Hot buffet for 40?

[Sunriseatsix]

I am hosting about 40 people, 4-8pm. What should I cook?!

Some catches:

• I am disabled and currently still in hospital so looking for super-easy things that can cook in a slow cooker in advance and then just sit and stay warm for people to help themselves.
• I want to do vegetarian.
• 6 vegans, 3 coeliacs!

I had planned the following:

• a vegan chilli con carne (should be GF)
• a vegetable curry (should be GF and vegan)
• rice in a rice cooker
• vegetarian lasagne (GF)
• pasta with pesto and sundried tomatoes (GF/vegan)

Crisps and dips

Cheese board with GF and non-GF crackers (clearly separated)
Some vegan cheeses

2 cakes: one vegan, one GF

Does this look ok? I'm panicking a bit as it looks like I'll only get discharged about 3 days before the party. I am hoping i can ask others to cook but we'll see.

Sorely disappointed? Ffs.

I wouldn’t bother cooking meat. These posts always drag out some women who have Neanderthal partners who can’t possibly eat a single thing prepared without meat.

Id honestly in your shoes just do a big chilli, chips and dips, I wouldn’t worry about loads of courses. It’s one meal

And the really rude posters who think it's okay to say such offensive things. Neanderthal? Who tf do you think you are?

So many good replies - thank you.

I am hoping to get home at the end of this week, so that does give me a bit of extra time to see how I am from an energy perspective. Lots of easier alternatives here so I am very grateful, thank you.

I am not cooking meat. Enough complications and I feel anyone can manage for 4 hours without.

I hadn't thought about the spiciness element. I think I will do a bowl of pasta with pesto/sun-dried tomatoes just for a plainer option.

I'm all about the cheese!

Chilli and curry are absolutely fine and enough, with rice, potatoes, and accompaniments - yogurt, salady bits, tortilla chips, pappadoms, as you've already said.

None of us are vegetarian, but I'd be delighted if I turned up to anything and had even just one or two of those options. And as you say, 80% of your guests are vegetarian/vegan, so sounds perfect.

Cooking for 40 though is no small feat! I did vegetarian food for 14 (salads, bread/cheese/hummus/crudites, plus various storebought quiches and tarts, plus pudding) and it was actually a hell of a lot more work than I thought it would be.

Could you do a potluck? Ask each family unit to bring something, so that all you need to do is re-heat, organise the plates/cutlery, serve. Or even if you do the chilli and the curry, ask someone else to sort a massive pot of rice or roast all the potatoes for you to re-heat, or chop/bring all the salad/raita/whatever, and then have a few bring the puddings. This will take the pressure off you, so you can enjoy time together and recover.

I think you are very very brave for even considering this. I wouldn't even go to a party for 40, let alone cater for it, if I was convalescing from an illness severe enough to warrant hospital admission.
Do you have a good Indian takeaway? I'd ring them and ask them to cater for it.