Breakfast for a crowd that doesn’t involve ‘full-English ingredients’

[OMGitsnotgood]

Looking for breakfast ideas for a largish group (c 16 poss 20 people).

We will already have had full English or a variation on that the first two mornings so I don’t want to repeat that or make anything involving eggs, bacon or sausage (although there will no doubt be leftovers if anyone really wants that again). Baked beans/mushrooms will also be included in the full English.

We could have a selection of cereal, maybe Bircher muesli, fruit, croissants/Danish pastries/muffins etc. I think most people would be happy with that so am not at a loss. I just thought I’d ask on here as I know there are always brilliant ideas I haven’t thought of.

Thank you.

Make ahead cheesy breakfast muffins? Possibly with chopped bacon etc.

Then I would make it a continental style savoury - bread, cheese, meat salad - as well as sweet - fruit, pastries - so people can take the leftovers for the journey home.

I would just buy the frozen pret croissants you can get in supermarkets now. One bag of almond, one of chocolate, two plain or whatever you think will go down well. I think they do pain au raisin too or is it cinnamon swirl.

For those who prefer savory, nice warm bread and butter, ham and chutney.

On a separate day I would do something lighter, big bowl of chopped fruit, natural yogurt, juices, oaty muesli, Weetabix.

If the group are happy with the full English, they'd probably not be happy with cereals & cakes.
I'd be searching every cupboard for hidden protein if I was offered that !

@oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends woukd people really want a full English 3 days in a row?

Why not ? Doesn't have to be every item on offer every time.

My point is that cereals & cakes are unwelcome to people that want protein for breakfast & not sugar.

I would absolutely struggle with meat, salmon, kedgeree or shakshuka for breakfast. We usually have porridge or other cereals with fruit and then coffee/ tea and pastries. Surprisingly we are happy with full English even 3 days on a row.
So I think the idea of having a spread of sliced meat, cheeses, pastries, yogurts, fruits and nuts, easy cereals when people are choosing is the best option.

@oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriendsthankfuly this this lot will eat most things, and I don’t really fancy cooking a fry up for so many people when we’re also trying to pack up and leave. But point taken, thank you - I’ll make sure there are some savoury and lighter offerings. Was just looking for some different ideas.

Yeah I’d be happy with the full English offerings again, I might just have some toast and mushrooms one of the days, bacon and eggs one of the days and some hash browns and beans on another.
I don’t really eat all the components of a full English breakfast all at once because I don’t like some of them and also I hate all the stuff touching each other on a plate 😂
I reckon you could get away with just offering pastries and then rustling up anything cooked with whatever is leftover.
Although when we do big group holidays we don’t make breakfast as one communal meal, people just drift to the kitchen when they’re ready and if someone else happens to be in there at the same time cooking bacon they’ll offer to put some extra under the grill.

Breakfast panzanella?

What kind of cooking facilities are available? I would have a choice between bagels and English muffins. Ideally have some crispy bacon, smoked salmon, eggs, creams, capers, chopped red onion, chopped omelettes etc and have your own make your own breakfast sandwich bar.

Waffles and /or pancakes with fruit salad and yogurt is nice and easy for the last morning.

Big pile of fruit (berries of any kind, bananas, grapefruits, oranges), meats and cheeses (always pleases), yoghurt of whatever plain or flavour you can be arsed to find, crumpets, bagels, cream cheese, proper butter, baguette, nuts and seeds if you’re that way inclined, marmite, jam, marmalade, sliced bread. Plonk it all in the kitchen and let everyone help themselves.

This would be my suggestion. Ham and smoked salmon to go with the cream cheese. I always have baby spinach with mine too, so a bag of that for the shopping list too!

My go-to is a platter/ salad of smoked trout, watercress and avocado, with a yoghurt & watercress dressing. It’s just an assembly job, other than the dressing which at a pinch you could whizz up the night before and leave in the fridge. Serve with some sourdough toast. It’s also delicious as a lunch dish. Let me know if you would like the recipe OP! Some fruit and cereals before would be good for those with an appetite.
edited to add, you didn’t mention dietaries but it’s easy to make GF (switch out the toast) and even lactose free (the dressing works really well made with goats yoghurt).

Kippers.

Save it for the last day so the smell doesn't bother the departing visitors !

Your suggestions seem great although not sure I would bother with the muesli.

Granolas, fruit platters, yogurt, milk, etc

plus bagels with salmon, cheese, salamis.

Then it’s all low prep, easy to self assemble and a choice for savoury or sweet

I'd make a big bowl of fruit salad, a bowl of berries, big tubs of Greek yogurtfrom Lidl nut and seeds, good bread, butter, honey, jam etc and crossisants and let everyone help themselves.

Poached eggs for protein lovers
Smoked salmon
Avocado
Grilled tomato
Meats and cheeses for those not loving Smoked salmon
Sourdough toast
Keep it simpler

Either that or american pancakes, strawberries blueberries bacon cream maple syrup

No hassle sort of French toast: Baguettes cut into 3 cm rounds and squashed, standing up, into a roasting tin/pyrex dish. Pour over a mixture of egg and milk. Prepare the night before and leave to soak in the fridge then bake until it looks cooked and is set in the morning. Looks great when it comes out. Serve with beans (and anything else savoury and suitable) or sprinkle with cinnamon/nutmeg and serve with fruit.

Whenever I’ve stayed somewhere with full English as an option, by day three I go for boiled eggs, toast and some fruit. I wouldn’t eat pastries or cereal. Someone mentioned up thread the egg/cheese muffins - I’d be delighted with those too :)

😂

I second the smoked salmon, cream cheese, bagels option. I'd make smoothies to go with it.

But, just as a quick side bar point - if I'm trying to make pancakes in bulk and/or quickly, I do banana pancakes. I can cook enough much more quickly than doing more traditional pancakes.