A buffet table is an opportunity to decorate a holiday with varied, beautiful and interesting dishes, but it also provides an opportunity to treat everyone present with wonderful communication.
There are some buffet rules that are mandatory for any reception. Each host of the evening or the manager of the holiday can adapt other conditions to a specific celebration. It’s worth understanding all this in order to prepare for the event as best as possible, but first you should find out what is commonly called a buffet table.
Buffet table decoration in white
Paper decor on the buffet table
Fundamental principles of a buffet table
To understand the idea of such a meal more clearly, let's look at what can be considered a buffet:
- There are no usual tables and chairs. Free access to appetizer and dessert tables so everyone can choose their food, serve themselves and leave.
- You need to set the table with “one bite” mini dishes.
- The principle of self-service (although under some conditions the presence of waiters is allowed to help guests choose dishes at the table or carry snacks on trays around the room).
- Communication and negotiations are the main reason for the meeting.
- A buffet can be part of a holiday program or business negotiations.
- The duration of the meeting is from one to two hours.
- The venue can be outdoor gazebos, an office, large rented halls, or at home a small room in an apartment.
Of course, these are just some of the principles for holding a festive event with a buffet table. And the rules are very flexible. For example, for a simple buffet, the most modest menu with sandwiches and drinks is suitable. More sophisticated gatherings will include several courses ranging from hot and light cold appetizers to champagne and dessert. The main thing is that both options will be listed as a buffet table.
Buffet table decor with flowers
Rustic buffet table
Freeloader's motto: Are you going to a free buffet? Take a big bag with you!
In Moscow, not a day goes by without parties, weddings, receptions and presentations. In addition to the invited persons, suspicious individuals sometimes appear there, who, trying to be inconspicuous, “graze” near the tables, eating free dishes. Their name is “freeloaders.” Our correspondent Alexander Meshkov quietly infiltrated their midst.
Don't give business cards to strangers
One chilly autumn morning in my modest seraglio the phone rings and a cheerful baritone asks:
- Alexander? This is what worries you, Mikhail. We talked yesterday at the anniversary of our magazine. When will your material be released?
- About what? — I clarify.
“About yesterday’s celebration,” Mikhail reminds. - You gave me your business card. You are Meshkov, aren't you?
- I will not hide. Meshkov. Was it a nice anniversary? - I ask with regret.
- Very. There was a lot of wine and beautiful girls, our models!
Devilishness! The saddest thing is that I remember very well that yesterday I was not at any celebration, but mediocrely vegetated on the sofa with a book by Begbeder that was alien to me, from which I spat all evening. I would be glad to attend this celebration, because no, no, and sometimes I leaf through this men's magazine, full of shameful feminine charms. His aesthetic position is not alien to me. But it turns out that some villain, having taken possession of my business card, drank to his heart's content in my place at this anniversary. Moreover, I’m sure some model has also been hunted under my name. It should have been me in his place.
I remembered how, at one of the social parties in a pretentious casino dedicated to the king of chanson, some suspicious cupcake with a deeply purple face, posing as a special correspondent for a military publication, rudely flattered me, saying that he was literally reading my materials, and cheated me out business card I, flushed with pride, of course, gave it. For what? So that he can have fun at the parties of cool men's magazines and trample on models? Do I need it? What to hide, journalists are so vain, weak and susceptible to flattery. Pride destroys us. Then I met him at the presentation of Millennium cognac, new elite crackers for real men, at the causeless celebration of a company selling glasses. Every time he was happy to meet me, like a child to a pacifier, and tried unsuccessfully to kiss me, like a maniac exhausted by abstinence.
Freeloaders are omnipresent!
Lena organizes social parties for cool audiences at the largest exhibition center in Moscow. He knows first-hand about the geniuses of the free trade. He often encounters them at work.
- Where can I get away from them? They are omnipresent. It is more expensive for us to quarrel with them if they have already broken through. But we are taking measures. There are events that even freebie virtuosos can’t get into. There are personalized invitations and a strict dress code, which the freeloader will not have enough money for. But journalists are allowed not to follow the dress code, which is why most parties and presentations are available to useless, smart crooks who pretend to be journalists. Professional freeloaders can easily spot such parties on the Internet. Due to the nature of my work, I attend many social events. And I can count the freeloaders in an instant, since I know almost all secular journalists. Journalists always give a business card in the hope that the organizer will invite you to the next event. But these - never. And they always look around anxiously to see if anyone has any idea about their true nature. To confirm the journalist’s image, they ask questions and take a keen interest in what is happening, especially when it comes to the buffet table. They get drunk faster than everyone else because they are afraid that the treat will soon end. If gifts and souvenirs are being distributed, they take several packages at once. They behave cheekily and often have to be taken out. I know a young guy who pretends to be a businessman, and rarely does a party go without him. But women have a trained eye, and I can easily tell by his appearance that he does not look like a businessman. Dressed more than modestly. The watch is cheap. Turkish shoes. Sociable. He gets to know everyone, talks, even shows some competence, eats and drinks. I wouldn't be surprised if he really only lives for these parties. Although, you must admit, eating and drinking for free is more than a modest business. If you want, I can give you his phone number.
