Holiday Meal for 22 ..Sit down or Buffet?

Question

I am planning a christmas celebration for at least 22 -24
at my home between the 2-3 pm
I was leaning towards a buffet style dinner.
Looking for menu suggestions.
Use your culinary instincts. Even non traditional.

Answer 1

Holidays are stressful enough , sit down for 22 will be very stressful do the buffet that will be a little easier on you good luck

For a menu start with a theme like regional; California , dixieland,northeast ,or on a bigger scale pacific rim , Caribbeans and stick to that it will make it fun and better yet easier one stop shop,don't forget the wine or champagne.

Answer 2

platted meals tend to be less expensive. You can cut costs by not offer a dessert or starter salad and choose something like chicken which is usually the cheaper option. Or if they offer a pasta dish that sometimes is fairly cheap as well. Don't offer guests too many meal options as it can result in many mix ups both with guests and with the staff. When caterers make up buffets they only make the same amount of food they would for a sit down meal. So you run the risk of running out of meat while having too many of another option left. People also eat more at buffets which is another reason why sit down meals are better. Asking gusts to pay for the meal will probably go over like a lead balloon. My suggestion is to skip the chocolate fountain as it's messy and from the staff prospective an absolute nightmare. Maybe do less decorating and find money for the meal. Or if the venue is just too pricy look into another spot if there is still time.

Answer 3

This is our normal number for Christmas dinner! We set the food out in the kitchen and set the dining table & some card tables up. Food is buffet style, but seating is seated style. Everyone selects a plate from the dining tables and serves themselves.

If we have extra seats I sometimes will change tables just so I get a chance to chat with other family members. Desserts are always served buffet style, and other than being after the meal, whenever anyone wants dessert.

We do the traditional turkey dinner this way, but the turkey is carved and put on a platter. Mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, corn, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce/relish, rolls, gravy, orange salad. Hostess is only responsible for making the turkey & mashed potatoes. All other sides are brought by family members.

Answer 4

i would have to say the buffet would be the way to go if you have the counter room and walkways that would keep the flow moving as far as a menu i would cater it out to some one family time is the man objective not sweating all day cooking for that many people besides running your stove and oven all day will make your house hot as hell not very plesant for that many guest for food 3 turkeys, 2 8lb hams ,15lbs mashed spuds, 5lbs gravy both turkey and a brown gravy , 10 lbs veggies cooked , 4 dozen rolls, and maybe 6 pies 2 apple, 2 pumpkin, 2 lemon , 2 cheese cakes. Happy holidays

Answer 5

I went to a Christmas buffet last night and there were about 25 people there including several children. A sit-down dinner would have been difficult but a buffet was easier on everyone. The menu included baked ham, roasted chickens, potato salad, green beans, corn with cream cheese, macaroni and cheese, chicken vegetable stew, relish trays, deviled eggs, cornbread wedges, and German chocolate cake. There was enough variety to please everyone.

Answer 6

I would definitely do a buffet for that many. Maybe a turkey breast and a spiral sliced ham or eye round roast beef. If anyone offers they can bring a side dish or dessert. Just remember to keep a list of who is bringing what so you can fill in with whatever is needed. Suggestions could be: potato dish or two( mashed or scalloped), several vegetables( green beans, winter squash, peas with pearl onions), a fruit dish(cranberry chutney, scalloped apples), a salad, and dinner rolls. Several pies and a bundt cake or a cheese cake. Maybe asti spumante for toasting, and coffee, tea, apple cider with the meal and desert.

Answer 7

I agree with you being a buffet style Christmas celebration depending on the space involved. It is a lot of food and will probably not fit on the main table. An idea is maybe to assign some of the food or beverages to some of the guests. If the person has a specialty, invite them to bring it along. Make sure to tell them to bring enough for 24 people on the serving. The assignment should be per couple or a family. I recommend mentioning that the turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, gravy, and appropriate condiments are included. Category assignments should include

Appetizer
Dessert
Side Dishes
Beverage
Salad
Vegetable
Dinner rolls

Answer 8

Unless you have help, for sure go with the buffet. Here are some food ideas:

appetizers: chicken wing platter w/ a variety of sauces (honey BBQ, mesquite, extra spicy), sweet onion tartlets, bruschetta, cheese fondue, cut up fruit dipped in chocolate

salad: put out a variety of greens, veggies, cheese and dressings and let them have at it

main dishes: lasanga, roast turkey, beef brisket, chili

side dishes: pintos cooked w/ham shanks, corn on the cob, Italian green beans (recipe below), sage stuffing

bread: garlic breadsticks, mini corn bread muffins, buttermilk biscuits

desserts: apple crisp, peach cobbler, cheesecake (any variety), pecan pie, fresh fruit


ITALIAN GREEN BEANS

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Side Dish Vegetables
Italian

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 package Frozen french sliced
3 tablespoon Italian style bread crumbs
Green beans (9oz)
1/8 teaspoon Garlic powder
2 tablespoon Butter
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated

Cook green beans according to package. Drain. Toss with butter. Sprinkle with
crumbs and garlic powder and toss again. Place in shallow casserole, sprinkle
with parmesan cheese and bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or
until cheese melts and beans are hot.

Answer 9

It would be really ambitious to do a sit down dinner for 22 people. Go easy on yourself and do a buffet. Good luck with your Christmas celebration!

Answer 10

Buffet all the way! Besides simple prep (compared to sit down), it takes the tension away from the "Please pass the........." and makes the environment a bit more festive. Thats what I think anyway.

For a menu i would suggest Rotisserie Chickens seasoned with tyme and rosemary for the season, perhaps too add in a rotisserie perpared duck. Mashed Potatoes are a must in my book 20 pounds would be my suggestion there. Stuffing of course and if you would like another starch as an offering I would go with wildrice, fresh cranberry sauce is a must, but try it mix in a bit of mango for added flavor.

Good luck

Answer 11

Buffett...buffett...buffett!!!! I do this type of cooking several times a year. We use styrofoam platters and colored plastic cups. We do use real silverware. I set all this up one one counter and the food all over the kitchen. I do a spiral ham and either a turkey or a large crockpot filled with steak and gravy. Mashed potatoes in another crockpot to keep them warm, green beans in another one, sweet potato casserole, fried okra, corn on the cob, cornbread sticks, rolls, choc. pie, Kentucky Derby pie, cupcakes for the kids, no one brings anything. I prepare it all, because they know that cooking is my hobby. (What a fool I am, lol)