BUFFET MEALS Prepared by Extension Nutrition Specialists, Oregon State University, Corvallis
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BUFFET MEALS Prepared by Extension nutrition specialists, Oregon State University, Corvallis When we are looking for the most convenient snacks are all good meals to serve buffet-style. and delightful way to serve our family or 'friends, • Smorgasbord is a term used today in our coun- we think of the buffet meal. It's suth an adapta- try to mean a 'buffet-style meal. However, in Swe- ble service. You can make it fit the most informal den a true smorgasbord is a course which comes family indoor or outdoor meals or you can make before a meal We use other terms such as pot- it fit your guest meal's—foe they more or less luck and Bohemian which in essence are buffet- formal. style meals. As you can see, this style of service is Many women find this the easiest way to be a fairly recent pattern which has evolved from our hospitable hostesses for larger groups. The men way of living in the last decade or so. For this and boys of the household like this method too. reason procedures are not standardized as they Guests enjoy mingling and visiting. are for conventional dining table service. A buffet meal makes a pleasant way of enter- You can adapt this service for groups of six taining families with members of different ages. or eight or for as large a group as your home It is a perfect setting for teen-age entertaining. and fa'dlities can accommodate. Since the buffet Often church or club meals are served success- for larger groups of 15, 20, or more requires the fully in this way. most careful planning, many of the suggestions in Breakfast, lunch, dinners, suppers, and special this circular apply particularly to the larger buffet. Serving the Buffet Meal There are so many different ways to carry out Seating buffet guests at tables the buffet-style meal that you have much choice in The original idea of a buffet table seems to how to serve. Before you decide definitely on a have been that the meal was set out on a buffet or menu, it's best to plan how you will serve, then sideboard. Family members helped themselves to choose foods which can be served easily by the food and sat at the dining table to eat the meal. method chosen. The discussion on the following In our homes we usually use our dining table pages may help you make these decisions: to set out the food. If our family or guests are to ► Will your guests be seated at tables when be seated at a table while eating, we provide addi- they eat the food or will they hold plates or tional tables. Often there isn't enough room for trays on their laps ? the tables in the dining room and they are put in the living room, study, porches, or patio. Getting ► If guests are not seated at the table, will they enough chairs for the tables is sometimes a put their plates and silver on trays or will problem. you serve without trays ? Some of the outstanding advantages of eating ►Will someone be seated at the buffet table to the buffet meal at tables are that: (1) you have serve the main dish or salad on each plate a wide choice of menu because you do not need or will each person put the food on his to eliminate foods that would be difficult to man- plate? age when plates or trays are held on the lap; (2) the buffet table is easier to arrange because the ► What size plates do you wish to use? silver, water glasses, napkins, and perhaps jelly ► How will you serve dessert? or cream and sugar, salt or other things, may be Cooperative Extension Service Oregon State University, Corvallis Extension Circular 714 Reprinted October 1963 put on the tables where the guests will be seated; Removing the main course plates (3) many people prefer to eat at a table; (4) you Take time to have your kitchen in good order do not need trays; (5) you can use your luncheon before the main course plates are brought in. Put size plates as well as your dinner plates, since jelly away the left over food and wash or stack the or jam or other accompaniments may be put cooking dishes. on the tables where the guests eat; (6) coffee may be poured for the guests after they are seated; If your group is large, the biggest serving problem is how to remove the main course plates (7) you can use place cards which will aid in mix-: without confusion. There are, however, several ing the group. ways of managing it quite easily. Youll want to avoid everyone trying to take his plate to the Serving without tables kitchen at the same time. In many respects the easiest way to serve is Some suggestions are: for the guest to hold a plate or tray on his lap in- ►If the dessert is served to the guests from the stead of sitting at a table. It is often the only prac- kitchen, you can ask some helpers to remove tical way to serve. This method takes less space two main course plates, and bring in two in a home. It not only eliminates setting tables and servings of dessert. providing table covers but chairs are less of a problem. In addition to using dining room chairs, ► If the guests are seated at tables, ask one or guests can be seated on the davenport, stools, and two persons at each table to take the plates to other low chairs. the kitchen. These helpers can also bring in Among the chief disadvantages of lap service the dessert if it's served to the guests from is the fact that many people don't like to eat that the kitchen. way. Elderly people and young children find it ► Have a service table for the plates near the difficult to manage. The menu must be carefully kitchen door as in Figure 5. If using this selected to avoid meats or other foods that need method, ask one of your helpers to arrange to be cut with a knife. the soiled plates and silver on a tray at this Choose a simple, suitable menu that requires service table and take them into the kitchen. little silver. You can omit knives if you serve bread that does not need to be buttered and serve a meat or main dish that does not require the use Removing the dessert course dishes of a knife. Arrange to have at least two persons help you Use low water glasses that do not tip easily. in stacking dishes (and trays if used) either in the dining room or in the kitchen, or in both Seat elderly persons or children where they places. Have a definite plan such as providing a can put their glass or .cup on some side table or tray for silver, a tray for cups, and a place to writing desk, or provide a table or two for the stack plates. Provide a brush or rubber spatula to younger folks or elderly persons. scrape plates and a container for the scraps. When tables are not provided use trays except for very simple meals. One of the easiest ways to remove the dessert course dishes when tables are being used is to give each table a tray for the glasses, cups, and plates. Serving the dessert One or two persons from each table can take all You have these choices in serving the dessert: the dishes to the kitchen. ► Put it on the buffet table with the main course. As a guest you can be most helpful to your Will there be space on the serving table and hostess by observing her plan and giving an op- on the guest plate or tray ? A fruit salad and portunity for orderly stacking of the dishes in- cookies or cup cakes are often served this stead of rushing your plate or tray to the kitchen. way. This third menu listed under "Buffet Menu Suggestions" can be served as one course. Let family or guests help ► Remove the main course from the buffet table, One of the delightful things about a buffet and set the buffet table for a dessert course meal is that a number of people can help you and as in Figure 5. enjoy the occasion all the more. ► Bring the dessert to the guests after they You'll want to have everything planned so you have completed the main course. can visit with your guests and still know all is Plan your dessert after you've decided how going smoothly. you want to serve it. The size of the group and the menu will in- fluence how much help you need. Decide whether *" Do you want some help in arranging the you would like help in these ways: buffet table for the dessert or in bringing the dessert to the guests ? ► One or more persons to refill or replace dishes and serving plates at the buffet table. It's a good idea to ask someone to assist you ^ Someone to refill 'food dishes in the kitchen. as hostess. She'll need to know just how you ex- ► Would you like to ask someone to be seated pect to serve. She can assist you in inviting a few at the table to serve the main dish or the guests at a time to go to the buffet table to be salad for the first course? See Figure 4.