The modest charm of the “oligarch”
I called Ilya, that was the name of this scoundrel, false oligarch.
- Ilya! I want to write material about the social life of Moscow, and you were recommended to me as a major specialist in this field. (Remember the great role of flattery in our lives!)
- Yes it is! — a male voice answered modestly. -What do you want to know?
— I want to know about the joys, problems and sorrows of social parties. About the public that goes there.
- Fine. What will I get from this? (What does businessman mean!)
“All-Russian glory and my favor,” I promised.
He modestly refused fame and made an appointment for me not just anywhere, but at the Ararat Park Hyatt Hotel. Well, where can a leading specialist in social life appoint her? Out of habit, I arrived earlier than the appointed time. I was slightly disgusted by the unusual luxury of the surroundings. I spent my last meetings with my newsmakers in modest pubs. In the hall, a blond pianist in a tailcoat was playing the well-known blues I'm hoochie coochie man in narrow circles. An annoying waiter came running over with an offer to eat and drink. I, creating a blasé expression on my face, majestically refused. Ilya, a mournful black-haired man of about thirty, dressed in clothes of mournful tones: a black Bolognese jacket, a black turtleneck and trousers made of black crimplen for 5 rubles per elbow, arrived at the strictly appointed time. “Probably from the funeral party,” I boldly suggested. He placed two black mobile phones on the table, as befits a high-ranking businessman. What if a big deal comes along? (Or a new funeral?) One Nokia phone for 7 thousand, and the second and generally Siemens for five. Now, if he had posted a gold Vertu, then I would have been more respectful. (By the way: during the hour of our conversation, no one called him. The business and ritual life of the country, apparently, had entered a stage of stagnation at the time of our meeting.)
Jewelers never pay
- So? Your questions? - said Ilya, lighting an affordable Marlboro cigarette for 2 rubles apiece using an inexpensive disposable lighter.
— Surely you have a main occupation other than social life and parties? — I boldly suggested.
“I have a jewelry business and a network of legal offices,” Ilya answered with pathos, skillfully, with rings, releasing bluish smoke.
This scattering of activities thoroughly shocked me. Jeweler lawyer Ilya manages to go to social events four to five times a week. Sometimes more often.
- Don't you get tired of it? What is the point of them?
“Communication,” Ilya laughs sympathetically at my naivety. - New acquaintances. There are a lot of beautiful girls there. But business connections too! - he catches himself. — Many transactions are decided there.
I didn’t see either the Criminal Code or jewelry on him. In addition, during our meeting, the “owner of the jewelry and legal business” Ilya did not betray himself and drank two glasses of dry red wine at my expense at a cost of three thousand rubles per bottle. My doubts about Ilya’s involvement in the world of clean money instantly disappeared at the hour of reckoning. He never said what I expected:
- ABOUT! No! No! Let me pay!
Secret instructions for beginners
From the costly (or rather, 300,000 kopecks) meeting with the noble freeloader Ilya, I learned a lot of useful things. After the second glass, Ilya started talking. Ostap, as they say, got carried away. He was a recognized master in this area and successfully attended all the satisfying events.
— Can I get to the party without being invited?
And then Ilya, without suspecting it, gave me several important recommendations for mastering the secret basics of the freebie business.
1. You should dress not flashily, but carefully. Comply with the dress code of the event. Shoes should be polished to a shine.
2. Be courteous to security guards. Talk to them about the difficulties and dangers of the profession and try to make friends with them.
3. Establish contacts with the club administration and party organizers. Don't be stingy with compliments.
4. Be an active participant in discussions and interviews, ask questions, communicate with everyone, and not just “crack” cognac.
5. Be confident and courageous when talking with representatives of the event administration, if they suddenly “attack”. Leave with dignity.
6. Don’t interfere with too cool “parties” (with a White tie dress code - white tie - with the participation of presidents and crowned heads!).
