Christening buffet - limited time

nightsky224

My daughter will be christened in Sept and we are hiring the church hall next door after. We will have 60-80 people coming and think we will do the food ourselves. Thing is I don't want to run around like crazy prepping food in the morning.
Any ideas for a easy to prep buffet?

JIL

I have done a few buffets and it does depend on how easy you want to make it for yourself. My suggestion would be to think in terms of 80 people and plan around that. For example think of a quiche serving 8 so buy 10.
If you want it to be easy do salads, quiche, cooked meats, a cheeseboard and bread. The bread could be a selection of posh loaves, sliced up and put into a wicker basket lined with a tea towel. It keeps fresh and looks good.

Lots of supermarkets that have a deli counter will let you order in bulk and collect in the morning.

Good luck.

amandaatnumber7

I did a hot food buffet for my 40th last month, I cooked everything the day before (except the coleslaw) and I had my mum and a friend help too. The menu was chilli con carne, pulled pork with coleslaw on rolls & green chicken curry. Both the chilli and curry were serve with rice. Starters were cheese and cold meat platter with olives etc and hm sushi
The hot food was served in slow cookers to keep the warm and I borrowed rice cookers.

cheel

I know I'm Cornish so may be biased but I think the quickest and easiest and nicest is what we call 'pasty and a pint' so you order your pasties (80) and scones jam and clotted cream. I doubt you'll be doing the pint in a church hall! Then all you have to do is warm the pastys (they keep warm for ages wrapped in tea towels) split your scones and stick the jam and cream in bowls.
Easy as, and cant be beat for full bellies. Might nit do the cholesterol much good but you only get christened once!! Have fun xx

cheel

And also if you want to keep costs down you've time to make them yourself and freeze, and lots of bakeries will post you frozen ones.

If you want the recipe I'll give you mine. Its easy ! Xx

YORKSHIRELASS

One of our friends had a big party for his 50th and his wife asked a few close friends and family if they would contribute. She gave them very specific instructions about what to bring so I was asked to make 4 big quiches which I was quite happy to do, in fact I enjoyed it and was pleased to be asked.

I wouldnt just make it a free for all where anyone brings any food they like but it might be something to consider.

Also think about who is going to do the washing up, keep the buffet table tidy, gather up any rubbish, sweep up at the end etc. It helps if you have a few willing volunteers roped in beforehand I think.

pigpen

We priced up the time and financial cost of buying, cooking, parking, driving, storage of the food as oppose to 'order from M&S' and the difference was negligible.. so we saved the effort and ordered it.. the previous one we had a pub room after and they did a hotpot and a cold buffet... that was way cheaper than we could have done it.

missbiggles1

As the OP says she's "doing the food herself", is there any point telling her how she can buy stuff ready made?

kathrynha

Lots of suggestions of things you can buy ready prepped above which are good, but if you are wanting to do it yourself more then I would do jacket potatoes.


Not much prep to shove a load in the oven in the morning, then grate a load of cheese, which can be done the day before, make some tuna mayo, and borrow a few slow cookers of friends and family, one that you put baked beans in to heat up slowly, and one with chilli. All really quick and can be done first thing and just left.


If you're wanting puddings too, once again you need stuff that can be done early. I would do a selection of cakes. A good ginger cake is best done up to a week before, fruit cake can be done ages in advance, carrot cake can be done a few days early, and lemon drizzle, chocolate, Victoria sandwich and coffee cakes can all be done the day before.

AnnieO1234

Don't bother constructing sandwiches. Baskets of bread, platters of meats and cheeses, crudit!s, salad, fruit, cakes and gateaux. If you really want to "impress" have some of the cold meats whole with carving knife and fork.

Lidl and Aldi are the best places for wide selections like this, not just price but choice.

Alternatively just go to any supermarket and order their platters!

MandM90

I really like the pasty idea. You could make veggie and meat ones in batches then chuck in someones chest freezer and cook from frozen on the day. That way they could keep coming out hot.

The same goes for pizza - homemade costs pennies and is easy to serve.