Catering for a Plated Dinner or Buffet

Planning for a special function is very important.  There are so many decisions that need to be made, and sometimes it does come down to space, money or time.  If you are looking to have a special dinner and are not sure the difference between a plated dinner and buffet, here are a few tips to save you time on enquiries, money on the overall bill and confusing yourself with multiple enquiries to different catering companies.

At weddings and special functions, there is generally an order of service.  If one part of your function is running late, like photos taking longer than expected, this may have a flow on effect to speeches and dinner having to be delayed.  This is to be expected for catering companies, however they do try and minimise this as much as possible.

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A buffet dinner is perfect for many occasions; however some brides do have the expectation of a plated dinner.  A plated dinner will be served directly to the table by wait staff, without having to move from your table.  This can run in order of Entree, Main, and Dessert and to finish Mini Chocolates and Tea/Coffee service.  Plated dinners can allow a great evening for guests, as they don’t have to move from their seat unless required.  This may include an alternate drop with two selections for each course during the night.   When planning a function, do allow for additional costs and extra wait staff to serve the meals.  Generally plated dinners are served at venues with an in-house catering team, that have plates, staff and everything they will require for a smooth service.  Mobile catering companies may be able to provide plated dinners, however everything required for the job will need to be brought with them.  This may increase costs more due to staff travel and any special requirements you may have with service.

A Buffet is different from a plated meal.  All the food is beautifully presented with guests being able to select the quantity and choice of the food presented.  Not all buffets are the same, as the presentation can play an important first impression.  Guests will be required to move from their seats; however a buffet will allow guests plenty of choice.  If you have special dietary requirements, a buffet is perfect as it will not restrict you from eating a dish due to certain ingredients.  Buffet Catering are generally much more cost effective as the number of staff required to serve and clear is minimised.

Consider the advantages and costs between a plated dinner and buffet service.  Many guests will not mind either way, however some functions are more suited to one or the other.

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With produce, meats, flowers, and spirits under one roof, bulk-store markets make food party planning for last-minute holiday party planning a cinch!

Shopping at warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s, and BJs make holiday party planning easy, affordable, and fun. Buy a few yummy foods in larger quantities. Plan for about 8-12 different items. Grab some beautiful blooms from the floral display, and a case of good wine from the liquor section and you are on your way to a real celebration! This can be a great strategy whether you have lots of time to plan your party or if it’s a spur of the moment gathering.

This kind of food party planning is great for large groups in particular. A buffet party for 70 people doesn’t have to be a chore if you break it down into groups and make an allowance for at least four trips to the table for the men and three for the ladies.  The object is to have plenty for all these trips, and bulk food stores are a blessing for buffet food party planning.

What to Buy?

Look for variety in ingredients, food textures, hot and cold items, and flavors. You don’t want to have a table full of dips or have every food item have dill or eggs in it.
A good “formula” for a buffet is 1-2 seafood items, 1-2 meats, one meat or seafood salad, a cheese and cracker assortment – one soft cheese, one hard cheese, and one blue cheese, one fruit – whole or cut goes will with the cheese assortment, one dip or spread with crackers, one dip with chips, one dip with cold crudités, bread that goes with the meat and meat or seafood salad, devilled eggs, 2-3 heat and serve type puff canapés, and an assortment of sweets – cookies, mini-brownies, candy, and dried fruit.
Choose your items so about ½ are hot foods and ½ are cold foods.
Choose items that don’t require more than bake and serve for the greatest ease.
If you plan to make some of the items yourself, choose recipes with few ingredients – hot dips, grilled lamb chops, mini sausages in a sauce, meatballs in a special sauce, chicken tenders marinated and skewered can all be simple items to prepare.
Just be sure you buy enough. Plan an average of 12-14 canapés or “bites” per guest if your buffet party is taking the place of dinner.

Dress Up Your Buffet and Make it Look Inviting

Make the presentation of the food special – don’t use the containers the foods come packaged in – even if they are already plated for service. Re-plate all of your purchased items on holiday service ware or just some of your own nice buffet sized service ware. Stay away from plastic, unless it’s really nice.
To make your buffet look professional and interesting spend a little on garnishes for the buffet plates and create levels with stacks of books or sturdy boxes under the buffet table cloth. Footed cake plates can come in handy for buffet food party planning also.
Put some fresh flowers or foliage that fits with your holiday in a large pitcher or vase and place it on the buffet to add to the color and beauty.
Pick up some colorful cocktail napkins, nice holiday canapé plates, and glassware to reduce the clean-up process to a toss in a garbage bag.

Serve Up Some Cheer!

To keep things simple and affordable, choose one regular beer, one lite beer, one red wine, and one white wine. To make it even simpler, make a signature holiday punch or drink with no more than 3 ingredients. Be sure to have an assortment of soft drinks for the designated drivers also. Sparkling cider can be kind of special for those who have offered to abstain from alcohol for the evening.

Plan for an average of three 6-8 ounce beverages per guest.

Whip Up Something Elegant But Easy

Here are a couple of different and tasty recipe ideas that take little to no effort.

Lamb Chop Appetizer

Purchase mini lamb chops in bulk to make a savory, plate-free appetizer for guests. Season chops with salt and pepper and chopped rosemary, then grill or broil. Serve with small napkins.

Brie Bites

Purchase mini quiche cups. Put a small chunk of Brie cheese in each cup and top it with a dollop of your favorite preserve – cherry or pear are my favorites. Top the preserves with a few chopped almond pieces and bake at 350F until the cheese is soft, warm, and melted – about 8-10 minutes. Serve hot – and delicious!

Buffet food party planning is a breeze when you rely on the convenience and variety you can find at the bulk warehouse stores. There’s nothing like a huge table, laden with plenty of food to make guests feel like there is a serious holiday party underway!

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