Economical buffet at work. Buffet menu for a birthday at home

Word " buffet » originates from French fourchette, which means vila.

A buffet is a type of event and the organization of a table with small snacks, when each guest freely chooses food and drinks.

At such events, forks are predominantly used as cutlery, hence its name.

Another main distinguishing feature of a buffet table is the absence of chairs and tables with designated places.

The tradition of eating while standing began in France in the 19th century. Politicians sitting in Parliament have taken up the habit of having a snack at 5 pm, standing near the table with a fork.

The Russian Empire adopted many traditions from France, including the buffet tradition. The tradition has taken root, but has been transformed.

So we got a buffet table - cold appetizers and drinks for not a large number of time.

All over the world, a buffet table is called a buffet.

There are two very similar traditions in the world - the buffet (smorgasbord) and the buffet (buffet).

Both options include snacks. At the same time, on the buffet there are cold dishes, the so-called “finger snacks”, which can be taken with your hands or by a skewer, and on the buffet there are cold and hot dishes.

The buffet requires a short amount of time. A buffet is a more serious meal.

Be that as it may, both are convenient formats for organizing a meeting or event when a large number of guests are planned and a small amount of time and space.

As a rule, buffets have gained love and popularity in corporate culture. This is a convenient way to spend time with colleagues over communication, light snacks and drinks.

A buffet table can also be organized at home. This is a beautiful and elegant version of the holiday, when the main purpose of the event is communication, and not a hearty meal.

Is a buffet table right for you?

– yes, if you plan to have many guests and limited space;

– yes, if you are limited in time;

– yes, if the main goal is communication or a thematic event and entertainment.

Currently, there are catering companies that organize turnkey buffets. But, you can organize a buffet yourself, having thought through everything in advance, making a menu and a shopping list.

What will you need to organize a buffet table?

– a tablecloth on the table, preferably long (“floor-length”) or a “skirt”;

– plates for appetizers – grouped in stacks of 6-10 pieces;

- glasses and shot glasses - use various methods of grouping and arrangement - in rows, groups, “snake”, “herringbone”.

– forks – it doesn’t matter which side of the plates or in which part of the table they will be located, the main thing is that it is convenient for guests to use them.

– paper napkins;

– skewers – they will be needed for serving appetizers;

– portioned ice cream cups, if you plan to serve snacks in them;

– serving dishes, trays, boards, multi-tiered stands;

– spatulas, cooking tongs and other utensils for layouts;

– a flower arrangement will look beautiful in the center of the table.

The basic rule of the fkrshet is that all necessary cutlery, napkins, dishes and drinks should be placed in a convenient way so that it is not difficult for the guest to get them!

It is better to place low objects towards the edge of the table (for example, glasses), tall ones - closer to the center (for example, wine glasses on a high stem), the same rule applies to snacks.

Setting up a buffet table.

– Bottled drinks are placed at the edge of the table, with the label “out”.

– Compotes, juices, fruit drinks – in jugs on plates.

– Appetizers on serving plates are placed in a space free from cutlery.

Oval and square dishes are placed at an angle of 45 degrees.

First of all, those snacks that do not lose their quality and appearance from exposure to temperature are placed on the table.

Lastly they put aspic, snacks with mayonnaise, butter and caviar.

The buffet table menu includes 10-15 cold appetizers, 1-3 hot appetizers, and drinks.

Calculate the time for preparing snacks - evaluate it objectively and take it with a reserve! Despite the small size of the snacks, they require painstaking work.

There are a lot of options for buffet snacks! You can use your imagination and come up with incredibly tasty and original ideas, or you can use classic options for a buffet table. Due to the variety of products used and ways of serving snacks, the buffet table can look rich, tasty and beautiful!

Examples of buffet appetizers.

The most common option for cold buffet appetizers is canapes- mini sandwiches. As a rule, they are served with a skewer.

Now there are special cutting molds for cutting bread and other ingredients for canapés. But you can get by with an ordinary knife or curly cuttings. The main thing is to show imagination and accuracy in execution!

Canapé options can be thought out in advance, or you can act intuitively, collecting various ingredients on a skewer:

– white/black bread/crackers;

– sausage/ham/boiled pork/hunting sausages;

– cheeses/mini mozzarella;

– low salt fish/herring/shrimp;

– cherry tomatoes/cucumber/radish/avocado/lettuce/greens;

– gherkins/pickled beets/mushrooms/mini-onions/canned mini-corn cobs, etc.

Don't limit your imagination, you can serve snacks not only on bread, use crackers, chips, cucumber slices!

Their big “brothers” can also support canapes on the buffet table - and bruschettas.

These traditional Italian snacks on a slice of toasted bread are easy to prepare and come in a wide variety.

Bruschetta is a small toast made from grilled bread with various spreads and toppings. The simplest version of bruschetta is toasted bread, brushed with olive oil and grated with a clove of garlic.

