Buffet Food Party Planning -- Use Bulk Foods for a Fabulous, Affordable, and Easy Party
Posted: Monday, November 01, 2010
by Ann Hill
Andrew-Hill LLC
With produce, meats, flowers, and spirits under one roof, bulk-store markets make food party planning for last-minute holiday party planning a cinch!
Shopping at warehouse stores like Costco, Sam's, and BJs make holiday party planning easy, affordable, and fun. Buy a few yummy foods in larger quantities. Plan for about 8-12 different items. Grab some beautiful blooms from the floral display, and a case of good wine from the liquor section and you are on your way to a real celebration! This can be a great strategy whether you have lots of time to plan your party or if it's a spur of the moment gathering.
What to Buy?
- Look for variety in ingredients, food textures, hot and cold items, and flavors. You don't want to have a table full of dips or have every food item have dill or eggs in it.
- A good "formula" for a buffet is 1-2 seafood items, 1-2 meats, one meat or seafood salad, a cheese and cracker assortment one soft cheese, one hard cheese, and one blue cheese, one fruit whole or cut goes will with the cheese assortment, one dip or spread with crackers, one dip with chips, one dip with cold crudits, bread that goes with the meat and meat or seafood salad, devilled eggs, 2-3 heat and serve type puff canaps, and an assortment of sweets cookies, mini-brownies, candy, and dried fruit.
- Choose your items so about are hot foods and are cold foods.
- Choose items that don't require more than bake and serve for the greatest ease.
- If you plan to make some of the items yourself, choose recipes with few ingredients hot dips, grilled lamb chops, mini sausages in a sauce, meatballs in a special sauce, chicken tenders marinated and skewered can all be simple items to prepare.
- Just be sure you buy enough. Plan an average of 12-14 canaps or "bites" per guest if your buffet party is taking the place of dinner.
- Make the presentation of the food special don't use the containers the foods come packaged in even if they are already plated for service. Re-plate all of your purchased items on holiday service ware or just some of your own nice buffet sized service ware. Stay away from plastic, unless it's really nice.
- To make your buffet look professional and interesting spend a little on garnishes for the buffet plates and create levels with stacks of books or sturdy boxes under the buffet table cloth. Footed cake plates can come in handy for buffet food party planning also.
- Put some fresh flowers or foliage that fits with your holiday in a large pitcher or vase and place it on the buffet to add to the color and beauty.
- Pick up some colorful cocktail napkins, nice holiday canap plates, and glassware to reduce the clean-up process to a toss in a garbage bag.
To keep things simple and affordable, choose one regular beer, one lite beer, one red wine, and one white wine. To make it even simpler, make a signature holiday punch or drink with no more than 3 ingredients. Be sure to have an assortment of soft drinks for the designated drivers also. Sparkling cider can be kind of special for those who have offered to abstain from alcohol for the evening.
Plan for an average of three 6-8 ounce beverages per guest.
Whip Up Something Elegant But Easy
Here are a couple of different and tasty recipe ideas that take little to no effort.
Lamb Chop Appetizer
Purchase mini lamb chops in bulk to make a savory, plate-free appetizer for guests. Season chops with salt and pepper and chopped rosemary, then grill or broil. Serve with small napkins.
Brie Bites
Purchase mini quiche cups. Put a small chunk of Brie cheese in each cup and top it with a dollop of your favorite preserve cherry or pear are my favorites. Top the preserves with a few chopped almond pieces and bake at 350F until the cheese is soft, warm, and melted about 8-10 minutes. Serve hot and delicious!
Buffet food party planning is a breeze when you rely on the convenience and variety you can find at the bulk warehouse stores. There's nothing like a huge table, laden with plenty of food to make guests feel like there is a serious holiday party underway!
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Great article - Elegant- classy and informative- Thanks Ann- Always- Ella
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