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?

Given the four hour drive, I would go really simple here: huge box of chocolates?

Fruit is a good shout too.

What about muffins, you can add almost anything to muffins, they can be sweet or savoury. Or cinnamon rolls you can buy creamed cheese in tubs from the baking section these don't need refrigeration and travel well .

If I was PM the very first thing I would do is ban the phrase "picky bits". 🤢

Ugh. Same, but I think you’re the only one who has said it?

@CountryQueen I said it through gritted teeth. It’s not a phrase I ever use but I did when replying to you because it’s what I see time and time again on MN.

I don’t know what I dislike more - picky bits or pension pot.

Unfortunately not..

Stop saying it 😩🤣

How many buffets are people going to these days

I dont think anyone has invited me to a buffet!

That will be well pink by the time it arrives.

With respect to the host, this is chaos.

Picky bit chaos.

I’ll let you know when the time comes!

I really think someone needs to co-ordinate this.
I once went to a large buffet that had not been organised, & there were only 5 of us that brought anything other than bread & salads.

I had to almost fight to get a piece of my own quiche before the cheapskates grabbed it all!

Haha, it’s not possible. Nobody is going to be troubling the host and most people will be meeting for the first or second time. No contact details!

I think it will be heavy with cheese and those continental meat platters personally. Time will tell!

What is this about, whats the do for and who is going then?

We need more details about this mystery.

Peoples lives might depend on sausage rolls!!!

A quiche.

Very big trifle. Or go to Costco? Get a couple of different trays of cakes? They do huge trays of nice cronuts.

Fruit platter or mixed sandwich platter

As in the feta goes pink? Yeah, that's true actually. I'd just bring it cut up separately and add it when serving. But it's really nice the next day so it definitely keeps and ages quite well.

You must report back!
I must admit if I was organising such a buffet I would be micromanaging coordinating contributions

I’d go sweet as most people will do savoury. Marshmallow Top Hats will be loved by all ages and easy!

OP, you seem really negative about most ideas. Anything requiring an oven might be out, but you can bring cold food in a cooler or warm things up in an instapot. You can bring bowls and spoons/forks if your food needs it and you think hosts won’t have it. You can absolutely bring 2 XL pizzas to add to the table - why would it be rude? It’s the same as grabbing something pre made from the supermarket.

Where I come from this type of buffet is called a 'Jacob's Join'.

OP you mentioned pastries, pies are ideal, they were invented as a travel food and you can go sweet or savoury or both.

I can’t heat it up in an instapot as I don’t bloody have one 🤣

Also, I don’t have access to the facilities to do that. I can’t order a pizza as there is no pizza place and I do think it’s rude.

The host has asked us to bring something that can go on a buffet table for ease. Only arrogant types would assume they can use the facilities to warm things up, start trying to order a bloody just eat in the middle of nowhere or come with boxes full of bowls and cutlery 🤣

No chance. When there is the option of many great other ideas that fit the brief and cause nobody any effort, why would you even do that?

@CountryQueenI think you’ve been incredibly patient on this thread and I probably would have lost my shit by now with the repeated suggestions to bring completely unsuitable food or order a fucking takeaway.

I do think the hosts have ballsed up by not having at least some coordination like a shared google list or something but that’s on them.

Make sure you have some snacks hidden in the car in case there’s 25 bowls of rebated rice and some curled up sandwiches. 😄