For variety, you can put toppings on a bread slice - tomatoes, onions, basil, cheese (parmesan, mozzarella, feta), shrimp, ham or sausage.

For example, you can submit bruschetta with Parma ham and figs.

Or make a vegetarian option - bruschetta with tomatoes and eggplant.

Another option for a buffet appetizer - .

Here are examples of proven delicious combinations:

1.Cheese, yolk, garlic, mayonnaise

2.Caviar (without yolk)

3.Cheese, walnuts, garlic, mayonnaise

4. Cod liver, yolk

5. Pate with yolk

6.Avocado, crab meat, mayonnaise

7.Green peas, yolk, mayonnaise

Hot appetizers must meet the same basic requirements of a buffet table - convenience for guests when choosing them.

If you plan, let it be in small portioned cocotte makers.

If, let each be equipped with a skewer or think in advance about the presence of a spatula or tongs, with which the guest will conveniently serve himself.

You can prepare open or other products from which the guest can take with their hands.

When setting the buffet table, try to alternate appetizers of meat, fish, and vegetables. For example, you shouldn't put two meat snacks next to each other.

Bottles with mineral water and juice are opened 5-10 minutes before guests are invited to the table, and only some of the bottles are uncorked, and the rest are opened during the process.

Bottles of alcoholic beverages are uncorked in the kitchen, with the exception of champagne.

A bottle of champagne can be placed in a bucket of ice and placed on the edge of the table. Start with it, as an aperitif, and raise your glasses to start your event!

For dessert, you can serve portioned bowls with desserts, mini-cakes, sweet canapés, fruit on skewers, and drinks - coffee, cognac and liqueurs.

Happy and delicious holidays to you!

Kristina Belko

Hello! My name is Christina. When I was a little girl, I loved looking at my mother’s cookbooks and making plasticine dishes for my dolls. Now I am a mother of two kids myself and I really love pampering them with different goodies. Finding interesting recipes and sharing culinary wisdom has become an exciting hobby for me. I draw inspiration from my family, books and walks around the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. I choose tasty and healthy food for my family. When preparing, I use simple and accessible ingredients, often using a double boiler. I love Russian cuisine, I believe that it is part of our history and culture. Also, our menu often includes dishes from national cuisines that have proven themselves all over the world. The recipes that I offer you are loved by my family and friends. I hope that you will like them and bring them to your table! I will be happy to answer your questions, accept comments and suggestions! Leave your comments on the site or email me [email protected] and @kristinabelko on Instagram.

Appetizers for a buffet are always selected very carefully. All snacks and sandwiches should be well matched to each other. The table should be one whole picture, which means each snack should be a work of art.

Snacks can be different, sandwiches, canapés, tartlets - all this and much more can be an excellent option for the holiday table. In any case, no matter what the snack is, the taste is not very important. At a buffet table, appearance is key.

The main secret of a delicious snack for a buffet table is its small size and long shelf life. Try to make snacks for one tooth so that you can put the whole thing in your mouth. After all, a buffet does not require a table and a plate, which means snacking should be convenient.

How to prepare snacks for a buffet table - 15 varieties

An original snack that beckons with its appearance.

Ingredients:

• Boiled sausage - 300 g
• Cheese - 100 g
• Garlic - 3 teeth.
• Mayonnaise
• Shallots - 3 pcs.
• Sour cream

Preparation:

Cut the boiled sausage into tonic slices. Three cheese on a fine grater. Pass the garlic through a press. Mix cheese, mayonnaise and garlic. Cut the onion into rings. The rings should be narrow. Place one teaspoon of the cheese mixture on the boiled sausage, fold it overlapping and put on an onion ring. You can put an olive berry in the base for beauty.

Bon appetit.

This is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a festive table and buffet table.

Ingredients:

• Mushrooms - 200 g
• Hard cheese - 100 g
• Processed cheese - 1 pc.
• Onion - 1 pc.
• Roasted peanuts

Preparation:

Finely chop the mushrooms and place them in a frying pan. Cut the onion into small cubes. Fry the vegetables until cooked. Season to taste. Three cheeses on a fine grater. Three processed cheese on a fine grater.

In order for the processed cheese to grate well, it must be placed in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Grind the peanuts. Mix the cheeses well and add the mushrooms. Form the mixture into balls. Roll the balls in peanuts or sesame seeds and place on a plate.

A very tasty and simple option for a buffet table.

Ingredients:

• Cheese - 200 g
• Flour - 2 tbsp.
• Caviar - 100 g
• Butter

Preparation:

Three cheese on a fine grater. Mix the cheese with flour and eggs. Place baking paper on the mold. Now add the cheese mixture. Place the molds in the oven. After complete cooking, add butter and caviar to each cheese basket.

A very interesting, and most importantly delicious dish that all guests and family will definitely enjoy.