As if in passing, Ilya proudly announced that he had just returned from the Cote d'Azur, where a number of social events took place, which he had the honor to attend. Of course, he did not give the impression of a person vacationing on the Cote d'Azur, but you never know what kind of whim can happen to an oligarch. One person loves to buy football clubs, the other loves most of all to support the Turkish manufacturer of shoes and pants.
“Won’t the fierce guards beat me if they catch me red-handed?” - I asked my teacher goodbye.
Ilya laughed heartily:
- Never! They will never risk the prestige of their establishment because of some crooks. Pendel in the ass! This is the worst thing that awaits you!
Now I knew where these virtuosos of eating free food, these inconspicuous workers at free tables, get information about Moscow feasts. I will not name this site so as not to contribute to the development of this shameful phenomenon. But! Having rummaged through it, I found many parties with buffets. Having chosen one (not the coolest one, as Ilya recommended to me. The dress code is casual, that is, you can wear jeans), I, armed to the teeth with knowledge, went there...
Why are freeloaders sure that they are the descendants of Robin Hood? What exactly do these guys take away from presentations and social parties? Do uninvited guests actually get beaten if their deception is discovered? Read about this in the next issue of the weekly.
For what events would a buffet be the best option?
An excellent option is a buffet table for a birthday. This is a holiday when dancing and karaoke are appropriate. To free up space for the dance floor, a buffet is organized. And even the fact that guests can move freely around the hall has a positive aspect - most guests will actively take part in the festive program. There will be room for those who want to sing.
In addition, close comrades, friends and relatives usually gather for a birthday. They have a lot to talk about. And the buffet allows such informal communication for everyone. No one is limited only to the company that happens to be closest, as is usually the case during a feast.
Dessert buffet table
Children's buffet table
A children's party wouldn't be complete without a buffet. This is where conditions are needed for true fun. After all, it doesn’t matter to the kids whether there are hot dishes or how good the meat and side dishes are. They will be pleased with a sweet dessert and bright snacks, but the main thing that a child’s soul awaits is the opportunity to play and move around. The buffet option is exactly what will completely satisfy all the needs of the kids.
Another important event can be decorated with the idea of such a design. A buffet table for a wedding is the right decision if it is celebrated in a small room, or if it is decided that the dishes will be prepared with your own hands. What other advantages are there? You can invite a fairly large number of people. A buffet allows you to make the menu corresponding to this extraordinary event varied and interesting, but at the same time reduce costs.
A program has been developed for corporate events, which includes competitions and quests. Having fun and socializing is the main reason why colleagues gathered, and therefore the feast is replaced by a buffet table.
Buffet table at home
Buffet table in eco style
A buffet reception is suitable for business meetings. It is important to resolve some issues and give everything an informal style, while you can treat your partners to something that will show them your spirit of hospitality and willingness to be generous and original.
Fruit buffet table
Buffet table decor with newspaper
How to calculate a sample wedding menu?
There is nothing difficult about ordering a menu for a wedding for 50 people yourself. You just need to imagine what dishes your feast should consist of. It includes several mandatory items that are present at absolutely any wedding, regardless of the venue and the financial viability of the young spouses.
Snacks
The most favorite dish of many guests. They are placed at the very beginning of the party on common tables. If an off-site registration is being held, then it is customary to serve snacks after the official ceremony, so that all guests have a little snack and have the strength and opportunity to await further developments. Appetizers are an integral part of a buffet party.
They can be called the main component. The appetizers at most weddings include:
- cheese slices;
- cold cuts;
- vegetables;
- grilled vegetables;
- pickled vegetables;
- stuffed mushrooms;
- lightly salted fish;
- fish in batter;
- olives;
- olives;
- chicken roll;
- Homemade boiled pork.
For 50 people you will need to make approximately 15 kilograms of snacks.
Salads
Guests in most cases want to try 2 salads. One of them must be made ordinary and even known to everyone. For example, many people love the classic Caesar version. It is quite light and elegant. In addition, it should be served separately to each person. As a general salad for the table, you can choose a more original and outlandish option.
For example, seafood salad. At the same time, keep in mind that all salads should be as light as possible. This means that you need to give up ingredients such as potatoes, fatty sausage and several types of meat. If a meat product is used in a dish, then vegetables should be added to it to make the taste lighter.
The weight of salads for 50 people will be 10-11 kilograms.
Hot meat and fish dishes
Wedding menu for 60 people.
The highlight of the evening will be the serving of hot meat and fish dishes. They are served on one plate along with side dishes. It would be a good idea to change the snacks on the table at this time. For example, remove meat and cheese plates, replacing them with fresh vegetables and mushroom pickles.
