Is serving a whole salmon for a buffet a bit out dated?

[Tangyfan]

We've got family coming for a pre Christmas get together. We're doing a buffet and I'm pescetarian so thought I would do salmon, probably served cold. It reminds me of family occasions from the 80s though and wondered if there was an alternative or just crack on?

There’s a really good episode of Jamie:Together where he makes a whole salmon, a massive potato salad and baked tomatoes for a main and it looks incredible.

You have to do the thin cucumber slices layered over it to look like scales for maximum retro effect.

It's dated in the same way as a gin and tonic was say, 12 years ago. That had a resurgence with things like gin festivals and independent small batch producers etc. It's time that salmon at a buffet had a resurgence too! (not that it went away in my family, we don't tend to stick to trends in food, or anything really . If we like it we like it)

This sounds delicious but think that might take it out of budget.

I know - I thought exactly that as I typed it. It's the in laws and they can be a bit judgemental about random things so I've over thought it.

We’ll be having it on Christmas Day (no one likes a roast).

This all sounds delicious. I love all those things... food for thought.

Ha ha ha. Don't think I've ever used that literally before!

Yes - the temperature issue was also niggling me.

Forman and Field are able to supply legally caught wild salmon with the required authentication from the Tweed. Hate to think how much it costs as you have to be on their secret mailing list to get it. My 'more money than sense' sibling buys from them. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I love a prawn cocktail too

I will watch this.

Let's lead that revival!

Another option, if you prefer hot food, would be to cook a whole salmon en croute? Did it for a dinner party with pre-made puff pastry and a layer of crème fraiche, spinach and samphire on top.

If you buy from your local fishmonger, they may be able to lend you dishes/pans to accommodate a whole fish - mine did.

The nicest salmon I ever had was at a party which was catered. It was poached and cold with salads (inc potato).

I love salmon en croute but it looks complicated and the stress of getting it right for the in laws would break me. 😂

Nah, salmon pie with a few extras and shop bought pastry 😉

Mary Berry at 90, second episode, she does a side of gravalax salmon, looks amazing

I buy them ready made!

My favourite, along with lime jelly and cucumber as a side.

I think it’s retro, so could be intentionally so.

As long as you don’t cover it in cucumber slices, and present it on a platter surrounded by lemon halves and curly-leaf parsley (my parents always did this on Boxing Day in the 80s), it will be fab.

I love the idea of a whole salmon! Another idea I've always wanted to do is gravlax like this, might be an idea? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2015/jan/07/how-to-make-perfect-gravadlax-cured-salmon-recipe

My cat won’t eat farmed fresh salmon. She will eat wild caught salmon 🤦🏻‍♀️

Farmed she backs away from like it’s radioactive.

I order wild now.