Feeding parents at hall party

[pwooders]

We're having a party for my 5yo in a few weeks, it is in a hall and we're doing lunch boxes for the kids rather than a table of party food. The party is over lunch time so I decided it would be nice to do something for the adults as well (we always appreciate this when we're at kids parties!) and had planned on hot sausages, onions and rolls. But have just found out there is no oven at the hall.. any thoughts on how to cater easily & relatively cheaply for a large number of adults? We don't really want to do a buffet!

I've used slow cookers to keep burgers, sausages and onions hot. I have a tiny air fryer (a real faff doing tiny lots of sausages though!) and a larger 3 pot warming tray to keep food warm. I've also done curries etc in the slow cooker and served with precooked naan breads wrapped in lots of foil and then in an insulated cooler box.

I've done simple tinned tomato soup kept hot in a slow cooker (heated up first i a pan on the stove) served with french stick and a variety of cheese and meats. This was actually the least effort and seemed to be most popular.

I've also done pre-baked jacket potatoes, wrapped in foil then kept hot in the insulated cooler box - I served this with beans/cheese/butter or tuna and sweetcorn.

My dc would have felt most put out if they could smell sausages and onions cooking and were then served a cold lunchbox

Good point @OrangeJustice.
Don't slowcook the sausages OP, just use it to keep them warm.
But honestly parents will be delighted with cake or donuts.

Order some cornish pasties by post, cook them at home pre-party, pop them in paper bags and wrap up in a cardboard box. They stay warm for a couple of hours.
No need for cutlery.

I always just did extra party food and told the adults they were welcome to help themselves, who doesn't like children's party food?

At my granddaughter's Hall party we had trays of sandwiches from Costco which the parents loved, so if you know anyone with a Costco card, they are good value and no prep!

I was going to say, If you have a Costco card they do sandwiches/wraps platters like @Guacamowle said.

Idea of a few veggy quiches, crisps and dips in bowls might be good? You just want food to pick on really, know you don't want a buffet exactly but might be your only option.

Most kids parties I've been to don't provide food for the parents, though the ones that have, have cooked the food at home and kept it in metal trays with lids.

If I went to a kids party and got offered Cornish pasties, or tom soup, cheese and baguette then tea and cake I’d be turning up every year without fail. Yum.

Cook the sausages and onions at home (grill/fry) and then put the onions in a pot in the middle of your slow cooker. Stand the sausages up all around the pot. Lid on to travel and then plug it in to keep warm until you want to serve. Borrow a second slow cooker for veggie version?

I really wouldn't serve adult food at the start of the party, as the kids will want to eat the food too. Give out the lunch boxes and let the adults settle the kids for a few mins before you let adults know to help themselves to hot dogs if they wish.

I never expected to be fed at kids parties but I was always pleased if there was a plate of hot or cold sausage rolls or a tray of biscuits. I always cooked a couple of bags of frozen sausage rolls to hand round to any adults.

Costco is great for trays of sandwiches, M&S also do trays of sandwiches fairly reasonably. You could do a mix of veg sandwiches and sausage rolls, although once you do that you might be as well doing these for the kids, too...

Hot food? That way lies madness. Just make up a couple of plates of sandwiches and pass them round. I always do a platter of watermelon too. Goes down well.

You’re making life way too hard for yourself. Also as a PP says you will get at least one child who wants the sausages not the lunch box!

I would do cold stuff - crisps and dips, maybe a bit of quiche or sandwiches. But bear in mind not all parents will stay and some of those who do won’t eat.

Cheese, crackers and apple/grapes always good, as an alternative.

How about just doing sausage rolls instead?