Home >> Do-It-Yourself >> Buffet Party

Buffet Party

Preparing a buffet is the practical andfun answer to most types of homeentertaining when more than about 8people are invited. A buffet can, ofcourse, be just as impressive as a sit-down menu, if you give some thoughtboth to the presentation and display ofthe food. A buffet table also providesthe perfect excuse for impressivesettings, perhaps with swags of flowersor greenery as wellas a large main decoration. All the foodshould be decorative, too, and it mustbe arranged for ease of access whenguests serve themselves.

Depending on the size and shape ofyour room, you could either place thebuffet against a wall so that guests movealong in front of the table and servethemselves, or situate it in the middleof a room (or with space all around) sothat guests move around the table.Whichever system you use, thereshould be an obvious starting point forserving, indicated by a pile of plates.

If you decide to set the buffet againsta wall, the main decoration should beat the rear of the table and positionedcentrally. If guests walk all around thetable, place the decoration in thecentre for maximum effect.

Make sure that all the dishes are easyto reach and that there are servingspoons nearby. If there is a ham orother food to be carved, set it in a position to one side of the table so thatguests do not obstruct access to otherdishes while they carve. It should be someone's task to check the availabilityof foods, topping up dishes and tidyingthe buffet occasionally.

Streamers and brightly coloured napkinsand tableware enliven an informal buffet table.

Set napkins and cutlery (flatware)separately on a side table. Large papernapkins are usually used for informalbuffets. If you use disposable plates,they should be sturdy and of goodquality, as thin plates sag miserably andmake eating difficult. Buffet-style platesare now available which include aholder for a wine glass. Alternatively,keep a large number of good-quality,large plastic plates, which are ideal forentertaining in large numbers. They areeasier to rinse, stack and wash thanchina plates, and are ideal for outdoorparties as well as for informal buffets.

Be sure to site the buffet in a cool,well-ventilated place, away fromradiators, and cover the table with aprotective cloth before adding the

China plates add style to a buffet table,but plastic plates make a good alternative.

decorative linen as there are alwaysspills when guests serve themselves.The buffet should be set with savouryfood for the main part of the meal. Ifyou are serving a starter (appetizer),you can bring it to the buffet at thebeginning of the meal, and assist theguests with it.

Serve desserts and cheese from thebuffet once you have removed the maindishes. If, at a large gathering, you setout the desserts and cheese beforeclearing the main course, prepare aside table for them.

Always make sensible arrangementsfor receiving the used dishes and cutlery(flatware) when preparing a buffet. Ata large gathering some guests may notfeel inclined to bring their dishes outto the kitchen, so it is a good idea toset up a trolley (cart) where these maybe placed out of the way.

Other Do It Yourself Articles:

