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 H-E-B
Celebrations
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The Art of the Buffet Want to throw a dazzling dinner party but only have seating for four? Then host a bustling buffet-style bash that friends and family will remember throughout the coming year. Buffets are the easiest way to serve a large group of people and will give your guests ample time to eat, drink and mingle. Plus, they keep the cook out of the kitchen and  let
the host enjoy the party as much as the guests.As with any type of entertaining, the trick to hosting a successful holiday buffet is to plan ahead, keep it simple and have a good time. We've created a simple framework to help you host a memorable celebration. The Style First, pick your theme. This is a very important part of your planning process, since everything else from the food to the decorations may be involved. Cocktail party, appetizing hors d'oeuvre buffet, full-course dinner buffet . . . the choices are endless. After you've picked a theme, set a date and send out the invitations. The sooner the better. This is prime party season and people are filling their schedules faster than at any other time during the year. The Menu Take the stress out of entertaining! Allow at least two weeks to plan your menu and assess your supplies. Get as much done ahead of time as possible so on the day of your party you only have to prepare the food and get yourself ready. Have the house cleaned and prepare any dishes that can be made ahead of time. Plan your meal so there are plenty of options for your guests. While some people may pile their plates high, others will just nibble. A good mix would include a tray of cheese and crackers or vegetables and dip in addition to the main entrée. This way you'll still be able to serve some adventurous dishes, confident that there'll be something everyone will like. To make sure you have enough food, prepare one extra portionof each dish for every six guests. Let H-E-B help you as much as possible with delicious H-E-B Fully Cooked® or Seasoned turkey, beef and chicken selections, fabulous party trays or heavenly sweets. The Setup Think the entire event through. Consider things like strategic locations of tables at your buffet. A buffet table near the entrance may cause a bottleneck. Consider these details: How long it will take for your guests to move through the buffet line? How many tables will you need—one table with two lines or several tables with different courses? Your buffet table may be set against a wall or in the center of the room. For only six or eight guests, it's often placed with the long side against a wall; more guests may require both sides to prevent traffic jams. In that case, set up a double-sided buffet that people can get to from both sides. If you don't have the space, ask half of the people to go through at a time. Setting the Table When setting up the buffet, think functional. Where are the plates? Where are the utensils? If your guests hold a plate in their lap, you can't serve something that requires a knife and fork. Set the buffet table to make it as easy as possible for your guests to serve themselves. Arrange the buffet in order of how people eat their meal (salad, appetizer, sides, then entrée). Place a stack of dinner plates at the point where guests start and a basket of silverware and napkins at the end of the buffet. Make enough so guests may go back for seconds and have fresh flatware. Stack extra plates, too. Also, it's a good idea to set an additional table away from the main buffet for coffee, juice, other drinks and desserts. Don't forget, this is a party. Make it festive! Vary textures, colors, shapes, heights and placement of food. Be creative with decorations. Special holiday centerpieces from H-E-B are a nice addition to any table and convey the joy and spirit of the event. Serving Made Easy The one thing all buffet food must have in common, though, is that it must be easy to get from table to plate to mouth and not require much in the way of cutting. It is customary to serve bite-size foods that can be eaten with a fork. Carefully consider the utensils you're using to serve each dish. Use tongs if necessary to prevent spillage and avoid putting food trays two-deep on a table to prevent spilling into other dishes. It is also recommended that covered dishes be used, where possible, for hot dishes. Remember, food safety is an important part of planning holiday parties and buffets. Once the date arrives and the doorbell rings, relax, gather around the table and enjoy the company of friends. The preparation should pay off, and everyone should have a wonderful time. |
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Sandwich Chart
Brown bagging's a breeze with this handy chart to post on pantry or fridge. A Pretty Palate Color your menu with 5 a day the easy way. Sunless Shimmer Capture the glow of summer all year round with beautiful bronzers.  |
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