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[Regal Bee]

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.

[Happy54]

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.

[GCR18]

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.

[jlkz]

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 !!!!

[qvcfreak]

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

[chrystaltree]

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.  

[Kitlynn]

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!

[proudlyfromNJ]

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.

[gmkb]

@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.

[lucymo]

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.