Ingredients:

• Hard cheese - 500 g
• Walnut - 100 g
• Raw smoked sausage - 250 g
• Dill - 70 g
• Creamy processed cheese - 250 g

Preparation:

Cut the cheese into large pieces. Place the cheese in boiling water. Finely chop the dill. Finely chop the sausage. Chop the nuts. Cook the cheese for 20 minutes. Then roll it out into a flat cake. Spread each flatbread with melted cheese. Place sausage on top. Roll the flatbread into a roll. Let the rolls cool. You can make a roll with dill. Or just sprinkle dill on the rolls. After cooling, cut the rolls into pieces.

Bon appetit.

A very tasty and popular appetizer for any buffet and holiday tables.

Ingredients:

• Flour - 100 g
• Onion - 500 g
• Starch - 5 g
• Hot pepper - 10 g
• Breadcrumbs - 50 g
• Vegetable oil for frying.

Preparation:

Mix all the dry ingredients, stir and add water. Mix everything until smooth.

The mixture should be as thick as sour cream. Cut the onion into rings. Now we lower the ring first into the batter, then into the breaded crackers. Fry the rings in vegetable oil until golden brown.

An interesting appetizer salad for a buffet table and a festive table. It's easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• Eggplant - 1 pc.
• Cheese - 100 g
• Tomatoes - 2 pcs.
• Cucumber - 1 pc.
• Olives - 1 jar

Preparation:

This snack can be made on a base, for example, from Borodino cheese.

Cut the eggplant into ovals. Sprinkle them with salt and leave for a couple of minutes so that all the bitterness goes away.

Eggplants are often found to be bitter, so be sure to remove all the bitterness.

Cut the cucumbers into round pieces diagonally. Cut the olives in half. Grate the cheese on a fine grater and mix with garlic.

Wash the eggplant well and roll in flour. Fry the eggplants in a little oil.

Cut the tomatoes into thin pieces. Coat the eggplant with cheese sauce. Then add tomato, cucumber and olive. We lay out the appetizer in the shape of a peacock's tail.

Such a plate can be served at a children's party, at a buffet, and it will not go unnoticed.

Ingredients:

• Blue cheese - 100 g
• Red grapes - 50 g
• Green grapes - 50 g
• Papaya - 100 g
• Strawberries - 100 g
• Walnut

Preparation:

Cut the cheese into small pieces. Cut the papaya to the size of the cheese. Place 5 pieces of papaya or berries and cheese on a skewer. Place the skewers in a corner. Place a bowl of nuts in the middle of the dish.

As a rule, small sandwiches or snacks are prepared for the buffet. Here's another great option for preparing a snack.

Ingredients:

• Ham - 100 g
• Cheese - 100 g
• Boiled eggs - 3 pcs.
• Cucumber - 1 pc.
• Cherry - 10 pcs.
• Garlic - 3 teeth.
• Salad
• Mayonnaise

Preparation:

Boil eggs, peel. Cut the ham on a fine grater. Three cheese on a fine grater. Three eggs on a fine grater. Mix everything well with mayonnaise. Cut the cucumber into 5 ml rings.

Place lettuce leaves on a plate. Then lay out the cucumber rings. Place the cheese mixture onto the cucumber using a suitable mold. We cut the cherry into halves. Place the cherry halves on the legs. Decorate fly agarics with dots of mayonnaise.

Bon appetit.

Popular snack with nuts. It's very easy to prepare and it goes very quickly, so make a lot, a lot at once.

Ingredients:

• Cheese - 300 g
• Crab sticks - 1 pack
• Peanuts - 100 g
• Mayonnaise
• Garlic

Preparation:

Three cheese on a fine grater. Add garlic and mayonnaise to it. Mix well. Three crab sticks on a fine grater. Now we form balls from the cheese mass. Place a nut in the middle of the ball. We envelop the balls in shavings of crab sticks.

Cover the dishes with lettuce leaves and place the balls on them.

Bon appetit.

A spectacular appetizer for a spring buffet.

Ingredients:

• Cream or cherry tomatoes - 10 pcs.
• Crab sticks - 1 pack
• Eggs - 4 pcs.
• Cucumber - 1 pc.
• Green onions - 1 bunch
• Processed cheese - 2 pcs.
• Garlic - 3 teeth.

Preparation:

Boil and peel the eggs. On the tomatoes we make an incision crosswise. We take it out with a spoon. Three cheeses on a coarse grater. Finely chop the crab sticks. Three eggs on a fine grater. Mix cheese, crab sticks, garlic, eggs and mix with mayonnaise. Stuff the tomatoes with the resulting mixture.

Arrange green onions on a plate in the form of stalks. We place the tomatoes on the stems like flowers.

Bon appetit.

Very juicy, filling and bright rolls that will certainly please all guests.

