I need advice - don't hate me =- nowhere near as poncey as it sounds

[colditz]

I am an Iceland girl at heart.

but I need advice on M&S food

I am organising ds1 & ds2's birthday party for next saturday

I have Marks and Spencer vouchers, and we have a Marks and Spencer food hall.

what would you do? Would you buy ingrediants from them, and make stuff yourself, or would you buy their party food (we are talking 3 and 4 year olds, not 15 year old sophisticates) reasoning that there isn't much else you do buy from M&S?

Going elsewhere isn't really an option, when I bought their presents I budgeted for not having to pay 'real money' for the food, but now I am panicking a bit, and it's a different world in their and although the staff are gorgeously lovely, I am terrified of the place.

So what shall I buy?

well I would definitely get the Madeira cake and some crisps - Cheese Tasters (their version of Wotsits) look really toxic but taste delish and it is a kids' party.

buy the party food and save yourself the faff. get yourself a tub of those chocolately bites (or six).

the cakes are really nice. and the sausage rolls

you will be walking round the party muttering to yourself 'its not just ordinary party food ....' in a soft irish accent

Tubs of mini cakes - often on offer. Anything partyish on BOGOF or 3 for 2.

I could probably tempt a lot of parents to stay by leaving the wrappers on the food....

then go to gregs and get yourself lots of wine.

LOL

they do tubs of things they call 'mini-bites' which are things like little chocolate crispy cakes and chocolate sponge cake - perfect size for parties and usually on 3 for 2.

Big packs of cooked cocktail sausages if the thought of such a thing doesn't give you an attack of the vapours.

ANd they do packs of little rolls which might be ideal. You'll get all the normal ham, cheese etc too.

Pizza is half price atm - about £1.50 for a nice cheese and tomato pizza

mini bites (chocolatey rolls etc) 3 for £5

whether i would buy ingredients and make food myself or buy the party food would depend on how much time i had simple as that. so imvho that is not an m&s dependent decision...

if it is any help at all here is my poncetastic 3 - 4 yo children's party menu - can be made oneself or of course just as easily bought...

Popcorn
Sausages
Chicken goujons
Pizzas
Tuna mini pitas
Cherry tomatoes
Carrot sticks
Grapes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Chocolate crispie cakes

Birthday cake

Apple juice
Orange juice
Water
Milk

i'm probably going to regret posting that...

The cakes are definitely good, also nice are the little things in tubs (they do mini-everything, cakes, flapjacks etc.) They also sell fruit.

I believe they also do frozen sausage rolls, ice cream and jelly!

As far as I know they don't do fruit shoots.

Oh and also buy some cleaning up afterwards stuff with your vouchers and a large bottle of something nice for yourself!

I don't do attacks of the vapours when it comes to party food. IMO, it's a party.

I looked on the website, and in the canape section, you can get little mini burgers in teeny weeny buns - stupid isea?

buy party food.

Big packs of 50 cocktail sausages (already cooked) - go down a storm

mini sausage rolls - var tasty

mini scotch eggs - well, some kids like the stinky stuff

edam slices (or cheddar) - var tasty for cheese slices, if you've got vouchers push the boat out and slap 'em in sandwiches. Or a plate of slices - they'll love 'em even better than cheese strings.

mini muffins. They do loads of little kiddy cakes and biscuits, var poncey cutesy.

I tell you, I bet your vouchers don;t even cover the 'scrutiating cost.

Grapes - sometimes on offer

mini burgers - great or terrible? depends on how lentil weaving the other parents are...

I'd wouldn't buy M&S food for a kids party. Like they would appreciate or notice. I would spend the vouchers on some yummy food and a bottle of wine for me when the party was over!

mini burgers are good. this thread is really making me hungry for party food

teeny tiny food is brill ...

Are you still going to have jelly and ice-cream

mini burgers - yes, stypid. Exceptional cost and children will be much happier with sausagaes and sausage rolls and cheese slices.

noodels is, of course, correct.

Buy all teh same stuff in local supermarket and get a good indian and wine for yourself.

The trouble is, bossykate, that would just be a normal lunch for my children

Not much lentil weaving going on, I think.

Am getting even more in a tizz now, I shouldn't have asked.

Um um um

I have to get it from M&S or I can't do it really, unless they all get a cheese sandwich on value white and a handful of crisps.

Which they would probably be fine with