Help with luxurious New Year buffet...

[Springisintheairohyeah]

Ideas please for a luxurious New Year buffet for family - not really after frozen picky bits/hummus etc. more a few lovely centrepieces with some sides and help yourself desserts. Think Dickensian table laden with lots of lovely things, roaring fire, candied fruit, whole roasted ham (except we don't eat pork or have a fire, so that scuppers that, but hopefully you get the idea).

We have a large vegetarian/seafood only contingent, some will eat meat but no pork or beef. These are the things I have on my potentials list so far..

• Side of salmon
• Home made quiche/veg tart
• Smoked salmon with home made potato scones
• Smoked mackerel pate
• Crab dip
• Cheese and biscuits
• Mince pies
• Trifle

I love cooking but have a terrible habit of going OTT and stressing myself out, so some things that could be made in advance or assembled/pre bought would be good.

The reason I am thinking about this in October is because a) I am excited to cook for my lovely extended family and b) I usually do a big online food order from a free range/organic supplier with Christmas and new year slots that are already filling up fast

Look forward to hearing what everyone would add :-)

Our local fishmongers do amazing fish platters with crab claws and hot smoked salmon etc.

Pulled lamb shoulder with jewelled couscous.

Baked whole Brie in filo.

Salmon coubiliac (sp?)

Cheeseboard.

Stuffed peppers

I meant flatbreads and Mediterranean salads- take that to work. That poster was saying other suggestions weren’t luxurious, well neither are flatbreads and salad!

One of the most impressive plates is a fruits de mer. Can you easily get oysters and can you shuck? Or have someone else that can shuck ideally as it takes a while. Serve them on a bed of ice with various vinaigrettes. And if you have money to burn add some lobster, crab etc with aioli.

If you’re looking at smoked salmon, The Pished Fish do beautiful range of booze and botanical infused smoked salmon. They take it to a whole new level.

A few years ago I did a buffet on 28th December (similar vibe) and it was:

Coquilles st Jacques (made in advance and baked on the day).
Puff pastry tomato and pesto tarts (individual, made on morning and baked before serving).
Mushroom Terrine and French bread (bought).

Salmon en croute (prepared day before and baked before serving).
Roast sirloin of beef (bought from
butcher; my dad cooked this and brought it to the house)
Filo roast vegetable tart (made in morning and cooked before serving).
Potato dauphinoise (made well in advance and frozen).
green salad (made on day, shop bought French dressing).
beetroot, grated carrot and feta salad (made on the day).
Giant couscous salad (frozen from Tesco).
horseradish (from a jar)
Hollandaise (home made before serving).

port wine and orange jelly (done in a copper ring and made early on 26th as needed ages to set as so big and then served with segmented clementines in the middle).
lemon posset (done like little individual castles and made the day before and topped with pomegranate).
Nigella Lawson passion fruit pavlova.( Made on the day)

The jelly and possets were a real hit. They looked so Christmassy.

I am also reading with real interest everyone else’s suggestions.

Ha mackerel pate is my non negotiable! Love the stuff - hate smoked salmon though, never understood the appeal. Each to their own :-)

Love this. Think I could do chicken and salmon options to go with

Ooh the figs sound gorgeous

Was thinking about some sort of potato dish but parsnip is a brilliant suggestion. Might go well with the sumac chicken/salmon someone suggested earlier too

That looks fabulous 👌

Actually that's a fair point. Maybe not everyone gets as excited as I do about trifle 😆

Now craving lobster rolls!!!

I think only two attendees would eat the beef so prob not - sounds lovely though!

I am not currently a shucker, but I could learn! 😁

Your menu sounds very not luxurious

I'm loving all these suggestions. Those dessert options sound fantastic - hadn't thought of a jelly but that would be a real crowd pleaser. Pavlova too

Yes I think you have a point! Will be adding in some suggestions for sure

Salmon coubiliac (I believe salmon coulibiac)

• as pp suggested is indeed yum! It looks great as pastry shaped like a fish complete with scales

Someone mentioned large pork pie but NO PORK ; so maybe a centrepiece game pie or chicken and apricot raised pie or vegetarian equivalent can look magnificent!

My DM sometimes did a whole baked salmon, removed the skin and replaced it with cucumber slices cut in half and layered on to look like scsles.

• the PP who said fewer things, was right. Quantity of each dish looks more luxurious and it’s less stressful for you.
• the seafood box is a great idea. We did this one year with pre cooked massive prawns, a huge side of smoked salmon (much nicer than pre cut), cooked and dressed crabs
• very luxurious cheeseboard piled with fruit and olives (look up cheeseboard dressing) goes down well
• some very nice bread and a flavoured butter

Your fish seems to be mostly smoked. Are you having any hot food? If you have a slow cooker I would do something like a fish Catalan. Basically fish in a tomato sauce topped with nuts (obviously you can leave out or put so people can help themselves) So a pack or two of passata, chopped mixed fish, the meatier the better, paprika, salt and pepper.

Filo parcels, you can make them with cream cheese, cream cheese and cooked mushrooms, cream cheese with salmon trimmings, brie with mango chutney - that one always goes down well with my guests.

You can also fill the buffet with stuff from Iceland, your guests will not notice due to the salmon etc.

Kebabs, either chicken of fish or a mix.

Rice and peas with Jonny cakes?

Dried apricots soaked over night and filled with cheese - I normally use brie and wrap in bacon but you could wrap with a 'ribbon' of spring onion, then put in the oven for 10 mins.

I make a sort of olive oil dip. Make in small containers and can be made a week ahead.

In each container place a peeled clove of garlic. then add sliced olives, strips of peppers (a mix of colours are good) sliced mushrooms, capers (you could add anchovies) the odd herb, a basil leaf of some chives. Then fill with olive oil, tap the jar / container to get any air bubbles out, put a lid on and stick in a cupboard for a week.

Mini Yorkshire puddings. Stuffing balls.

Literally my fave festive dish! We do a parsnip and carrot one and it's the best!

I’d do a salmon and slow cooked lamb shoulder with Persian style pilaff
interesting salads
baby potatoes roasted in Zatar

How are you displaying the buffet? It looks far more lavish if at varying heights and garnished properly. Start collecting sturdy boxes in several sizes.

Use cake stands too.Decorate between dishes with strewn fruits and nuts and pine cones and a few chocolate coins.