buffet ideas for 100+ on a budget?

thriftmonster

Desdemona makes a good point - the more people - the less you have to cater for according to my GH book. ie for 10 people you need to cater for 10, but for 25 you only need to do for about 22, for 50 cater for 40 odd etc. Sounds strange but hsave found it's true.

nesssie1702

What time of year are you planning the buffet for?

Hopefully you'll have enough fridge space to keep all the cold stuff cold and hob space to reheat food until it's piping hot.

I work in food safety and have been involved in a couple of food poisoning investigations where buffets that have been pre prepped and left out at ambient temperatures for too long, so that's been a likely source of the problem. But that won't happen at your buffet

Timmne

We're doing it in early feb - I have the dilemma - beer or food in the fridges? :eek:

Thanks for all your help everyone!

tattoed_bum

in this weather leave the beer outside lol

cardiogirl

Hello everyone, I am helping to organise a charity ball being held in a few weeks time. There will be 230 people coming & we will be giving them a welcome drink on arrival (as well as a buffet style supper later). I have been asked to come up with canape ideas to give out with the welcome drinks & am struggling. I did a search & most suggestions were for smaller numbers ie I cannot contemplate making mini quiches for this number! I have 2 possibilities - a ritz cracker topped with phili cheese & cucumber & I'm going to have a practice with the smoked salmon pate on bread swiss-roll type things.
Does anyone have any other ideas of cheap & easy to do canapes bearing in mind that I will probably have to do them all myself.
Many thanks, L.

lucylucky

Have you got a Costco near you?
Do you know a member?

There are many thing they do, which can be served as canapes, from breaded prawns/chicken to huge pizzas to be cut up.

A lot easier than struggling to make it all yourself.

cardiogirl

No Costco for miles, but I didn't think of cut-up pizzas, thank you!

meritaten

you could also make mini meatballs - you can get quite a lot out of a pound of mince if you make them the size of cherry tomatoes. lots of recipes online and I would make them quite spicy.
cheese straws are nice too - dip the ends in paprika to make them look prettier.
a nice recipe is for pinwheels - this is simply shortcrust or puff pastry rolled out into a long thin rectangle and spread with marmite then sprinkled with cheese (I like to use a mix of strong cheddar and parmegiano reggiano - not too much just enough that you can still see the marmite). then rolled up like a swiss roll, chill for half hour or so to firm up then slice in about quarter inch rounds and bake in oven until crisp golden and the cheese is melted. about 15 minutes at gas 6 -7 (sorry but my oven works to its OWN ideas on temp so keep a close eye on yours!). you can prepare these to the chill stage then freeze until you want them - allow to defrost for a few hours before trying to slice and cook them.
if I think of any more will post back - but its ages since I did canapes!

suzybloo

For the mini pizza's a small cutter is a great help, along with you could do the same for mini-quiche, just make the filling slightly thicker than normal, and cut out garnish with fresh parsley and they look the part! You could even use shaped cutters, but just remember to keep them well chilled,

craftlady

Half a cherry tomato, basil leaf, mozzarella pearl on a cocktail stick.

Easy:D