Party and Catering - any ideas?

Anne_Marie_2

betterbargains4u wrote:

Hire a chocolate fountain, which everyone will love.

Not everyone, me for instance. Thought of all that yeucky chocolate dripping, or whatever else it does!
Not got a sweet tooth - probably my problem, something I can live with though.

betterbargains4u

Anne_Marie wrote:

Not everyone, me for instance. Thought of all that yeucky chocolate dripping, or whatever else it does!
Not got a sweet tooth - probably my problem, something I can live with though.

It doesn't drip....it flows, and how anyone can call chocolate yucky!!! (or even how you spell it!!!!)
You must be in the world's minority!!!!!

sam_rhino

chocolate fountain is an excellent idea. I honestly don't think I no anyone in my whole 29 3/4 years of life that's called chocolate "yucky". please tell me you like sweeties? woollie pic n mix? millions? something?!?!
we're on the countdown of invitation responses now... will we get a 3 course meal or a buffet?: will everyone get a seat or not??!! the tension is mounting :-)

I'm just pretty pleased that my parents are picking up most of the tab - god help them when/if I ever get married!!!

Queenie

Anne_Marie wrote:

...
Not got a sweet tooth - probably my problem, something I can live with though.

You're not alone, I don't have a sweet tooth either. Given the choice between a chocolate fountain or a cheeseboard ... bring on the cheese!!!

annie-c

You can buy chocolate fountains (the small type) for around £30 in Asda and many places online. You might like to buy one or two to have on the dessert table rather than hire a professional company - that way you get to keep them for other events later. And although I am in the 'love chocolate' posse, I think that the novelty factor of one or two small ones will be suffiicent as they can be pretty expensive to hire.

betterbargains4u

Queenie wrote:

You're not alone, I don't have a sweet tooth either. Given the choice between a chocolate fountain or a cheeseboard ... bring on the cheese!!!

You could always dip your cheese into the chocolate!!!

sam_rhino

that sounds absolutely minging!! :-(
we're going to have cheese anyway - dad doesn't do puddings!!!

Queenie

sam_rhino wrote:

.....
we're going to have cheese anyway - dad doesn't do puddings!!!

In that case then, I shall come if invited

lynzpower

I would ALWAYS go for the buffet option when looking at this many people 1) you may well have some vegetarians/ lactose intolerant/ diabetics whatever in the group, & a buffet will easily cater for all these types with no struggle.

Id also check out ( not sure where you are though) places like Heron Frozen foods and other discount freezer shops. Mother goes to them for our Xmas buffets and gets big bags of mini samosas, spring rolls, garlic mushrooms ( all supermarket with the name markered out!) for quids here and there, bang them in the oven et voila!

Depending on what sort of "atmostphere" or how posh you want to make it, just tweak dishes to suit. I would have a look on the internet at "wedding buffet hotel", also waitrose have a site for ordering buffets on, and to be honet, its all presentation, nothing you cant do yourself - and see what they are serving up. Chances are they are easy, minimum prep and of course priced for max profit. Costco is a good choice for gateaux my mum gets them four our family dos and they are excellent quality and look the business.

TOBRUK

I am with lynzpower on this - If you go for the buffet option you will be able to relax and enjoy the night - once everything is laid out you have hardly any work to do! If you have a cooked 3 course or whatever, you will be run ragged. You'll want to make sure everyone has had their first course - soup or whatever, thinking is it hot enough, some don't want soup so are you going to have alternative such as melon etc. Once they have finished you have to clear the dishes away and then bring out the next course, and on it goes - you won't enjoy a minute!

As I posted earlier, you can make a classy sit down buffet, with a few meats, and it will cost less in my opinion, especially if you make the salads yourself and not buy things like coleslaw etc. After they finish the main buffet, they can then go for desserts - if you like you can keep the desserts away in the kitchen in fridges until people have had the savoury, and then bring them out - meaning the only job you will have is lay out the desserts!

Once you have laid out everything, you can enjoy the whole evening. It depends if you are looking for a relaxing and enjoyable party, or a hectic, worrying about everything, run off your feet party!