Ingredients:

• Eggs - 3 pcs.
• Milk - 50 ml
• Mayonnaise - 50 ml
• Flour - 20 g
• Red fish fillet - 200 g
• Cucumber - 1 pc.
• Greenery
• Curd cheese Philodelphia - 1 pack

Preparation:

Mix eggs, flour, milk, mayonnaise. Mix everything well and fry the pancakes. We coat the pancakes well with cheese. Place the fish pieces on the pancakes. Peel the cucumber and cut into strips. Place cucumber strips on the fish. Wrap the pancake in a roll.

Place the roll in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Then cut into rolls and place on a skewer.

Bon appetit.

A very original appetizer for a buffet table.

Ingredients:

• Cucumber - 1 pc.
• Granulated sugar - 20 g
• Apple cider vinegar - 1 tsp. l.
• Dill - 1 bunch
• Curd cheese - 1 pack
• Cream - 250 ml
• Gelatin - 30 g

Preparation:

Cut the cucumber into large pieces and place it in a blender bowl. Finely chop the dill and add to the cucumber. Add a tablespoon of granulated sugar and vinegar to the bowl. Let's add cottage cheese there. Add salt to taste. Beat everything well with a blender and pour in cream and gelatin. Pour the mousse into molds and place in the refrigerator.

Bon appetit.

An original presentation of a classic dish. Delicious, simple and original.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast -200 g
• Tartlets - 12 pcs.
• Onion - 2 pcs.
• Flour - 40 g
• Cream 20% - 200 ml
• Hard cheese - 100 g
• Champignons - 300 g

Preparation:

Finely chop the chicken breast and place in a frying pan with heated oil. Finely chop the onion. Finely chop the mushrooms. Add onions and mushrooms to the chicken. Fry until done. Then pour in cream and add seasonings. Simmer for a few minutes. Finely three cheese. Fill each tartlet with julienne, cover with grated cheese and place in the oven for 15 minutes.

Bon appetit.

An original snack that has a fresh and pleasant taste, and at the same time is an excellent decoration for any table.

Ingredients:

• Olives - 15 pcs.
• Soft cheese - 50 ml
• Carrots - 1 pc.

Preparation:

Cut half of the total number of olives lengthwise and half across. Cut carrots into slices. Then cut out a triangle from each circle. Add cheese to the olives, which are cut lengthwise. Let's collect our penguin. Insert a triangle of carrots into the olives, which are cut crosswise. First we put an olive with carrots on a toothpick, then an olive with cheese and finally carrots.

Bon appetit.

If your home during the New Year turns into a “gathering point” for a large number of friends who, as a rule, knowing your hospitality, will bring their other friends with them, and inform you about this the day before the holiday, then the best solution for your New Year's party will be buffet table— it is set for receptions with a large number of guests.

The reception a la buffet was originally invented in France. This method of organizing a festive table has a number of advantages. A buffet is a way to receive guests, which eliminates the need to purchase additional pieces of furniture, since the main purpose of the reception is communication, not a feast.

In most cases, a buffet is associated with the need to organize a reception of guests in a short time. The name itself can be literally translated from French as “on a fork,” which characterizes the entire process of eating.

The advantages of a buffet table are that the number of guests is not related to the amount of furniture available in the house. An additional advantage for the hostess is that she does not need to worry about the presentation of dishes, the degree of their warmth and the fullness of the guests’ plates.

Guests move freely around the room, gather according to interest groups, communicate freely, choosing those snacks on the table that are more to their taste. Snacks should be quite varied: variety is the key to a good buffet!

Several useful recipes

At buffets, up to three dishes are always offered. Eg, side dishes: boiled potatoes with parsley, dill and onions, vegetables, rice with saffron; meat and fish dishes: kebabs, red fish steaks, chicken breast in sauce. As for salads, tartlets, puff sandwiches and canapés, you can prepare countless of them.

Don't forget about the cheese platter. Cheese- a high-calorie and very tasty product. And now there are so many types of cheese on sale that you can easily fill several plates with hard and soft varieties. Plus please your vegetarian guests. The cheese is cut into pieces of 25-40 grams. The varieties are placed not too close to each other in a clockwise direction, for example: first a spicy blue cheese, then a soft cheese with a penicillin crust such as Camembert, then a hard, mild and sliced ​​spicy one. A classic addition to cheese is grapes. Pears and melon slices are combined with cheese.

The housewife should also not forget about pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, corn on the cob, champignons, bell peppers, cauliflower, as well as olives and spiced herring.

Snacks, several types of sliced ​​bread, and salads are placed closer to the edge. The second tier in the back is for sweet dishes, pastries, and fruits. Each dish with food should have an appropriate device with which you can put a portion on your plate.

Buffet serving depends, among other things, on the position of the table: if you can approach it from all sides, then you need to serve the buffet table in a circle.

