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Buffet for 17th Birthday Party

11 replies

Todayisanewday75 · 12/05/2026 08:45

DS17(nearly) has asked me to do the food for his birthday party. So far he has only asked for wings (Nigella’s salt and pepper ones). Any advice on what else to make? Ideally to be made in advance

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Todayisanewday75 · 12/05/2026 09:23

I actually made those sausages years ago for a bonfire night party, together with the halloumi bites and pasta salad from the following two pages of Nigella Express. Might add all three to my menu

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Reader19 · 12/05/2026 10:59

Here are some things I like doing for buffets (though I don't do them all at once!).

Homemade sausage rolls, using shop-bought puff pastry and sausagemeat.

Big bowl of houmous and toasted mini pittas.

Sourdough bread or nice bread rolls.

Insalata Caprese. Alternate slices of mozzarella and tomato (or if you're using cherry tomatoes, halve the tomatoes and cut the mozzarella into cubes of a similar size) then add basil, olive oil and a little flaky salt. Kids always seem to like this.

Pasta salad. I do one with cannellini/borlotti beans, chopped cherry tomatoes, basil and olive oil (and also tinned tuna and olives, depending on dietary needs/preferences).

Potato salad. I have a few I choose from but usually start by roasting new potatoes (or Jersey Royals when in season), halved or quartered if they're big, in a little oil and allowing them to cool. Then I either toss them in mayo/garlic mayo with chopped spring onion and some finely chopped gherkins, or in pesto (I like red pesto for this).

Or, if I have more time, roasted hasselback new potatoes topped with red pesto and soured cream - best served warm.

Big tray of roasted vegetables (onions, aubergines, courgettes, peppers, a few whole garlic cloves).

Roasted sweet potato wedges - season with smoked paprika before roasting.

Carrot and feta salad - roast carrots with a little oil and some caraway seeds. Cool, then add feta. Sometimes I add any combination of: salad leaves, chopped orange, avocado.

Mini toast skagen: https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/skagenrora/

I like baking so will often make a tart (or two, doubling the recipe), but I realise that's a bit more involved. At this time of year I do asparagus (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/may/23/how-to-make-perfect-asparagus-tart) and otherwise onion (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/onion_and_thyme_tart_25588 - a truly superb recipe but I find it much easier to make 1.5x the pastry, as otherwise it's hard to roll out big enough). These are both delicious cold as well as reheated.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 12/05/2026 11:21

How many are you catering for? Are you catering at home or at a venue? Can you serve hot things or do you need food that can be eaten cold?

OMGitsnotgood · 14/05/2026 09:03

I was also going to ask about cooking facilities. 17 year olds will need bulk rather than fancy. I‘d bake sausages in the oven and put in hot dog rolls. They will go well with the chicken wings and you could make a vegetarian version if needed. Also. pizza slices

lechatnoir · 14/05/2026 09:07

For a 17-year-old? Chicken wings, pizzas, lots of crisps, French stick & butter and if you want something other than beige then I’d go bowls of chopped melon & pineapple. Assuming they’ll be alcohol, I’d want plenty of carbs to soak it up & nothing that requires knives and forks or plates And just large quantities (If you don’t have teenage boys, then just double whatever you think you’ll need!)

Tonissister · 14/05/2026 09:11

DSs friends could eat their body weight in garlic bread when they came over. Definitely add that.
Agree about sausages and halloumi bites. Maybe pizza bites or little samosas. Mini Cornish pasties are amazing if you can find them or be bothered to make them.

Duvetdayneeded · 14/05/2026 09:21

No salads for A boys 17th party!!! Chicken strips, wings, garlic bread, pizza, all that sort of this. Hummus and anything healthy doesn’t have a place here!!

Todayisanewday75 · 14/05/2026 11:41

I typed a reply earlier but it seems to have disappeared.

It will be at home so can do hot food but I’ll disappear as soon as they arrive. There will be alcohol so definitely need to fill them up.

So far I’m thinking:
Wings
Cocktail sausages
Halloumi bites
Pasta salad
Dips, crisps, veg sticks
Bread, cold meats, cheeses

Does that sound ok?
DS said no pizza as every party has pizza and he’s bored of it
Will provide disposable plates to minimise droppage

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Todayisanewday75 · 14/05/2026 20:59

Change of plans, his friends have requested chilli and nachos and bbq pulled pork. Never made pulled pork before, anyone have a foolproof tasty recipe?

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Ferro · 14/05/2026 21:42

Pulled pork is really easy if you have a slow cooker or something similar.

Get a big pork shoulder. Make a rub of salt, garlic, smoked paprika, chilli flakes and sugar and rub it all over the meat. Put in the slow cooker for 6+ hours. It will produce its own juice. Then just shred it with two forks. It will fall apart. Add a bottle of bought BBQ sauce if you like.

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