advice please on providing buffet for family birthday party?

Question

can anyone give me some advice on providing a cold buffett for around a hundred guests, what sort of food, the quantities and roughly how much will it cost i have family to help me prepare it. Any tips on preperation organisation would be gratefully accepted thanks

Answer 1

Inexpensive buffet I would do 200 sausage rolls, frozen, about £4.00. supermarket quiches, large one will cut into 8 servings, so maybe 10 of those £10.00, 100 bridge rolls, fill with egg mayo, ham, tuna around another £10.00. Brown and white bread sandwiches, say 6 loaves, About £6.00, corned beef filling, cheese and cucumber, egg and cress, plain cheese for the "plain eaters", say £10.00. Cook a large gammon joint £12.00, a cooked turkey, again, around £12.00 and put out some salad which would only be about £3.00, pickles, pickled onions and gherkins £5.00 - There you have a buffet fit for a king for around £75.00. Then add extras as your budget will allow.

Answer 2

Use varying levels for the food in the back (or if a 2-sided serving table, the center). You can turn shoe boxes upside down and drape w/ another tablecloth, wrinkling nicely to cover, so all the food isn't sitting there flat.

The more variety you have, the more people will take. So consider serving a complete meal, w/ little selction. A meat, salad, veggie or side dish or two, bread... do choices w/ desserts. If you put out 4 different kinds of BBQ, for example, most folks will take all 4 kinds. If you put out one, they will eat 1 kind, and there's less waste that way.

For desserts, have something chocolate, something w/ fruit or fruit-flavored, something w/ nuts, and something w/ none of those things.

Fresh flowers are pretty cheap from a grocery store, and go a long way on presentation. Buy 2 dozen gladiolas (glads) in one color, break offh the top tip (to make them all bloom and open), and put in large vase w/ plenty of water. Voila. Instant centerpiece. Stand on a box of pedestal under a tablecloth as well.

Answer 3

Fried chicken is good at room temperature, and everyone seems to love it. Make salads to go with it like pasta salad and potato salad. These are filling and inexpensive to make. If you are having that many people, I would suggest having food that people can pick up / scoop up from a buffet line and move on. If you do something like a deli platter where people are trying to make their own sandwiches, it will really hold up the line. In addition to what is on the buffet, put bowls around the house with things like chips and salsa, chex mix, veggies and dip. This will allow people to graze as they wish, and you won't have a bunch of starving people rush the buffet line all at once. Also, don't feel bad about asking for help- if there is someone in your family who is known for a particular recipe, I'm sure they'd be happy to share their talent.

Answer 4

I depends on how much work you are willing to put into it yourself or if you want someone else to do the work for you. When I did my sons Graduation party I bought meat and cooked it myself and sliced it to make platters. I also marinated and grilled chicken ahead of time and served it cold on a platter. I made salads, macaroni, cole slaw and a tossed salad as well as , baked beans.. Then I had a cheese and fruit platter as well as, a veggie platter. I also did some chips. I also had a condiment tray by the cold cuts and rolls which consisted of olives(green & black), pickles(sweet & dill), mayo and mustard. For dessert I had little mini cheese cakes, brownies bits, mini cup cakes and cookies. I paid $500 for 40 people which inculded 1/2 a keg of beer and two boxes of wine. But, I did all of the work myself. I bought everything I could in bulk from Sam's Club. They even sell the large sized platters for the meat tray there. I put my salads in those large oblong disposable trays. I hope that was some help. Have a nice party!

Answer 5

I would have to say sandwiches. Have a huge platter with different variates of meats and cheeses (sliced). Then another platter with different types of bread. They can make their own sandwiches how they want. Have several bowls with spoons, filled with condiments.
Another platter of pickles (both dill and sweet) olives, (black and green) also lettuce leafs, tomatoes (sliced) and thinly sliced onions. Several large bowls of different varies of chips, and for drinks a large plastic barrel fill with ice and soda, Capri suns, and water.
The most expensive things would be the meat and cheese.
But think of it, there is not alot of preparation, you could buy disposable platters and prepare and cover with plastic wrap.

Good Luck and have fun.

PS Set out a jar of peanut butter and jelly for the small kids.

Answer 6

Browse this link. Its someones personal experience at laying a cold buffet for 150. I'm sure some of the tips and menu ideas will certainly be of use.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

I'm not sure about that, but if you ever do a buffet with hot food, use a Nesco - it's great and it holds a lot of food. They go on sale sometimes for $40.00

Answer 8

i would use cold food e.g cold turkey and ham ... or get a data capture form and get a rough idea of what is the general foods that people like |||||| o watch out for vegetarians my last buffet only a Small one i made bacon butty's lol worked a treat \o/

Answer 9

mixed lunch meat ham, salami,sliced chicken, sliced turkey,and several cheeses.....
several kinds of bread, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced pickles, sliced onions,
spread for the bread
combine mayo and honey mustard, parsley,
then put each of the following in a bowl,
mayo, mustard, horse radish[creamy],

potato or macaroni salad,green salad, Cole slaw
cherry tomatoes and cut cucumbers, parsley, spring onion, in Italian dressing
fruit bowl with fresh fruit cut up and mixed together
olives, pickles,chips and dips
tomato soup with melted cheese and bacon bits in it

Answer 10

1st ..I would divide..adult buffet..and childrens buffet...serve in separate locations...the kids...hot dogs on a stick..(saves on buns and FUN) , fruit on skewers, veggie platter with dip, chips, pretzels etc....

Adult.. sliced meats, egg salad and chicken salad..with rolls...or..sandwich platters..from subway or jimmy johns...figure about $40 per 30 pieces.. and or tortilla wraps (you can make ahead of time and keep in frig...potato salad, macaroni salad.. (prob 12 lbs of each)...you can make yourself (www.allrecipes.com...you can adjust quantities) or go to GFS or Sams...If you have a GFS in your area..I highly suggest it. veggie platters...fruit platter ...chips (baked beans are warm but are inexpensive and keep nicely in a crock pot!