Large family gathering - no table!

[PlainJane007]

Can you clever mumsnetters suggest some ideas for a gathering of 14 people at lunchtime - we currently have don't have a large table (or enough chairs... Or space for them) so needs to be eaten standing or perched on sofas etc.

Can you buy or borrow a decorators table? Cover it with a table cloth and lay it out with a buffet?

Alternatively just put on kitchen work tops and let people queue and help themselves?

Thanks @bluntness - sorry, my post wasn't clear. I'm looking for food ideas 😊

adults or kids or a mixture?
While an adult might be expected to tear a baked potato apart with a fork one handed a child wouldn't be, so it impacts the suggestions.

The ages are important, please elaborate.

www.marksandspencer.com/l/food-to-order/party-food-and-sandwiches/buffet-food-n-84a2lq

Oh and are we talking paper plates and cutlery?

when will it be? any chance of having it outside and using garden tables and chairs (and borrowing some)?

either a finger buffet or something that can be eaten by a fork and doesnt need any cutting.

Whats the occasion?

Thanks all, more info obviously needed, sorry! It's family aged between 10 and 50, so no toddlers. No special occasion really, we all get together once or twice a year and as we recently moved house, a chance for everyone to see new house (that needs a lot of work) We have plates, cutlery etc. Outside would be ideal but forecast is not great for the weekend. I'm thinking quiche/salad type thing but could do with some inspiration. Thanks again!

Wilko have a large plastic garden table now for £12. Then just sandwiches, pizza, crisps, etc?

Wow @Hazelnutpie what a great selection from M&S - some good ideas there even if I DIY.

DIL used M&S at a christening. The food was amazing and she was not stressed out but could enjoy the day.

I would do something like a big greek salad, then something warm from the oven like falafel or meatballs and some warm pitta bread. cut the pitta so people can stuff the pockets. you could serve from the kitchen worktop instead of a table and then do a platter of strawberries and chocolates for something sweet. I did this yesterday. There was only 6 of us but it seemed to go down well.

If you do salad make sure that its shredded small enough so only a fork is required.
I'd be tempted by pulled slow cooked lamb tagine with Moroccan couscous, a selection of mezze/eastern type salads. Plate and fork only required so can eat easily standing.

Big ham/turkey, new and baked potatoes and salads. Proper salads that count as a veggie meal. Cheese and crusty bread. I'm a bit lazy/scared when there is that many people.

Lots of fab ideas - it's funny how you get stuck in your own rut and other people come up with things that wouldn't occur to you. I knew this was a good place to ask!

Yeah, buffet foods are your friend. I've also used that M&S service and it was really good. You could do something similar yourself though. I'd just think of it in terms of canapes that can be eaten in a couple of bites (but plenty of them) - so mini hamburgers, small wraps, mini yorkshire puds with beef and horseradish, tiny quiches or pastry case things with 'stuff' in, things on sticks etc. Then a couple of pasta salads, a Greek salad (all chunks you can get in your mouth - no cutting required) and maybe a big cheeseboard people can help themselves to. Fancy cupcakes and strips of fruit like melon, pineapple etc for pudding?

Yes, salady buffet best way to go. Slightly retro! I’m thinking good home made quiche, coronation chicken, Side of salmon.
Maybe a big potato salad, coleslaw, jewelled cous cous, green salad and tomato and mozerella salad. Nice bread with real butter. Keep it really simple but good quality and homemade where possible.

Decisions, decisions - so much inspiration, thanks all!

Salad is a pain to eat one handed

Go for crudités with dips it’s much easier and still can include loads of veg. Roller can dollop whichever dips they like into their own plates

Loaded potato skins are great in these situations and also go well with the dips

Scoop out most of the fluffy potato (see below) and load with cheese, spring onions, crispy bacon bits, jalapeños etc. Pop back in oven the warm and melt

With the mash potato you get left, let it cool then mix in S+P and feta and fork balls, dip in egg then breadcrumbs and shallow fry. So tasty!

Also cold chicken legs, sausages and oven bakes halloumi fries

For warm food-

Cook a couple of huge vats of fajita type filling- one chicken and one steak strips plus peppers and onions (do non meat for veggies).
The lay out huge pile of flat breads and let people fill their own wraps
Then have bowls of salsa, avocado or guacamole, jalapeños, sour cream and grated cheese

If they fold them handkerchief style they are so easy to eat.

Awesome, there are evidently some old hands at this mass catering lark!

I make a rice dish with spring onions , roasted peppers, quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, feta and pomegranate served with strips of steak and holloumi (we have some veggies) and a green salad. I cheat and use the Aldi brown rice and quinoa micro rice.

If it's cold I would go for beef stew, mini dumplings and mash, just make sure all veggies are small enough to fork.

Borrow some slow cookers - chilli in one, curry in one and maybe some sort of beef stew or sausage casserole or some such.

Lots of nice bread.

Chopped salad - yes to chopping it small

Pile of brownies and ice cream for pud

just throwing this in - I have been to meals with some of my husbands family & they have just put a clothe on the floor & eat there like a picnic but with curry & chapatis :)