Spices are traditional - salt and pepper. If dishes require sauces, they are placed next to the corresponding dishes.

When served, non-alcoholic drinks are poured into glasses or served in jugs. Alcoholic drinks are placed in open bottles in groups at different ends of the table, next to the glasses. For used dishes, an additional, small one is placed next to the main table, on which guests will put the empty dishes.

There are no restrictions on the buffet menu. The only requirement concerns the convenience of the dishes. For the most part, these are a variety of snacks that are easy to put on a plate and eat.

Since the same utensils are used when setting the table as during a regular feast, the dishes can be varied. The only requirement concerns that the dishes for the buffet must be served already cut and divided into portions - they must be in such a form that it is as convenient as possible for guests to put them on an individual plate and help themselves, as they say, “on the go.” If it is fish, then in the form of fillets, if it is chicken pieces, then without bones.

Vol-au-vents - snack bars (baskets) made from purchased puff pastry

Tartlets

Tartlets are small cups of dough prepared according to a specific recipe, which are filled with various fillings - meat, fish, mushroom, vegetable. Some recipes call for adding sauce to filled tartlets and then leaving them in the oven for a while to thicken the sauce. Shortbread dough with the addition of egg or yolk is optimal for tartlets.

Tartlets with caviar. Tasty, beautiful, fast.

A recipe for an unsurpassed evening dessert - glamorous tartlets made from caviar, rice, avocado and cream cheese.

Products:

Rice - preferably milk or sushi rice
Ripe avocado
Salmon caviar
Cream cheese

Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice

Preparation:

Boil the rice and cool it. Peel the avocado, remove the pit, mash the pulp with a fork, season with salt, pepper, add a little lemon juice to preserve the color.

With wet hands, form rice balls and press them. Place the next layer of avocado on top, then a layer of cheese mixture so that the dish looks like layer cakes. Place the last layer of red caviar.

If possible, the layers should be equal in volume. The size can be any. Small cakes can be eaten as canapes, large ones - with a fork and knife. You can decorate with greenery.

In principle, dough baskets can be filled with any salads. The only requirement is that salads should not be too liquid so that the dough does not get soggy. For this reason, vegetable salads that give juice are not placed in tartlets.

• You can prepare a salad of boiled shrimp, green peas and fresh cucumber with mayonnaise dressing. The salad is sprinkled with grated cheese on top and decorated with sprigs of parsley or dill.

• Another option is a salad of fresh pineapples with smoked chicken fillet, seedless grapes and grated cheese. As a dressing, you can use not only mayonnaise, but also sweet yogurt. Depending on the sauce chosen, the taste of the salad will be different.

Canapes

Of the snacks, canapés are the easiest to prepare and the most effective. They are prepared in the same way: the loaf or black bread is peeled and cut lengthwise into strips approximately 5-6 mm thick, then the bread is cut into small pieces (the pieces can be round, square, rectangular, triangular, etc.) . Then each piece of bread is greased with a thin layer of butter or mayonnaise (with the exception of canapés prepared with fatty foods), a leaf of lettuce is placed, garnished and decorated to taste.

Canapes with bacon and tomatoes

biscuits - 1 piece
bacon - 20g.
tomato - 1 pc.
sauce to taste
green onions

Cooking method:

For the filling: cut the bacon and tomato into small pieces and mix with the sauce.
Cut the pancake into three parts. Place the filling in the center of one of the parts, gather the edges and secure with green onions. The canapes are ready.

Lavash roll

A thin layer of lavash is smeared with mayonnaise, string cheese and Korean carrots are laid on top of it on one edge. The roll is wrapped tightly and cut crosswise into portioned roll pieces of the desired size. The filling can be varied - rolls with smoked fish and fresh cucumbers or with ham and mushrooms are no less tasty.

You will need:
Avocado
Tomato
Fresh cucumbers
Bell pepper
Lavash or thin pancakes
Curd cream or cheese
Lettuce leaves
Salt spices

Salmon roll

To prepare it, you need wide thin layers of salmon, which are rolled into a cone and laid out on a dish with the wide part facing up. A small piece of butter and a slice of lemon are placed inside each cone. To make it easier to cut the butter, it must first be cooled in the freezer.

Avocado mousse with caviar

1 avocado
- 1 egg /* chicken, a couple of quail eggs, hard-boiled */
- 1 tbsp. l. sour cream
- dill
- salt and pepper to taste, I added a fair amount of both, avocado somehow really absorbs all the spices
- caviar

Grind the avocado and egg in a blender. Mix, add sour cream, salt, pepper and finely chopped dill, grind until smooth.

Dry the pieces of bread until golden brown in a frying pan without oil. On bread - mousse, on top with caviar.

Trout rolls

It's actually very simple.
Lightly salted fish, season with curd cheese, serve on cucumber slices. You can use cream cheese rather than cottage cheese, and you can also add a little blue cheese to the filling, and sprinkle with lemon before serving. In general, there is room for imagination.
Simple, but very, very tasty.

