Birthday Party Buffet
Buffet Menu
Buffet dinners include one to two main courses with related side dishes. For variety and fun, have five or six side dishes which include vegetables, salads, fruits, grains, and breads. In advance of the buffet dinner, plan to the last detail for a smooth running buffet. Select platters, serving utensils and location of each menu item. Prepare index cards or notes for each dish and place them on the platters. Days before the party arrange each platter and utensil for a "dress rehearsal". Include tongs as serving utensils to make serving easy. Food TableThe majority of the food will be prepared ahead of time, and a buffet allows others to help with the food preparations. Before the party and after the menu is planned, take time to setup mentally the buffet. How many serving dishes are needed? Platters, Bowls, or serving spoons and forks? A birthday party buffet requires a table for the food, a table for beverages, a table for gifts, side tables for guests, and a table for the cake and coffee. It is best to have separate tables in case of accidents. And it will make clean-up easy. For the food you may also use kitchen counters, a kitchen island, or the dining room table. If using kitchen counters plan the dishes for a smooth flow of traffic. To prevent a traffic jam setup the buffet so the food can be served from two sides of the table or counter. Leave space between serving dishes for the guests to rest plates while they serve themselves. The food table is arranged with the plates at one end and the flatware and napkins at the other end for the guests to pick up last. For the plate and flatware count, have at least 30% more than you have guests to allow for second servings. The most efficient buffet arrangement of food and platters/plates is: dinner plates, salad one, salad two, dressing, side dish one, side dish two, side dish three, first entrée, second entrée, bread, butter, salt, pepper, flatware, and napkins. Beverage TableThe beverage table is set up as a self-serve bar for alcoholic drinks, mixes, wine, beer, soda, and water. Multiple the guest count by two and that will be the number of glasses you need for the birthday party buffet. Include an ice bucket, ice tongs and cocktail napkins. Place disposable coasters on this table for guests to use. Partial Bar supply list includes white wine, red wine, beer, mineral water, 7-Up, Cola, Diet Cola, Ice, and Glasses. Full Bar supply list includes above list plus Rum, Vodka, Gin, Scotch, Bourbon, and Tonic water. Prepare for garnish twists of lemon, twists of lime, and Maraschino Cherries. Gift TableThe birthday gift table is setup with a tablecloth in the chosen color theme. The gift table is the perfect table to display balloons, flowers and other decorations that have Happy Birthday messages. The guest book should be on the gift table with several writing pens.
Guest TablesIf side tables are used for guests, setup each table with glasses, flatware and condiments or only with centerpiece and condiments. If it is a seated buffet, have on the tables the flatware, water in glasses, napkins, wine glasses, and condiments.
HostingThe host or hostess is responsible for announcing to the guests when it is time to start the buffet. For a seated buffet, the host is responsible for serving the wine. After the guests have finished eating, the host is responsible for clearing the guest side tables before the birthday cake is presented. Fresh flatware and napkins may be needed at this time.
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