Party food

[Travelcrazy]

We are having a party in the garden soon for about 40 adults. We will be serving take away pizza but want some buffet style starters for people to pick at. Any ideas please? So far I have though of smoked salmon and cream cheese on crackers and mini caprese salad bites. Thanks for any help.

Sorry to be negative, but anything fishy hanging around in this heat might be a bad idea.

I don't think you would need starters with pizza, I'd be thinking more about sides.

Maybe a couple of interesting fresh salads. You could even have a topping-like spread (cured meats, roast vegetables, antipasti, etc) and order more of Margherita pizza that people can customize to their liking.

Some crisps or tortilla chips with dips and nuts should be enough for grazing while waiting for the pizza to arrive, and maybe some fresh fruit for afters (you can make into skewers if you have the patience). An outdoor party in this heat doesn't call for anything too heavy r elaborated in my opinion

Crisps, olives & nuts with drinks before the pizzas, then extras like coleslaw, salsa, cucumber & avocado salad with the pizzas.

Antipasto dishes are probably best.

Not crackers if people are standing up: they shatter into a million bits when you bite into them.

Rather than pre-made crackers/hors d'oeuvres, I'd be inclined to have dips with celery, pepper and carrot sticks to dip in. Salads, veg/cheese skewers or anything lighter than the pizzas.

Olives

Hummus and baba ganoush with vege sticks

Guacomole and salsa with tortilla chips

Palma Ham and melon on cocktail sticks .

Some great ideas thank you, glad I asked because I was way off the mark! Will definitely do some of them