Curd mousse with red fish and caviar

200 g low-fat cottage cheese
- 5 g gelatin
- 60 ml milk or cream
- 100 g salted red fish
- 0.5 tsp each salt and sugar
- a pinch of black pepper
- dill
- caviar

Soak gelatin in milk, after swelling, heat in the microwave or on the stove, dissolve.
Beat the cottage cheese, adding salt, sugar, pepper and finely chopped dill.
Carefully combine cottage cheese with gelatin. Stir in finely chopped fish and caviar (I didn’t add caviar to the mousse, I just decorated it on top).
Divide the curd mixture into the molds. I put it in silicone muffin molds, and then everything came out of them perfectly. Place in the refrigerator for several hours to harden.

A buffet is an organized reception where guests eat standing, choose any snacks and drinks and serve themselves. The most commonly used device is a fork. No chairs are provided.

The main advantages of a buffet table:

• More space for dancing, competitions, games;
• Free movement and communication of people;
• Possibility to invite more guests;
• The amount of furniture is not related to the number of guests;
• Savings in implementation costs;
• Short stay (several hours);
• Self-service;
• Large selection of food and drinks;
• No changing of dishes or heating them.

This option for organizing a feast is perfect for youth get-togethers, business events, and mini-holidays.

Important! The main rule of a good buffet is a wide variety of snacks and drinks!

Organization of a buffet

Proper organization of the buffet table is important! Snacks should look attractive and appetizing, and guests should feel relaxed and at ease.

On a note! Even if you know the exact number of guests, set the buffet table with at least a double supply of dishes and cutlery.

• Choose high buffet tables so that people have to bend over for snacks.
• Cover the buffet table with a plain tablecloth of a muted and calm shade. For example, white, beige, light gray. In addition, burgundy and black colors look rich on the table. Plates of appetizers on bright tablecloths will simply get lost and look tacky and ugly.

• Decor. The festive table can be decorated with fresh flowers, candlesticks with candles. If the buffet is dedicated to a specific holiday, then the table can be organized thematically. For example, for the New Year, put Christmas trees and snowmen on the table, take a tablecloth with micro sparkles, creating the effect of snow. And if it’s a wedding, then you can put beautiful wooden inscriptions and hearts on the table. All decor ideas depend on imagination and give the holiday a particularly warm atmosphere.

• It is advisable to use dishes and cutlery in the same style and color so that they are in harmony with the tablecloth and decor. Crumbled snacks can be placed in small glass jars, tying the containers with ribbon.
• Multi-level dishes will save space on the buffet table and decorate its overall appearance

• In addition to bottles of alcoholic drinks, you will need beautiful decanters or lemonade bottles. If they are transparent, then you can add lemon, orange and fresh mint leaves to the decanters.
• A lot of glasses for drinks will be useful, since guests will not drink from one glass the whole evening. Therefore, they need to be prepared in advance. You can buy multi-colored stickers for wine glasses, on which you can write the name of the invitee
• Do not serve snacks that cannot be eaten with a fork or hands.

• Display the dishes that remain attractive the longest first.

• Serve appetizers with mayonnaise and caviar last to avoid overcooking.

Rules for serving a buffet table

There are 2 types of buffet table setting:

• One-sided. The tables are set on one side, leaving room for honored guests. The table with food is placed perpendicular to the main one or one side to the wall. Most often this type is used at wedding celebrations.
• Double-sided. The tables are served on both sides with snacks in equal quantities, guests move freely between the tables, choosing whatever they want at any time. This serving option is the most popular and convenient.

Regardless of the setting, the table must be large to accommodate all the dishes. You can also move two tables and cover them with a common tablecloth, the main thing is that they are at the same height.

The legs of the buffet table should be covered with a tablecloth or a buffet skirt.

The table, covered with a festive tablecloth, begins to be served from glass. Glasses, wine glasses and glasses when serving on both sides are arranged in a snake, herringbone or groups.

Glasses of drinks are placed to the right of the plate. If their number is more than three, then they are placed in 2 rows. It is important that large glasses do not overlap small ones. The size of the container depends on the alcohol strength.

On a note! Meat and red fish are served with red wine. And with white wine - low-fat fish, fruits and light snacks.

Important! All plates, saucers, glasses and napkins should be in an accessible place so that guests can take what they need at any time.

Dessert and snack plates must be placed in stacks on the edges of the table, or along the table at equal intervals. Their number is determined at the rate of 2 dessert and 1 appetizer plates for each guest.

Snack plates are laid out in stacks of 10 pieces along the festive table on both sides, 2 cm from the edge. The distance from the end of the table to the dishes is 1.5-2 m.

Dessert plates are placed in stacks of 3-4 pieces in front of the diners on the right side. All emblems on the dishes should be facing the invitee.

