If you had to take something to a party/buffet for 40 people

[CountryQueen]

What would you take? A mixture of adults and kids.

The easiest thing will be cheese, crackers, meats and fruits and crisps. I think most people will bring the same and we will be overrun with cheese! Not a problem for me but I’d like to take something different, maybe something the kids will enjoy?

I'd make a batch each of meat and vegan sausage rolls. And bring a lentil, beetroot, Spring onion and feta salad.

A few punnets of tomatoes, strawberries and blueberries or grapes to place along the table (in case everything else is beige or cheese).

I’d take a massive tray of cheese and pineapple sticks and ignore the is “What is this, the 80’s?!” comments 😋

I'd be ordering pizza from the closest takeaway and have it delivered personally

I’d make a big Greek pasta salad

Pizza for how many? 40? Or just yourself?

You’d seriously accept an invitation and then refuse to participate in the planned catering arrangements and order a takeaway? Bizarre.

Even if I was that rude it wouldn’t be an option as there appears to be just one place that delivers to this address (middle of nowhere) and it’s an Indian restaurant.

Pimped cous cous… just buy a few Moroccan ones from Aldi, add a Tin of Chick peas for texture. Chopped onions tomatoes etc in separate tubs. Mix together when you get there and sprinkle feta on top… fresh chopped parsley on top for a garnish.

or quiche.. M&S ones are great and not overly expensive

Would it not be simpler to Google the nearest supermarket or M&S to where you are going and pick up a load of stuff there?
Can order party platters at M&S.

More choice of ideas

At least it hasn't travelled 4 hours in your car.

Four hours is a bit hard on transporting most food, find a supermarket (or M&S) close to the venue and buy some bits on the way, sausage rolls, a cake, doughnuts, crisps, French bread or a fancy loaf and butter, whatever they have that's nice. Ask the host what they think they will need?

I would ask the host what she needs.. always.

The hosts don’t want everyone asking them to tell them what to bring. They don’t know what any of the other people are bringing either so it’s impossible for them to know what will be needed!

That is why I’m looking for ideas, in case most people go the easy route of cheese and crackers!

We are in a hurry to get there and so want to do the shopping before we go really, otherwise M&S would be a good shout.

I do have a cool box though. Definitely taking strawberries and blueberries and kiwi fruit and leaning towards some of the pastry ideas

I went to a friends recently and she had an amazing alioli dip from Sainsbury’s so I’d get something like that with crusty bread, can never have enough bread at things like this

Home made potato salad is also a good one

I absolutely love pork pies but don’t buy them now as they are very high in calories and not particularly healthy. Always the first thing on my plate at a buffet. If you buy the medium sized ones, you can cut in half or into quarters to make tbem to further.
Conversely I also like something fresh so a crudite platter (sticks of carrots, different coloured peppers, cucumber and a punnet of cherry tomatoes) with a big bowl of tsatsiki or humus. Take a spoon for the dip.
Or a platter of cubed pineapple and different melons (provide cocktail sticks too)

A decent size pot of chilli would go down a treat no?

I'd take a sushi bake, they're a thing at the moment, they travel well and I would be surprised if anyone else turns up with one.

Going to have to google sushi bake!

No to the chilli, again, no idea if I can reheat anything, whether they have the bowls needed and honestly it just feels like sticking two fingers up to their request of something that can go on a buffet table.

I doubt everyone will turn up with something that needs reheated. But not only that - surely your host has some kind of list in mind that they’ll tick if as people give them an idea of what they’d like to bring, or are they going to be happy with 40 people all turning up with a plate of sausage rolls or there being 40 bowls of crisps?

And is bending down to put something in the oven, or saying to you, can you just put it in the oven please, really extra work?

It’s a buffet for 40 people. Not a 5 course meal for 40 served in the middle of a field or up a mountain.

Googled and no thanks 😅

Looks like a hot meal and seafood and rice travelling 4 hours isn’t something I’d tuck into on a buffet. Thanks though!

If they wanted us to tell them what we were bringing and tick it off a list they’d have said that.

Instead they have enough to organise and for this one buffet meal have just asked that we all just bring something to put on the buffet table for the evening. They don’t want the extra work of organising what people bring. Nor the countless texts they’d have to deal with discussing it!

The whole point is that it is easy for them, turning up with a lasagne or trying to order food in, expecting them to provide extra bowls etc is just not on in my opinion. It’s rude.

I’d rather turn up with the sodding cheese than give them extra work or bring something that doesn’t fit on a standard buffet table.

I’m going to google. It sounds like the kind of thing my grandchildren would love when they’re here at the weekend.

@CountryQueen - that sounds great.

I don't think you'd be invited to that party with an attitude like that

My life, some people

The easiest and best option is just extremely high quality, fresh fruit. A giant box of farmers market strawberries or premium fruit from Waitrose or M&S. Pineapple, cantaloupes, melons, anything that requires minimal prep. Would also serve them plain (or bite sized chunks or slices), without the faff of making kebabs or fruit salads.

To be perfectly honest, any buffet where people bring stuff from home always feels a bit gross and dodgy. You have no idea what the hygiene standards are in other people's homes, whether they prepared the fruit and marshmallow kebabs with their children for entertainment or if they have dogs and cats wandering around the kitchen. Most people tend to go for the simplest things that have most likely not been "touched" multiple times or possibly made in advance and stored in the fridge or counter for ages.

Well, you’re the only person on thread that has suggested ordering takeaway food in to someone’s occasion when they have specifically asked for an item for a buffet table!

I think that might suggest it is a “you” problem rather than my “attitude” 🤣

I am definitely taking fruit, guarantee some colour!