Daughters 18th

[OhCarrieMathison]

Hi, got my DD's 18th in a few weeks.
We're having a double gazebo thing in the garden and we'll have about 60 odd people here. Mainly family and friends and then DD is inviting about 25 friends.

I'm just looking for ideas for food that I can prep/make up during the day and then mainly have the buffet prepared for when everyone gets here.
Don't want to be preparing everything when we've got a full house.

Any ideas of some nice food would be great, thank you 😊

Whole poached salmon - would be lovely with some cold new potatoes and some lemon mayo

Would you consider getting a hog roast? Might make your life easier

Thanks Blondie.
My DD is becoming increasingly aware of veganism and although us still eating meat has cut a lot out so I think a roast hog would be too much for.

Do you have a BBQ that you could do things like burgers, corn on the cobs and veg skewers on?
Or maybe just do cold party food like sandwiches, potato salad, pasta salad, crisps, veg samosas etc and then have ask a few people to bring some different desserts to have along with the birthday cake. Big boxes of donuts, cupcakes, cheesecake etc

How about a Greek theme? Lots of non meat options.

Hallloumi
Greek salad
Baked feta
Pitta
Dips
Stuffed vine leaves
Falafel (not sure if strictly Greek)
Stuffed peppers

Poss some slow cooked joint of meat/stew
Could do some gyros or meat kebabs if did have BBQ.
There's also a Greek lasagne style dish.

I think I would keep it really simple, big cheese boards with a selection of cheeses, pate and bean pate, crackers, nice bread. Grapes, crudités, dips, breadsticks. Pickles, olives antipasti.
Or go traditional quiches, potato salad, pasta salad, carved ham, French stick, coronation chicken, puff pastries.

Or you could do an Indian theme - you could make a few curries the day before (often taste better when reheated) - you could do some with meat and then there are lots of vegetable based ones (e.g. chana masala which is chickpeas) - then you could do tandoori chicken/prawns on the BBQ

Thanks for replies.
Lots of great suggestions 👍