Forks placed on edge are placed to the left of the plates with their sharp side up, and knives are placed to the right.

Napkins in beautiful holders are placed along the table. You can put toothpicks and decorative skewers next to them, and put them in beautiful jars or cups. Salt, pepper and other spices are placed along the edges of the table. If a dish requires a special sauce, it is placed next to this dish.

Alcoholic drinks are poured in advance into jugs or glasses. The remaining drinks are placed on the table so that the labels are visible. For tea and coffee, demarcate a separate area on the table.

Remains of glass and dishes are removed to the utility serving table.

Advice! If there are no identical dishes, then distribute the plates in homogeneous groups around the buffet table.

The snacks themselves, salads and sliced ​​bread are placed closer to the edge. At the back of the table there are hot and multi-tiered dishes, fruits, sweet desserts and pastries. Place appropriate cutlery on each dish.

Advice! Leave a separate edge of the table free so that guests can put dirty dishes there, or select a utility table.

Assortment of dishes

A competent buffet menu includes appetizers served in small portions. They should be impressively presented when presented. For convenience, snacks are best served in baskets, tartlets, or on crackers. Thread the canapes onto skewers. Additionally, place skewers next to slices and fruit plates.

• Tartlets with caviar and salads

• A variety of canapés. Consider the canapé options for each alcoholic drink, some will reveal the taste of white wine, while others will bring out the taste of red.

• Toast in batter. Suitable for dessert types, served with herbs and olives.

• Lavash rolls with fish;
• Small pies with a savory filling.

• Light salad with homemade chips;
• Grilled king prawns or mussels;
• Snacks;

• Meat and vegetable cuts;

• Cheese plate

• Assorted berries and fruits;

• Light desserts;

• Confectionery;

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks;

How to spice up your buffet table

Every holiday organizer wants his party and table to be memorable for the guests.

If you can include various competitions in the program to entertain guests, then for an exclusive buffet table setting, you need to come up with something unusual.

Recently, the chocolate fountain has come into fashion. Melted chocolate slowly flows down the tiers in smooth cascades. This dessert does not leave guests indifferent; they want to dip pieces of fruit into the warm chocolate mass.

Place pieces of fruit and berries next to the fountain in advance. Strawberries, chopped pineapple, banana, marshmallows, and ice cream scoops are perfect. There should also be a sufficient number of skewers.

If you're tired of regular cakes, then cake pops are a great replacement. These are mini cakes on a stick, decorated to look like lollipops. Inside they are made of sponge cake with different fillings, and on top they are covered with chocolate or glaze. This dessert delights guests. Cake pops can be stylized to match the theme of the holiday, for example, at a bachelorette party, decorated in pink and nude tones. And at a children's party in the form of figurines of heroes.

A slide of champagne looks mesmerizing on the buffet table.

The glasses are placed sequentially on top of each other, forming a pyramid. Bottles of champagne are poured into the top glass, from where the drink is poured into the glasses below. The golden drink with white foam slowly flowing down the glasses is a very beautiful sight. The slide itself can be decorated with berries, pieces of fruit, and fresh flowers.

A buffet is a type of reception at which refreshments are served on separate tables, and guests standing eat small, light snacks that they choose from an extensive buffet menu. If you have to organize a special event, and you are not a fan of the traditional feast, an elegant and modern buffet will be your salvation.

Of course, recipes must be selected in advance. You must be sure that your light and varied menu will please even the most demanding guests.

Organization

When starting to organize a holiday, follow all the important rules for a perfect reception. Even knowing the exact number of guests, set the table taking into account a triple supply of dishes and cutlery, and all sets of dishes should be the same color. Multi-level dishes will significantly save space on the table and decorate the overall appearance of the buffet table.

Do not cook food that cannot be eaten with your hands or a fork. Snacks should be placed from the center of the table, and cutlery and glasses should be placed at the edges. Place a gravy boat and containers with spices on each corner of the table.

When hosting a buffet, the dominant role is occupied not so much by the food itself as by its presentation and presentation. The table with treats should not be placed in a corner, against a wall or in the center of the room. Position it so that guests can freely approach from all four sides without crowding or blocking the path to the dance floor. It should also be slightly higher than an ordinary dining room so that guests do not have to bend over for snacks. The buffet option is also suitable for.

A cherry or burgundy tablecloth is more appropriate than a traditional white one. Tablecloths in dark, noble shades are much more practical and will look unusual and elegant.

Snack Recipes

A proper buffet menu should consist of small appetizers served in small portions. Dishes should be as simple as possible, but beautifully presented on plates. For your guests' convenience, serve them in tartlets or on small crackers. You can prepare hearty canapés as mini sandwiches and string them onto colored skewers.

