topic Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other? in Home

Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Regal Bee — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 20:57:05 GMT

I'm curious, how do you serve your holiday meals....in general?

I almost always use a buffet style for holidays and even simple desserts. My guests and family seem to enjoy standing in front of the buffet, or sometimes around the kitchen island, and looking at all the choices and then filling their plates and moving to the table.

My table is not large enough to put all the food on it since I love to cook and we always linger at the table....sometimes with hours of conversation.

How do you serve your meals....I would love to know.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Happy54 — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:11:25 GMT

I like to do buffett. I find it easier. I try and get it all to flow just right if you know what I mean.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

GCR18 — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:11:36 GMT

We've always had the food on the table. After eating, the table is cleared and everyone lingers. Eventually the coffee and dessert is served.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

jlkz — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:16:48 GMT

The server in front of the large bow window at Christmas is covered with forest green thick towels to protect the surface from spills from all the hot trays. The walk is very short from buffet to table !!!!

The table is expanded to seat 14 and is covered with a pale yellow cloth to highlight the dark green and gold rimmed dishes. Huge evergreen triangular wreaths with large gold and silver balls replace the paintings. Wreaths are throughout the house: they were bought for peanuts from a men's clothing store that was closing.

Conversion to holiday decor literally takes minutes: up and down.

Just as the OP said, after dinner conversation continues for quite a while !

At church today we heard that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Then, the grand finale awaits !!!

I am getting a little too old for this !!!!

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

qvcfreak — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:31:22 GMT

I setup buffet style and place smaller servings of favorite sides on the table so no one needs to get up

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

chrystaltree — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:34:34 GMT

Buffet; for the holidays but also for all special dinners. It is easier and I believe people prefer serving themselves. I know I do. My dining area is not very large so I decorate and use my side board and a card table to serve.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Kitlynn — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 21:43:19 GMT

We always host our family on Christmas Eve and do a buffet. All the food is on the island in the kitchen and everyone serves themselves. When we are all done with the meal then we open presents. I then put out all the desert choices on the island and the coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate are offered. It works great and everyone has a chance to help themselves to as much food as they want. We have a large table in our kitchen and also our dining room so everyone just picks a place and enjoys. Of course the center of the isalnd and both tables are decorated in the middle so it is very festive. Along with the rest of the house inside and out. It just is a lot of fun and great quality family time for all of us!

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 01:05:14 GMT

My dining room is small so my table is a slender one. No room for food when there are more than four people at the table. Food is set up buffet style on the peninsula between kitchen and the dining room. Works well for us. I always wish We had a huge dining room.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

gmkb — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 23:50:48 GMT

@Regal Bee I have really been enjoying all the pictures you have posted recently. You have exquisite taste. Your pictures have inspired others to post pictures also. Each person's picture is unique to that person's taste, but equally lovely.

I have served both buffet and tabletop. Usually the buffet is for more casual meals.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

lucymo — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 23:57:09 GMT

We always eat buffet style. I think people are comfortable serving themselves at the buffet and can just take what they like, where if the food is passed around may feel bad not taking some of the food. Of course, that's how my family and friends like to eat while other people may prefer the food on the table and passed to them.

If I put the food on the table I'd have no space for decorations and I like a floral arrangement on the table for a meal. Also, once people are seated space for a server is pretty tight.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Mominohio — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 23:58:57 GMT

I like a well set table, and don't have a ton of room, so I choose to really do a more elaborate centerpiece and put the food out buffet style, but all dishes still match what the table is set with.

Growing up, the food was always on the table, even at most relatives homes, but I think once people get a serving out of the dishes, the whole thing looks messy and I don't want to look at that all through the meal. I don't like having to pass things and bother people constantly while they are trying to eat either, so buffet works best for me.

I will put butter, gravy, salt and pepper, as well as bread on the table, but none of the main courses or sides. Sometimes I will do a dessert tray, and remove the centerpiece and replace it with the dessert tray at the end of the meal.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

GenXmuse — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:01:40 GMT

There is way too much food to fit on the table so we do buffet style except for rolls, butter and condiments. Dessert at the table though.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

panda1234 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:19:05 GMT

@qvcfreak wrote:
I setup buffet style and place smaller servings of favorite sides on the table so no one needs to get up

Good idea putting smaller servings on the table.

@qvcfreak

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

DREAMON — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:36:27 GMT

I serve the food on the table, clear dinner dishes then everyone returns for dessert. My mom always did it that way so I just do what I always have done.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Carmie — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:49:16 GMT

With all the people at my house for the holidays, we have to do a buffet. There is now about 40 of us. My buffet table has warmers to keep the food hot and iced bowls to keep food cold. We also have more than one dining table and I have them in different rooms to get everyone seated.

I have a seperate coffee and dessert buffet table too.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Regal Bee — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 01:38:45 GMT

@gmkb wrote:
@Regal Bee I have really been enjoying all the pictures you have posted recently. You have exquisite taste. Your pictures have inspired others to post pictures also. Each person's picture is unique to that person's taste, but equally lovely.

I have served both buffet and tabletop. Usually the buffet is for more casual meals.

@gmkb What a very nice thing to say. Thank you!

Yes, I love seeing everyone's pictures and I especially love all the ideas.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Bri36 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 01:41:47 GMT

I do a buffet. I like to set a pretty table, and there is no room for food. LOL

I put rolls, butter, salt and pepper, and a water pitcher on the table. People can get up and take what they want. I hate passing platters of food back and forth. That gets annoying to people trying to eat.

Once I clear the table after dinner, I put out some fruit and cookies so people can pick on that when they're having coffee after dinner. Depending on how many desserts there are, I keep those on the island buffet-style too.

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

In-x-s — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 02:37:53 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
I like a well set table, and don't have a ton of room, so I choose to really do a more elaborate centerpiece and put the food out buffet style, but all dishes still match what the table is set with.

Growing up, the food was always on the table, even at most relatives homes, but I think once people get a serving out of the dishes, the whole thing looks messy and I don't want to look at that all through the meal. I don't like having to pass things and bother people constantly while they are trying to eat either, so buffet works best for me.

I will put butter, gravy, salt and pepper, as well as bread on the table, but none of the main courses or sides. Sometimes I will do a dessert tray, and remove the centerpiece and replace it with the dessert tray at the end of the meal.

Exactly this!! No sense in me retypying what @Mominohio said so well!

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

Evie2004 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 04:10:51 GMT

We always set the food up in our kitchen, but put a bread basket, with butter, jam on the table..also a gravy boat, cranberry sauce on the table..no centerpiece, as I want to see everyone as we talk..also have a small side table that holds ice bucket, water, iced tea. It is easy for anyone that wants seconds to help themselves..works for us!

Re: Buffet Style, Tabletop or Other?

ID2 — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:30:40 GMT

I never do a buffet. We just put the dishes of food on the table with us! I wouldn't be able to get rid of all of this food if my guests had to keep getting up to walk over to the buffet table! Its a lot easier and more efficient just to pass a dish around the table. I feel its always a bit awkward for the guests to file in a line to get their food. I always find it uncomfortable and not as inviting for those eating at my home.