing (I can't think what you call them! One was on the bone...) 3 salads im sure there was more... I can't think though. Im sure we did a basket up with rolls aswell, apples, cheeses and grapes... must have been more, doesn't sound alot! Oh, new potatoes aswell.

oh yes i think we are having a salmon, beed sounds like a good idea.

beed? i mean beef obviously!

A salad section to include:
Moroccan cous cous
Vine tomatoes and balsamic vinegar
Roasted peppers with rocket and Parmesan
Rice salad with Stilton and herbs
Hot new potatoes with mint and melted butter
Blackcurrant torte with cassis coulis

Around the world buffet
Whole poached and dressed English salmon with king prawns and fresh asparagus
Rolled rib of Scotch beef in a red wine jus with hot horseradish
Spiced Moroccan chicken with coconut, coriander and cous cous
Russian vegetable Koulibiac wrapped in pastry Contains wild mushrooms, peppers, wild rice, herbs, aubergine, served with sour creams and salsa
Italian roasted vegetable brochettes, basil and tomato fondue and Parmesan
Vine tomatoes with red onions and balsamic dressing
Hot new potatoes with mint and melted butter
Tagliatelle verdi with smoked chicken and tarragon
Oven baked basmati rice salad with cumin
Thai noodle salad with chillies and lemon grass
Mixed leaves and peppers
Classic glazed lemon tart with crème fraîche

Evening buffet ideas
Spicy chicken goujons and satay dip
Tartlets of smoked salmon with tomato
Crostini of goats cheese, pimentos and tapenade
Mexican chicken drumsticks
Spicy duck fajitas with plum sauce
Bruschetta with vine tomatoes, basil and olive oil
Deep fried mushrooms with Gorgonzola
Tiger prawn skewers and teriyaki dip
Mini prawn spring rolls with black bean dip
Thai salmon and crab fish cakes with sweet Thai chilli dip
Frittata with bacon and goats cheese
Deep fried chicken and prawn won tons
Smoked chicken and lime tartlets
Tomato, mushroom and aubergine brochettes
Selection of cheeses served with fresh breads, celery, nuts and grapes

Fish & shellfish buffet
Whole poached salmons with a cascade of Mediterranean prawns
Dressed lobster with herbs and garlic and Thermidor sauce
Fresh dressed crabs with Thai spices and dips
Filleted sea bass oven baked with rosemary and lemon
Whole sides of Gravadlax carved and served from the buffet with sweet mustard and dill dip
Moules mariniere with lemon and garlic

Accompanied by
Vine tomatoes and balsamic vinegar
Rocket and Parmesan salad
Hot new potatoes with mint and butter
Linguine salad with coriander and chillies
Green salad including radicchio, frisse, & endive
Various dips and dressings including garlic mayonnaise, thousand island, pineapple salsa, jalapeno, basil and lemon oils, etc
Duo of white and dark chocolate terrine and passion fruit coulis

Traditional buffet
Roasted rib of beef with hot horseradish
Honey roasted ham, carved from the bone with sweet mustard sauce
Dressed salmon with prawns and Hollandaise sauce
Crown of roast turkey with cranberry
Roasted vegetables wrapped in pastry with herbs and watercress

The fork buffet
Somewhere in between a formal, silver-service dinner, and a finger buffet is a fork buffet. This basically allows guests to help themselves to a variety of hot and/or cold food from a buffet, and then sit at a formal table setting to eat. It's a great idea -- allowing guests to have more of a decision in what they eat, but still retaining the formality of beautifully set tables and a seating plan.

Instead of a single buffet area, how about having various 'food stalls'? Each of these could serve a different course, or a different type of food. If you're a fan of Pan Asian food, for example, you might have an Indian food stall, a Japanese food stall, a Thai food stall...

The finger buffet
With a finger buffet, guests don't require cutlery and are free to mingle and eat at the same time. The food might include things like tasty canapés, delicate sandwiches, individual pastries and dips. This is a less expensive option but there are certain things to consider. If you are having a relatively long day, it's not ideal to expect people to stand for the duration. Some people, especially more elderly guests, will want to sit while they eat, regardless of whether the food requires cutlery or not. A well-organised reception with a finger buffet should still offer some seating around tables for those who wish to rest their legs!

A slightly more glamorous way of wording this type of reception is to call it a cocktail and canapé party! If you do choose to serve only delicious canapés, make sure you have excellent caterers who pride themselves in stylish presentation and tasty bites, and that you serve a substantial amount of food.

those look nice. do you think thats a bit over the top no, it isn't a wedding after all. people already think im going over board inviting 100 people - we have a big family!

I just picked some out of those lists. Mainly the traditional buffet. Just to give you ideas really.

sushi? it's not that hsrd - snd you don't have to use raw fish (go to M&S for ideas).

Just imagining my MIL's reaction if we'd done sushi for a chritening party...

nappy, your cousin is going to cook for 100 people? Impressed.

Your list sounds nice, with options for vegetarians and children.

Because of the salads, it is likely to be a fork buffet, though the rest sound like canapes. I guess you'd need to provide plates and cutlery and ideally some seating, as Quootie suggests, as some guests may find it difficult to stand and eat. For a fork buffet, I was thinking you could include a showcase dish, like a big roast or one of the yummy things from Quootie's list. Love that coke ham too!

yes there are tables and chairs so people can sit down and eat. i duno really why i said "finger" buffet, its just a buffet really.

she used to be a head chef before she had her dc so she's used to and she always does food for parties the family have and the cakes. however she always gets caterers in for her own! i suppose if she had to do the food it wouldn't be as enjoyable, but she loves doing it for other people. when i gave her my list of sausage rolls, pineapple and cheese and mini pizza she wasn't impressed lol! as she doesnt do it very often i think she likes to put her skills back into action as opposed to doing a buffet any idiot could prepare - her words not mine!

wow, let me know what is on her "professional" menu!

I went to a new year's eve party where my friend made little bruchettas, he took a large ciabatta loaf, sliced in to 1/2" slices and toasted. He then chopped some tomatoes, mised it with a bit of olive oil and fresh basil, put this on the bruchetta and topped with fresh parmesan. They were lovely!

mmm they sound nice x