On skewers

The best serving option is to use special plastic skewers. Cheeses, vegetables, or sausages will become the main ingredient of such canapés, and olives, bread, pineapple or lettuce will add flavor nuances and decorate the treat.

If you have an evening of wine tasting ahead of you, use products that match the varieties of this noble drink. It is advisable to prepare several different versions of canapes and arrange them on different dishes. Some should reveal the taste of red wine, while others should emphasize the lightness of white.

Hearty canapes

To prepare a classic canapé with chicken and potatoes, you will need chicken fillet, potatoes and olives. Preparing the batter is simple - just thoroughly mix the yolk, flour and a little water in a mixer. The fillet is fried until crusty and then breaded in breadcrumbs.

Cut the boiled potatoes and place them on skewers along with fillet pieces. Add a piece of cheese, lettuce and an olive for garnish. These canapes are perfect with dessert wines and should be served on a platter with a bed of fresh lettuce leaves.

Fish rolls

To make salmon or salmon rolls you will need fish, rice, a few slices of cheese, olives, mayonnaise and eggs. Rice should be cooked without salt, and then add grated yolk and cheese. Season with a small amount of mayonnaise - the rice will quickly absorb it and become softer.

Cut the fish into oblong slices and place on a board, spread pre-cooked rice paste on them. Wrap the fish in a roll and secure with a bright, colored skewer, after threading an olive onto it.

Small pies

With a little work with puff pastry, you can make small homemade pies with a savory and filling filling. Prepare in advance a package of store-bought frozen dough, ground pork, a variety of greens and some sesame seeds.

While the dough is defrosting, roll the pork and add coriander and turmeric to the minced meat. The filling is placed in pre-rolled dough cut into squares. Dipping the dough in the beaten yolk will give you a nice golden crust.

Bake the pies in the oven until they acquire a nice wheat color. Before serving, pour a couple of drops of olive oil over the products and garnish with sesame seeds.

Homemade chips

An original presentation will surprise guests and glorify you as a creative and original hostess. A light diet salad can be served on ordinary chips instead of plates!

Chips from the store are not the healthiest product, so it is advisable to make real homemade chips from fresh potatoes. The potatoes should be thinly sliced, add some spices, place on parchment and bake in the microwave. Such chips will be absolutely natural and harmless, and by experimenting with spices and natural flavors, you can create absolutely any taste. For garlic chips, simply grate the potatoes with a clove of garlic first.

Finely chop two cherry tomatoes, a cucumber and herbs, season it all with a light sauce and carefully place it on the chips. Use red caviar and a sprig of parsley as decoration.

Shrimp appetizer

Shrimp are a rich source of protein and calcium; such a treat will not only satiate your guests, but also provide them with useful vitamins.

Shrimp are grilled or fried with spices. If you add a little garlic during the frying process, you can add a certain piquancy and spiciness to the treat. Add a little soy sauce to the shrimp, and then the delicacy should be strung on skewers along with tomatoes and olives.

You can diversify the aperitif with bacon or pieces of chicken fillet. A little feta cheese will highlight the exquisite taste of the shrimp, and lettuce leaves will make the dish served in a refined and elegant way.

Vegetarian sandwich

This unusual low-calorie eggplant sandwich will appeal to vegetarians and weight-conscious guests. You will need a couple of eggplants, hard cheese, olive oil, cherry tomatoes and a few cloves of garlic.

Eggplants should be salted and cut into slices. Sliced ​​tomatoes are fried with garlic; you will use them to decorate the treat. A slice of cheese will become the basis for the tower; you should put an eggplant on it, and then a fried tomato.

Secure the tower with a skewer and place in the oven. As soon as the dish is ready, garnish it with a sprig of dill.

Light snacks

Potato or cheese snacks will be an excellent snack for various dessert wines. With the help of spices, they can be painted in bright colors, so that they simply cannot go unnoticed on the buffet table.

Thinly slice the potatoes and place on clean baking parchment. You can add a little salt to taste or add a variety of spices. It is easy to add red color using curry and coriander, and black color by adding a little ground pepper. These appetizers can be served separately or topped with bacon or cheeses.

Airy dessert

Chocolate cups are an original serving of desserts that will surprise adults and delight children. Chocolate is used as a form for dessert, and such a glass can be filled with anything.

The chocolate bar should be melted, but remember to cool the mixture before working with the ball so as not to melt the latex. The size of the cups will also depend on the size of the ball, so you should not use balls that are too large.

The inflated ball must be dipped in chocolate, placed on clean baking paper and allowed to cool slightly. Then the ball is pierced with a knife and carefully separated from the cup. This mold is filled with whipped cream, marshmallows or sweet curd mass. And the remaining chocolate can be grated and decorated with a treat.

Snacks are easy to prepare yourself, because the main principles of such a treat are simplicity and conciseness. Other advantages include that the hosts of the reception will not have to waste time serving guests and washing mountains of plates at the end of the celebration.