Easy buffet for 60 with special dietary requirements.

[perhapstomorrow]

Planning a party for 60 in a church hall. Was initially going to get lots of platters and desserts from Costco but I need to take into account a nut allergy, a gluten allergy and cater for vegetarians. Any ideas on easy foods that I can provide/make? I'm thinking a cold buffet but I've never catered for this many so it's daunting me a bit. TIA

Potato bar? Make several different types of toppings to cater for all allergies/choices. Plenty of ideas online. I'm planning on doing this for a large gathering with similar food issues in our guests. Who doesn't love a good jacket, eh? :)

Thanks everyoneneeds. Not sure if we have access to oven. Will need to check tomorrow.

Cook potatoes at home and keep in a hay box, will stay hot for hours.

I did jacket potatoes for a similar number a while back. It worked really well.

Jacket potatoes
Vegetarian chilli
Baked beans
Butter
Grated cheese
Coleslaw
Various salads
Bread

Most of it can be prepared in advance. I kept the potatoes warm in cool bags/boxes, and the beans and chilli in big slow cookers.

I was worried it would be boring but everyone seemed to enjoy it! I think it's better to do something simple well, especially when it comes to food :)

A cheese and biscuits table with crackers, breadsticks, oatcakes, gherkins, chutneys, pickles and relishes.

The crackers could easily all be gluten free. Sainsbury's sell two types of Nairns GF flatbreads, three types of Nairns GF crackers and three types of Nairns GF oatcakes.
They also sell Warburton's GF artisan cob loaves (three varieties) which don't taste any different to non-GF, GF bread sticks and GF baguettes.

Like the look of that ricekrispie. Have no access to cooker so will definitely have to be cold. We have an hour journey to venue so perhaps cheese selection would be good. Any ideas for desserts?

you could make a batch of veggie tartlets.simple pastry cases with a sautee of peppers tomatos and salami,feta .
make to take a pasta bake.
veggie couscous
few of those supermarket deli meat packs.
you could bake a whole side of salmon and this could be srved cold.
pick up a few loaves of bread to have on a board sliced with butter.
big bowls of salad.
tubs of coleslaw
serve it all in bowls.so much easier than flimsy plates.
bread sticks.
wrap pinwheels with cheese and pesto
chicken drumsticks.
your classic bowls of crisps
sausage rolls.

what about some cheesecakes.they sell gorgeous big ones in cosco.
or eton mess
we did a few pavlovas.made the mirangues days in advance.whisked cream and took in huge tubs and just put together at the venue
one had starberries and raspeberries with a coulit ripple (took in bottle)
the other was a choc fudge version so we bought packets of choc buttons.fudge pieces.caramel sauce.choc sauce.twirls,maltesers.and then mixed that through the cream
the fudge one went withint moments and people raved at them.
cosco carrot cake is awesome as is the chocolate one
buy those mini frozen chocolate eclairs.
Tupperware of fruit salad
choc dipped fruit.
one thing we did is buy some of those mini flags and put them on cocktail sticks and then stuck them into the gluten free,alergy free foods.

Have a DIY dessert bar for your guests:
Strawberries and possibly other berries
Peach slices (from cans, drained)
Squirty cream
Chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles
Mini brownie bites
Cookie crumbs (great fun just crushing a load of cookies)

Sophisticated adults can just opt for peaches and cream, those on a diet can just choose fruit, and big kids can go all out!