One serving of hot food is 350 grams per person; 50 invited guests will require 17.5 kilograms.
Dessert
Several products serve as desserts at a wedding celebration:
- loaf;
- cake.
Not all newlyweds use loaf nowadays. Previously, it was customary to distribute it by breaking off a piece for each guest. Almost no one does this now. Therefore, parents order a loaf with an approximate weight of 1-1.5 kilograms. As a rule, the remaining product after the tradition is taken home by the newlyweds.
As for the cake, everyone present at the celebration awaits it with great trepidation and excitement. Absolutely everyone is interested in what type of cake the cake will be. If your wedding takes place in the summer, you can choose fluffy yogurt or meringue as a filling. If the celebration is scheduled for winter, then the best option would be rich curd cream with a biscuit layer.
Order a 7 kilogram cake, then each guest will get a piece.
Bread
The approximate number of loaves for 50 people is 10. In fact, as a rule, it is bread in a large assortment that remains after the celebration. Please note that it is worth buying not only a white loaf, but also dark bread, a baguette and several buns.
Seasonings
There is a list of popular seasonings that absolutely all people love. These include:
- salt;
- pepper;
- thyme;
- peas;
- red pepper;
- adjika;
- mixture of herbs.
You shouldn’t sprinkle too much seasoning on your dishes, as not everyone will like it. Especially if you choose a non-national cuisine, you can completely minimize the use of seasonings.
Fruits
Loved by children and women. They are convenient to snack on, and fruits are simply an integral part of the wedding table. Fruits should be peeled and thinly sliced.
Common fruits at the feast are:
- kiwi;
- orange;
- lemon;
- grape;
- apple;
- pear;
- a pineapple.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
The following drinks are ideal for a wedding banquet:
- mineral water – 25 liters;
- lemonade – 20 liters;
- juice or fruit drink – 20 liters;
- tea, coffee (optional);
- champagne – 30 liters;
- vodka – 12.5 liters;
- wine – 12 liters.
Table arrangement and serving
The main condition for a buffet is that access to the tables is convenient for everyone who wants to eat. It is for this reason that there are several criteria for how this can be done correctly. The tables themselves differ from dining tables in height. For a buffet table, the usual height is from 90 cm to 110 cm. There can be one table, or several of them can be installed.
Buffet table decoration with canapés
Buffet table decoration in country style
Buffet tables:
- If the tables are placed along the walls, then the tables themselves should be narrow and long, and the distance from the table to the wall should be at least 1.5 m;
- In the middle of the hall, tables in the form of the letters “W” and “P” are installed only if the area of the room allows the number of people who will be present to freely move between them;
- There should be another set of tables for napkins, used dishes or ashtrays.
And one more small nuance. Be sure to cover the table with a tablecloth. Its length should be such that it does not reach the floor by only 5 cm. You can cover the table with a regular tablecloth, and use a special buffet “skirt” for tables on top of it.
Buffet table decoration in red and white
Round buffet table decoration
As for serving, the appetizer table should have:
- plates (according to the number of guests), stand in a stack of 7-8 pieces;
- glasses stand in a group;
- cutlery (snack bars, dessert, fruit knives and forks), there should be more of them than plates;
- napkins.
Drinks, vases of fruit and flower arrangements should be placed at equal distances on the table. Serving dishes on multi-level trays will look beautiful. And from the snacks themselves you can make a certain figure.
Original snacks for the buffet table
Autumn buffet table decor
Sandwiches on the buffet table at work
As we have already noted, bruschetta is the basis of your buffet table. Bruschetta is the same thing as a sandwich, but it doesn't look as old-fashioned.
So, what kind of sandwiches can you offer your guests:
- With sprats, cucumber, fried egg and lettuce.
- With cheese, grated with garlic, seasoned with mayonnaise, and a slice of juicy tomato. Each piece of bread can also be garnished with fresh parsley.
- With melted cheese, seasoned with garlic puree, and slices of canned pineapple. For a piquant taste, you can add mayonnaise to the cheese.
- With canned tuna, tomatoes and boiled eggs. These sandwiches are decorated with greens.
- With ham, cheese and olives. Instead of olives, you can use cherry tomatoes or a slice of pineapple (fresh or canned).
- With feta cheese, olives and crab sticks. It is advisable to chop crab sticks and olives, mix with cheese and use the resulting spread to make a sandwich.
- With cream cheese, avocado and a piece of red lightly salted fish.
- With butter and red caviar. A traditional and familiar version of the sandwich.
