Buffet quantities - does this sound right?

MrsDrink

Okay so we've had lots of discussions before about the amount of food needed for a buffet. Would someone in the know just have a scan through this list please? Thanks!! x

Per person:
4 thirds of good quality sausages
2 small vegetable spring rolls
3 chicken nuggets
5 small cocktail sausage rolls
25g quiche
2 mini scotch eggs
2 quarter of ham and tomato sandwich
2 quarter of turkey salad sandwich
2 quarter of tuna mayo and cucumber sandwich
2 quarter of cheese and pickle sandwich
40g of coleslaw
40g of potato salad
40g of cous cous salad
1 mini pork pie
1/6 of a thin base pizza
handful of salad (to serve 45 - 3 lettuce, 18 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 6 sweet peppers).

I've tried to imagine all of the above piled up on one plate and in my head it is loads. We'll be celebrating from 5pm until everyone disappears. Will probably open the doors for the buffet at 6pm just so everyone had time to get to us. (It's basically a house party).

There will also be the following left over: (for 45 people)
6 small vegetable spring rolls
5 chicken nuggets
25 small cocktail sausage rolls
500g quiche
6 mini scotch eggs
3 mini pork pie
27 sixths of a thin base pizza


What do you think? It is enough to soak up plenty of alcohol?

Sweet is a strawberry cheesecake.

daisiegg

Hmm, I thought it did sound a lot until you said it was to feed people from 5pm through the evening. I think it depends how often people will keep coming back and picking, whether this is their main meal of the day and how much they are drinking and dancing. I think it's much better to have too much than not enough...just depends if your budget could stretch to a bit more I think.

ladymarmalade

I agree with the above poster...people will probably go a couple of times....could you bulk it out with some cheaper items such as crisps, breadsticks and dips, maybe even some cut up frozen pizzas? If its to serve 45.....perhaps get 10 frozen pizzas and a couple of bags of multi pack crisps....should only add £15-20 onto the budget.

MrsDrink

Thanks for the ideas. Crisps are banned (MrD has a serious aversion to them). But I will look at other cheapy things I can get. I have around £60 left to the food budget to spend. I was thinking the sandwiches may not be enough.

wanchai_2

I would get lots and lots of cocktail sausages as they are always the most popular thing at a buffet!!! People always devour the cocktail sausages before fancy canap!s in my experience :rotfl:

MrsDrink

We're doing even better Wanchai - we've got 60 proper sausages from a local producer Don't want to put cheap sausages on next to those!!

BabyBoots

Hi MrsDrink, the buffet sounds lovely. Depending on what your guests like, might I also suggest a cheese board (maybe with crackers and grapes /celery)? Actually Tesco have a good little cheese selection box which is quite reasonable. Or cheese and pineapple? Or nuts for nibbles? Maybe I just like cheese....

Are you serving wedding cake for dessert? You didn't mention any desserts. I always have an eye for the desserts before deciding how much savoury stuff to eat at a buffet!:rotfl:

sugarwalsh

I would look at ways to try and serve different food to the 45 as I wouldn't want to eat two lots of buffet style food in one day. I think I might do afternoon tea and then maybe a pie and peas or curry in the evening.
Sorry, I know you didn't ask that, but it may be worth thinking about?

sethsgran

How about buying some nice bread and having that in a large basket for people to take a chunk and then some butter to go with it.

daisiegg

Yes definitely lots of bread for people to fill up on!

I'm interested about if there's a sweet option too...

MrsDrink

sugarwalsh wrote: »

I would look at ways to try and serve different food to the 45 as I wouldn't want to eat two lots of buffet style food in one day. I think I might do afternoon tea and then maybe a pie and peas or curry in the evening.
Sorry, I know you didn't ask that, but it may be worth thinking about?

Confused... "different food to the 45".
Essentially this is just a house party for 45 people.


Ah the sweet - that is a strawberry cheesecake handmade by me
I have increased the sandwiches by half so everyone can have 2 quarters of each sandwich (ie 8 quarters - piggies) and some thin pizzas (catered enough for everyone to have one sixth each with 27 left over for free for all)
Thanks for all your suggestions! x

PS I have updated the OP with this new information, and made bold the line I wrote about it being a house party.