Low effort, substantial "nibbles" for drinks event

[SpaceOP]

We are having people over this weekend. I don't want to do a full meal as there are quite a few fussy eaters, and a couple of intolerances, plus there are 7 adults and 5 children and the whole point is to have a fairly fluid, flexible sort of evening. Usually in a situation like this I'm a big fan of some kind of slow roasted meat with sides that people can help themselves to as and when they feel like it but I can't face that after all the Christmas stuff and we definitely agreed no proper "dinner".

So do I do the MN traditional buffet of sausage rolls, bread, dips etc - but it just feels a bit boring and like, if I do it properly, more effort? I'm doing sausages for the DC so it's really just for the adults. I'll be getting an online order in from Waitrose so while I don't want to spend a fortune, I'm happy to leverage the Waitrose selection to get a few more interesting things if necessary.

Hit me with ideas please.

Would the intolerances allow for a taco pr wrap bar situation? Wraps and taco shells with various fillings to choose from?

If people agreed 'no dinner' then that only leaves buffet type things, make sure everything is room temperature thought cannot abide fridge cold nibbles unless you're sticking stuff in an oven but thats a lot of messing about for lots of different things

The usual, cheeses, pates, veg sticks, fruit bits, chutneys, nuts, crisps, crackers, is there room for people to eat bowls of soup perhaps? you could have a big vat in a slow cooker on the table? Sausage rolls and pastry nibbles

The reality is people love this stuff, well anyone I know does

Just try to get it quite interesting with things and flavours people dont normally have then its something differnet isnt it?

If you're doing sausages for the kids I'd be tempted to go sausages all round. Just get some interesting flavoured ones from the butchers, some really good baguettes, sticky, caramelised onions and a really good selection of condiments.

Mini banh mi https://www.coles.com.au/recipes-inspiration/recipes/pulled-pork-mini-banh-mi
And prawn tacos https://www.tamingtwins.com/prawn-tacos/

I thought about this but the fussy eater (who bless her, is completely open about her fussiness and very apologetic and actually very accomodating) probably wouldn't eat that! Whichi s a pity as I have leftover fancy wraps that need eating so now DH and DS will be eating fajitas in large amounts next week!

Slow cooked pulled pork baps-always goes down a treat!

Actually, I think this is a good point. I was getting bogged down in how BORING it can be, but it's perfectly reasonable to aim for something a little more varied and get a bit smarter with the pates or the chutneys or whatever to make it a bit more interesting.

I don't want to do a lot of cheese due to dairy intolerances (although not allergies and no one is precious about it) but I do have a lone camembert knocking about so perhaps I bake that and I do like the soup idea - there for those who want it but no pressure. Good idea, thanks!

What about mini jacket potatoes with various filling, you could prep onto large trays and then just bung them in the oven to warm up. Then do a side salad and coleslaw alongside.

Theoretically, 100%. But I think me, DH and DS are just totally over anything slow cooked right now.

Something like these

As a fussy eater, I’m always grateful if there is some bog standard plain food on offer. I don’t mind if there are more exciting bits available for others, as long as there is enough for a OK meal.

Fussy eaters are also varied in their likes and dislikes, so what someone suggests as fine might not be for others. (See the suggestion of pulled pork above - barbecue flavours are a no for me, but others would be fine.) Do you know what your fussy eaters like, which could be the base of the idea, and then you can add some frills for others?

I do know - so she'd eat the pulled pork, but definitely not the mexican flavours. I think she'd do soup as well - as long as it wasn't mushroom! .

I often do yorkshire puds stuffed with various things - you can premake them and let them cool. Think creme fraiche/horseradish and beef (you can get the pre cooked sliced beef from waitrose rather than cooking it), sour cream and caraway mushrooms/chives, potted beef, smoked salmon... basically anything goes

I would do cheese, charcuterie, pate, hummus, bread, crackers, pitta breads, some bung in the over pastry things.

I think you are right though, a good mixed buffet is probably more effort.
If you are doing sausages for the DC,

what about (good quality) burgers and a build your own thing. Cooked burgers, sliced cheese, caramelised onions, cooked bacon and decent baps and some sliced tomato/lettuce coleslaw etc and they can add whatever they like?
Really depends what you mean by not a meal, do you mean light snacks or just not a sit down meal?
Is there somewhere to sit? If people are eating standing up then soup might be tricky.

The usual, cheeses, pates, veg sticks, fruit bits, chutneys, nuts, crisps, crackers

Agree with this. If you want to make it a bit more special then add some interesting home made bits that can be done ahead - eg shaved fennel salad, a fresh tomato salsa, homemade dip of some sort, a smoked mackerel pate, some roasted spiced chickpeas etc. (Maybe these don’t all go together but you get the idea!!) Homemade sausage rolls are a bit of a faff but knock socks off packet ones.

Baked camembert sounds good as do the mini baked potatoes, have some sour cream with chives alongside for people to have or not.

Jacket potatoes are a fail safe here. Slow cooker pot of chilly, a bowl of beans, a bowl of grated cheese, a bowl of tuna mayo. Can't beat a jacket spud bar!

I think stick to buffet with some nicer bits as pp have suggested. I wouldn’t want hot messy food like jacket potatoes or soup.

i wouldn’t want soup and hot food if you’d said no dinner. I’d absolutely love buffet, pate, cheese and meats and crackers etc and some nice salads I can eat with a fork

Yes thats the sort of variation I was thinking and Im not sure it matters if it doesnt all 'go together' thats the point of a buffet, particularly with people with different needs and allergies and fussiness levels because someone can just take what they like and need and leave the rest (safety notwithstanding of course)

I’m with pp - loads of good quality sausages, sticky caramelised onions, coleslaw, assorted chutneys and mustards, crusty bread. What’s not to like?

Personally I dont eat bread and some people might be veggie

Although I know I havent been invited!

I did the food for my now SIL's hen do over Christmas. 10 adults. We got 3
posh pizzas, salad (leaves and a nice dressing), some prosciutto ham and salami, 2 cheeses (one hard one soft, a French loaf, crisps and crudites with a selection of dips. Nice picky food.....very minimal effort! Went down well!

The old obvious, sandwiches with nice multiple fillings and cut nicely.
Dense desserts like chocolate cake and fudge brownies

I'm going with basic buffet - bread and crackers, charcuterie, baked camembert, sausage rolls, olives, pates, light salad etc. Plus the tray of sausages. I have a few ideas for little extras thanks to this thread - from soup to yorkshire puddings to mini roast/jacket potatoes - , depending on whether I have time and energy tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks all!