- With feta cheese and pieces of white grapes.
- With ricotta and baked pumpkin pieces.
What decoration is appropriate for a buffet table?
How to decorate a buffet table? Everything will depend on the reason for the event and the age category of the guests. The design will differ both in table decor ideas and in the snack menu.
Easter buffet table decoration
Buffet table decoration with peonies
Here are some tips on how to decorate a buffet table for children:
- The design can add a special charm to the holiday if it contains the plot of a fairy tale or a children’s favorite cartoon. You can use toys or tablecloths with appropriate patterns for this.
- Some desserts or dishes can be decorations themselves, supporting the theme. For example, snacks or cakes in the shape of boats at a pirate party.
- Every child loves balloons. They can be used to decorate the table itself by attaching cheerful colorful balls between the dishes.
Festive table in pink
For a wedding celebration:
- Delicate flower bouquets are placed on the table;
- A traditional wedding cake can be either a regular cake or consist of many small portioned desserts;
- Glasses and forks can be decorated with elegant ribbons.
The festive table itself is rich in bright colors and original forms of dishes, and therefore the decoration should not grab attention, highlighting the dishes, but emphasize the beauty and appetizing appearance.
Buffet table in rustic style
Buffet table decoration in silver
Which snacks should you prefer?
The buffet table requires small, portioned appetizers. There can be many ideas for creating compositions from products, they are all divided into:
- Sandwiches;
- Tartlets with julienne or pates;
- Salads served in glasses;
- Canapes;
- Slicing;
- Vegetables or fruits;
- Appetizers on skewers;
- Dessert.
All these dishes should be small in size and can be eaten without the help of a knife, but the main thing is that the products in the appetizer match each other in terms of taste. Taste is the most important thing in snacks. And you shouldn’t stop at one product for a dish; it’s worth considering options for combining several ingredients that complement each other.
Buffet table decoration with champagne
Decorating a sweet buffet table
The design of appetizers is also of no small importance; originality and visual appeal of the presentation of dishes is encouraged. It is desirable that the color palette be rich and bright. I would like to see on the buffet table that one appetizer includes several colorful, and most importantly, appetizing flowers.
Wedding buffet table decoration
Buffet table decoration with candles
Snacks for the buffet table at work
- Tartlets with salmon, melted cheese and slices of fresh cucumber.
- Cheese, ham and fresh cucumber on a skewer.
- Cheese profiteroles.
- Sliced cheese with honey sauce and nuts. Place skewers next to the cheese plate so that each guest can help themselves.
- Rolls of pita bread stuffed with Jewish salad and pieces of ham.
- Bruschetta with herring and gherkin.
- Puff pastry with cheese and fresh vegetables.
- Shish kebab on a wooden skewer made from chicken fillet.
- Chicken and mushroom julienne in tartlets.
- Cheese balls on spoons.
Drinks for the table
We set the buffet table with dishes, which must be accompanied by suitable drinks. They are placed on the table in a certain order: alcoholic drinks should be in the center, water and juices should be at the edges. Alcoholic drinks on the table must include wines (red and white, dry and sweet), chilled champagne and vodka. Dessert is served with tea, coffee (cognac can be served with it) and sweet liqueurs.
Bright decoration of the buffet table
Arrangement of snacks for the buffet table
Canapes on the buffet table at work
- A slice of salmon or other red fish, avocado and fresh cucumber.
- Prunes wrapped in bacon, fresh olive or black olive.
- Spicy cheese and sun-dried tomatoes on a piece of rye bread.
- Puree of crab sticks, melted cheese and garlic, rolled into balls and rolled in cheese shavings.
- Red fish with curd cheese and boiled quail egg.
- Ham with hard cheese and olives.
- Tomato with smoked bacon on toast, smeared with mayonnaise.
- Shrimp with olive and fresh cucumber on a lettuce leaf and a slice of rye bread.
- Herring, cream cheese and a slice of kiwi on a piece of black bread.
- Sausage basket with Jewish salad, cheese and herbs.
Interesting ideas for a buffet table
A light menu for a buffet table can be in several options. For example, it may consist only of dessert dishes or include several courses: cold appetizers, hot dishes, dessert. And every time there should be several options for snacks, dishes or sweets to choose from. It is important that the serving is so convenient that guests do not have to reach for dishes.
Buffet table in green color
A buffet is a combination of delicious food and pleasant conversation. For a festive day, it is very important to create the appropriate mood of fun. For this, not only the gastronomic delights of the table are important, but also a well-thought-out program.
