Where to put the serving dishes?

whitesatin

We will probably have around ten adults. Our table only sits six, maybe 8 if we squeeze up. I have decided to add a camping table to form a T shape. Not ideal but necessary as I don't want to go out and buy a bigger table.

But, trying to plan ahead, short of plating up in the kitchen, I am not sure how I can place serving dishes, crackers, candles etc. etc. without running out of space.

I have a very old (Freecycle) hostess trolley and have just treated myself to a 3 pot slow cooker/buffet station, which will help with keeping the food hot but there won't be much room behind the chairs to leave the table to help yourself to the food on offer.

Plating up might seem to be the best solution though I am not sure how I will have room to lay out 10 dinner plates in which to pot on the various stuff. I know I always get into a panic and it can spoil it for me. What do most people do? I have no serving hatch between the kitchen and the through lounge/dining room.

It always appears that I have lots of space but it is at times like this I could do with pushing the walls out a bit, lol.

kingfisherblue

My mum is in a bungalow without a dining room, so space is very limited. She keeps her hot thingummyjig in the kitchen, with the serving dishes on, and we all help ourselves in there before sitting down. If anyone wants more, whoever is closest to the door (usually me!) brings the serving dishes in towards the end of the meal (crackers tend to be pulled by then, and another family member shifts the rubbish into a bin bag while I get the dishes).

As we help ourselves first, the serving dishes tend to be emptier by the time we want seconds, so I decant broccoli in with carrots, or roasties in with the mash. It saves space, and it gives me a chance to pop back into the kitchen and put emptied dishes into soak.

Alternatively, if it is s though room, could you put another temporary table in the lounge area, just while you eat? Then the dishes could be put on that.

Sharon87

Do it buffet style? When my brother had loads of people round for Christmas Dinner he served everything in dishes on the counters and we all went up with our plates, buffet style to get it. His table was like yours seats 6 usually, but we squeezed 8 or 9 of us around it!

You can always put the gravy and extra roast potatoes in the middle of the table if there's room.

whitesatin

Thanks, Kingfisherblue and Sharon, for your ideas. I am beginning to visualise a few ideas.

We do have quite a big through lounge but, as well as the normal furniture, there will be a big tree, lots of baby gear, not to mention a "just about walking eleven month old", a brand new baby with all the gear that goes with that, an Ikea round plastic table and three chairs for the seven year old, the six year old and the four year old. Thinking of safety, I need to keep the hot food up one end really or out of the room altogether except what's on peoples' plates.

I am now thinking of laying out all the food and hot cabinet etc. in the utility room between the kitchen and the through lounge and, as suggested, letting people help themselves before sitting down.

Thanks again, looking forward to the typical family chaos already, lol.

Owain_Moneysaver

whitesatin wrote: »

Plating up might seem to be the best solution though I am not sure how I will have room to lay out 10 dinner plates in which to pot on the various stuff.

You can get plate covers and stacking rings which allow you to plate up one, then cover it and put the second one on top, and keep going as high as you can.

Once you've got hot food on hot plates, stacked and the top one covered, it should all keep warm for 20 mins or so giving you enough time to get through the starter.

If you are plating up different meals for different people, make a list and get people to tick what choices they want on their plate, then plate up and stack the plates in the order they will be served going round, or being passed down, the table.

melanzana

buffet style is the way to go.

I hope you have a lovely day, but don't get too stressed, everyone is happy when they have a full plate remember?!!

As for candles... I use the battery operated ones that look like they are flickering, brilliant and no worries about wax, or burns or the place going up in flames either lol!

The thing to remember is, that no one looks at the table decos, or the candles, or anything, they just want to be fed, and once they get that, and all can sit around and eat and chat and have a good time, all is well.

Don't stress... no one really notices I know (wink)

themull1

We heat the plates in the oven, then i plate a meal at a time and huusband takes it into dining room, its done with military precision - we would have absolutely no room on our table for serving dishes.

suki1964

I would put it all in serving dishes in the kitchen, with a platter of extra cut meats, stuffings, roasties and gravy on the table and allow people to take a nicely warmed plate ( use a napkin to hold and do children's and any frail guests for them), serve themselves and make their way to the table.

Would be the quickest way to get everyone sat


Just make sure yourself or delegated other is sat closest to the kitchen ready to bring in any other top ups

I find most people tend to be happy with the amount of veggie they first take, but will always want more roasties, gravy and meat