| Austrian Blind | Buffet Party | Buying Plants | Ceiling Decorating | Choose Paint Brush | Choosing Floor Coverings | Choosing Your Own Flower Arrangements | Choosing Landscaping Plants | Choosing Themes | Christmas Decoration Ideas | Cleaning Tip | Container Gardening Ideas | Cooking Methods and Choice of Nuts | Cooking Tip | Cornice Window Treatments | Covering Floors | Cusion Materials | Daily Household Chores | Decorating Rooms | Decorative Art Painting Technique | Decoupage Equipment | Decoupage Ideas | Dinner Table Etiquette | Display Lighting | Diy Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Do It Yourself Wood Storage | Door Repair | Double Glazing Windows | Draught Proof Door | Dried Fruit Loaf | Dusting Tips | Easy Cushion Embellishments | Emergency and First Aid | Fabric Repair Holes | First Aid Survival Guide | Fish Varieties | Fitting Shelves in an Alcove | Fixing Electric Fan | Flooring Repair | Floral Displays For The Home | Flower Arrangement Center Piece | Flower Arranging | Flower Arranging Tips | Flower Bathroom Decor | Flower Decorating | Flower Drying | Flower Drying Equipment | Food Safety Guidelines | Free Standing Shelving | Fresh Flower Arrangement | Fruit Preparing | Garden Floor Plan Designs | Garden Gravel | Gardening Finishing Touches | Garden Lighting Ideas | Garden {aving | Gilding Equipment | Gilding Techniques | Grass Alternatives | Handsewing | Hanging Doors | Hanging Picture Frames | Picture Hanging | Healthy Diet Plan | Home Appliance Repair | Home Improvement Budget | Home Interior Decorating | Home Ligting | Homemade Christmas Decorations | Home Safety Awareness | Home Safety Checklist | Home Security | House Cleaning Tips | Household Tips for Laundry | Housekeeping Tips | How to Make Bed Linen | How to Make a Wreath | How to Make Icing | Herbs and Spices | How to Decorate a Table | Candle Decorating | Decorating Tip | House Plant Care | How Do I Pick A Good Vacuum Cleaner | How Do You Decorate a China | How to Increase Livable Space | How to Antique Furniture | How to Build a Pergola | How to Decorate Glass Ornaments | How to Decorate Lamp Shades | How to Decorate My Home | How to Dress a Bed | How to Build a Storage Box | How to Choose Ceramic Tile | Lawn and Garden Care | How to Build a Closet | How to Create a Beautiful Outdoor | How to Install Cabinet Hinge | Patio Ideas | Window Dressing | Dried Flower Arranging | Using Herbs | Kitchen Gardening | How to Install Vinyl Floor | Create More Space in the Home | Stain Removal | Home Insulation | How to Fit a Door | How to Fit Dado Rail Upstairs | How to Make Curtain Valences | How to Make Roman Blinds | How to Organize Space | How to Plan a Party | How to Prepare to Paint House | How to Prune Trees | How to Recycle | How to Sew a Box Cushion | How to Use a Paint Brush | How to Use Fresh Ingredient | Hydroculture | Ideas On How To Set Up Contract For Home Improvement | Illness and Child Care | Indoor Plant Display | Installing Crown Moulding | Home and Interior Garden | Ironing Tips | Kitchen Lighting | Kitchen Organize Tips | Landscape Garden Design | Last Day Before Holiday | Lawn Weed Control | Laying a Foam Backed Carpet | Laying a Woven Carpet | Laying Carpet on Stairs | Laying Floor Tiles | Laying Hardwood Flooring | Laying Vinyl Tile | Low Maintenance Plants | Hanging Mirror | How to Make Curtain | Textile Patching | Moving House | Napkin Folds | Outdoor Safety | Paint Effects | Painting Doors | Wallpapering Tips | Paperhanging Tools and Equipment | Party Planning Ideas | Pet Safety | Planning Your Garden | Plant Decoration | Plant Potting | Plaster Wall Repair | Preparing For Paperhanging | Preparing Garden Soil | Preparing Surfaces For Covering | Preparing Wood Floors | Proper Table Setting | Hanging Wallpaper Border | Removing Old Finishes | Repairing Furniture | Household Appliance Repair | Rose Center Piece Flower Arrangement | Save Energy at Home | Sesame Seed Bread | Soft Furnishing | Soft Furnishing Hot Tips | Soft Furnishing Sewing | Solid Wood Floor Installation | Stamping Equipment | Stamp Making | Stem Cutting | Stencilling Equipment | Storage Organize | Storage Shelving | Stripping Old Wall Coverings | Table Flower Decorations | Tiling a Wall | Tiling Tools | Tools and Equipment for Furnishings | Type of Houseplant | Using Colour Pattern and Texture | Using Cushions | Wall Decorating Ideas | Wallfixings | Wallpainting Ideas | Wallpapering Ceilings | Wallpapering Corners | Wallpapering Stairwells | Wall Repair | Watering Plants | Well Equipped Kitchen | Window Dressing Ideas | Window Repair | Wood Embellishment | How to Use a Sewing Machine | How to doWall Tiling | How to Install a Door | How to Fit a Curtain Pole | How to Fold a Napkin | How to Make A Round Bolster Cushion | How to Make A Stencil | How to Make Couch Cushion Covers | How to Make a Table Cloth