What is your favourite party buffet food?

AprilShowers

Hi Folks!

My 30th Birthday is coming up in April, and I am menu-planning the buffet for our house party now, so that I can try to pick the things up cheap and pop them in the freezer.

I prefer to make everything from scratch personally, but you know how it is, sometimes your guests couldn't care less/don't notice the difference/don't want you to go to the trouble. Having said that, if I can pick up a reduced quiche for 40p or similar, that saves me the money and the hassle!

We are picking up a freezer tomorrow from a lovely lady on Freegle, so will be making some late night supermarkets raids for party foods, meats, bread etc.

This is basically what I am planning -

Hot shredded Chicken in SC to go with
Stuffing slices
Soft rolls
as Hot Option. I love Curry/Chilli etc but we've served those to friends recently and want something different. Will swap chicken for slow roast pork if I can pick up a cheap shoulder.

Humous and Veggies to dip
Pate
Cheese Board ( got a big peice of Mexicana for 67p already in freezer) probably Tesco Value Brie and whatever Cheddar looks good.
Crackers
French Stick and Butter
Crisps
Sausages
Pork Pie, Quiche and sausage rolls
Boiled Eggs
Chicken Wings/drumsticks

All this laid out in the kitchen buffet style.

Then in other room for nibbles-
Breadsticks
Dips
Tortillas
Nuts

Sweets
Birthday cake of triple Victoria with cream and berries
Minirolls and jaffa Cakes
lemon or chocolate tart

Hopefully we'll have about 30 guests.

I've read the fantastic 'cheap easy buffet' thread and got some ideas of what to look out for. If I can get a big joint of beef/gammon I'd love to do that in nice cold slices.

What is your favourite party buffet food? Have I missed out something essential, in your eyes?

Thanks for reading
April x

notanewuser

Bit of a bum deal for veggies there. I think I'd only be able to eat the eggs and nuts.

VfM4meplse

notanewuser wrote: »

Bit of a bum deal for veggies there. I think I'd only be able to eat the eggs and nuts.

And also you're going to have a lot of picky leftovers from that lot.

It might save some hassle in preparation if you aim for a hot buffet of one meat and one veggie choice, with a side salad and bread, and desserts as described. If you can make the dishes in advance and freeze it will just be a case of sticking them in the oven, there will be little arranging to do on the day. Will also work out a lot cheaper and healthier, but you do need someone trustworthy in the kitchen.

Frith

I adore cheese so I'd be getting some more exciting cheeses in! Maybe just 100g each but lots of different varieties. And some olives and grapes.

Liver (and pate) is the only food I don't like so I wouldn't have that!

When we're having a party and buying food just to heat through, we always have some samosas (veg option!) and stuffed peppers as well.

The rolls and stuffing sounds lovely.

Kitchenbunny

I do like the sound of the chicken rolls with stuffing - sounds divine. I think I'd prefer a veggie option too, even if it was just a pasta salad/potato salad.

My all time favourite party buffet foods though are onion bhajis or vegetable pakoras, and marinated chicken strips on sticks.

Good luck with the party.

KB xx

tina_malteser

mexicana cheese x

notanewuser

Kitchenbunny wrote: »

I do like the sound of the chicken rolls with stuffing - sounds divine. I think I'd prefer a veggie option too, even if it was just a pasta salad/potato salad.

Veggies need protein too!!

daisiegg

notanewuser wrote: »

Bit of a bum deal for veggies there. I think I'd only be able to eat the eggs and nuts.

Maybe OP doesn't know any vegetarians

notanewuser

daisiegg wrote: »

Maybe OP doesn't know any vegetarians

It's possible, but the OP isn't the only person likely to read this thread.

AprilShowers

daisiegg wrote: »

Maybe OP doesn't know any vegetarians

Thanks for your feedback, guys!

Only two veggies in attendance. Both will eat cheese, quiche, bread, humous and veggies, crisps, so I'm not too concerned about them going short.

April xx

notanewuser

OP, for my 30th I had a sausage and mash party - veggie and meat sausages, veggie onion gravy, lots of mash and peas and carrots. Easy help yourself type affair.

Then a massive dish of profiteroles (frozen from Makro) and a big pan of homemade chocolate sauce.

Plus homemade birthday cake and lots of booze.

(Had about 45 people round and only flew back from the States the day before!!)