Comments on: Thanksgiving buffet

By: glamazon79

glamazon79 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:08:06 +0000

We do a modified buffet – there is always soup as a first course, which is served from a tureen at the table, and the rest is buffet-style in the next room.

By: chacha1

chacha1 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:21:43 +0000

Maybe some others will be cruising the site like me and looking at comments now that the holidays are again imminent …

regarding a buffet in small spaces, a fold-up card table works perfectly. We’ve used one for years, it can slide into the closet when we don’t need it and be set up in seconds when we do. Ours is nice, solid wood from a catalog. What makes it even mo’ better than a traditional, long + narrow buffet is it can be approached from all sides.

I *don’t* recommend setting up a buffet on the kitchen counter. This would necessitate cleaning up all the prep, plus the traffic would make things difficult for the host/hostess.

By: Joy (from Just Plain Joy)

Joy (from Just Plain Joy) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:17:35 +0000

I serve our buffet dinners in the kitchen…huge space saver!

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:26:33 +0000

@Tabitha
The beauty of the buffet, is it works even in a small house. Our house growing up was small. Mom just set up the buffet on the kitchen counters and stove. (She would hide the pots & pans on top of the dryer and close the closet door) One year we didnt have enough chairs, so some of us sat on suitcases around the table!
It’s the company that counts, not the “fanciness”

By: NancyV908

NancyV908 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:58:33 +0000

OT: Thanks, Susan, for the ideas on the fancier napkin rings. I don’t have scrap fabric, but do have lots of scrap wrapping paper, so that might be more fun for them. We can’t get too fancy though–this is my plan to keep them occupied while I do a bunch of cooking, so they have to be able to do it more or less unassisted.

By: James

James — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:35:16 +0000

I’d really suggest a hostess trolley for such events. We use these for family meals and they work a treat.

With the meat at one end, 3 trays of vegetables kept warm and 2 shelves below for sauces and the like it means we can keep the dining table for just place settings and still all sit down to a traditional meal. It’s also on castors to easily moved.

Our trolley is also low enough to be reached by kids and, with a throw over it, serves as a side table when not in use.

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:29:54 +0000

As a mother of three, I’m not a big fan of buffets. In fact, I ate at one tonight. The buffet counter was too high for the kids to get their own food, so I piled food for four people onto two plates and handed cutlery to son #1. I had to go back for drinks. I had to split up the food onto four plates at the table, which makes for a less appetizing presentation. Anyway, you get the picture. If you don’t have the space on the table, then go for it, but otherwise, nothing beats a sit-down meal. And hey, then you don’t need the clutter of an extra table to hold the food!

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:57:45 +0000

Not being a parent, I can only suppose… but the buffet seems to serve their needs as well. The “kids table” with 5 and 6 year-olds always seems to be Mommie -served. If Mommie can cruise the buffet quickly, she can get the kids fed and go back to being with the grownups.

By: Peregrin

Peregrin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:27:48 +0000

“Recently read the frugal suggestion of putting the side dishes first, so people don’t overload their plates with the meat!”

That’s a good idea–make sure people eat their veggies!

By: Nana

Nana — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:48:48 +0000

Recently read the frugal suggestion of putting the side dishes first, so people don’t overload their plates with the meat!
As for the pictured buffet, “it’s the thought that counts” Surely no one sets a buffet with a carve-it-yourself turkey.

By: Fit Bottomed Girls

Fit Bottomed Girls — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:34:10 +0000

We do a relaxed buffet line in the kitchen and then eat in the dining room. It works out really well, and I’m not tempted to pick at more food since it’s in the other room!

By: Megan Walker

Megan Walker — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:20:03 +0000

*LOVE* that idea – so great on so many levels……. including why I stopped by today. I just posted some yummalicious hot cocoa recipes on my blog this morning – goes right along with your post! Tis the season!

Meg
http://www.megibug.blogspot.com/

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:10:44 +0000

@Anthony — Riotous! Great catch!!

By: Sian

Sian — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:10:01 +0000

I like my food so I find this idea for a big celebration slightly depressing. I see the point if there’s over 10 people though.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:01:04 +0000

Anybody else think it’s funny how the picture above does not adhere to any of the three sample the rules listed? The buffet is right up against the wall, the turkey is in the middle of a bunch of side dishes, and there is a huge arrangement of flowers towering over everything and taking up the most space.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:59:18 +0000

@ NancyV908 Your kids can cover those toilet paper roll napkin rings with prettier things than aluminum foil. Use a pretty fabric and attach it with Elmers Glue like wallpaper. Or cover the surface with yarn, passing it through the tube and securing both ends with the aforementioned Elmers.

By: NancyV908

NancyV908 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:52:11 +0000

Jacki–your tip about putting cutlery at the end is so obvious & logical! No one does that, & it is so much more sensible. Thank you!

This post is also making me question why I have utensils on the buffet–taking up valuable space–in the first place. Almost always, I have a sit-down meal, so I should just put the utensils at the table, right? I was planning to this year because I’m having my kids do a little craft project: napkin rings (toilet paper rolls, aluminum foil, stickers). But now I think I’ll make it a rule, unless people won’t be eating at the table.

By: Tabitha (From Single to Married)

Tabitha (From Single to Married) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:36:21 +0000

oh how I wish I had a buffet as I think this is an excellent way to serve a dinner party! We live in too small a house to have room for such a luxury and end up having to put the dishes on the table. This of course means we have to add an extra leaf to the table just to make room. But it’s good to keep this in mind for our next house…

By: timgray

timgray — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:22:58 +0000

add pedestals. this is my favorite I gleaned from the Christopher Lowell show back in the day… Yes married guys do watch HGTV at times.

Get something to lift plates up on the buffet it makes it easier and actually allows you to put more there in a uncluttered arrangement.

By: Rue

Rue — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:52:33 +0000

We’ve almost always done Thanksgiving this way. It’s so much easier to just set food on the kitchen counter and have everyone get what they want, than to put everything on the table and have 20 hands passing a bunch of dishes around. Plus, it keeps the tablecloth and floor cleaner – fewer things to spill!