Recipes for a buffet at work on March 8 or a birthday

More and more often, lately, people prefer a buffet during their holidays. After all, this method of eating has many advantages, in particular, a relaxed atmosphere, light portioned snacks that do not need to be put on a plate. The hero of the occasion will not have to worry that some dishes will cool down and lose their taste characteristics, because the buffet involves the use of simple snacks, edible and tasty in any form. We will present you recipe options for organizing a buffet for your birthday.

Buffet table at work photo

What else can you treat your guests to at a buffet?

Not a single buffet is complete without canapés. These small sandwiches on skewers can be found on any buffet table. They are surprisingly easy to prepare and do not require a lot of money.

To make the “ships” you will need slices of bread, cucumbers and cheese . Place cucumbers on bread - it's a boat. Pierce a piece of cheese with a toothpick and give it the appearance of a sail. Place the “sail” on the bread with the filling.
A traditional herring sandwich can be turned into a gourmet snack . Cut the black bread into thin slices and place the fish on top. Place the canapés on skewers. The dish is ready!
Stylish canapé made from pineapple and cheese looks beautiful and tastes original. Goes well with soft drinks. You can also mix cheese with avocado or grapes.
Simple ingredients like cheese, ham and tomatoes can make a delicious snack..
Here's a variation on the classic salmon sandwich . Just replace the bread with a crunchy cracker.
Cherry tomatoes are very suitable for canapés . Cut them in half and place them on skewers, pairing them with vegetables or pieces of fried cheese. Everyone will love this snack.
Cut different cheeses into pieces. Alternate their flavors by threading them onto skewers. Here you have an excellent mix of cheeses that your guests will enjoy tasting.
Read also: Fun and touching competitions for the bride and groom at a wedding
Try the cheese and pepper canapés . Add greens to the cheese mixture and spread it on pieces of bread. Place finely chopped sweet peppers on a canapé and decorate with skewers. If desired, you can replace the cheese mass with ready-made cottage cheese from the store.

Experiment with dishes that don't require a lot of time or money to prepare. Plus they turn out very tasty. Here are some of them.

Sliced vegetables . Vegetables are good for any holiday table. Cut them beautifully, arrange them in zones on a platter, and place cups with sauces inside. Sour cream and herbs are good for a vegetable plate.
Cheese slices . Cheese is great for buffets, especially if there is wine among the drinks. A plate of cheese can be decorated with lettuce leaves and a sprig of grapevine.
Fruits will add a special touch to the buffet table . With their bright and juicy appearance they create a festive atmosphere. Make a beautiful still life out of them. But don’t forget to cut them first for the convenience of your guests.
Eggs with pate . Boil the eggs, cut in half. Remove the yolk and mash it with a fork. Mix the resulting mass with the pate . Spread the mixture onto the whites. Top the dish with dill.
Your colleagues probably like pizza . But if you don't want to order or bake traditional pizza yourself, try an original and inexpensive variation of this dish. Take ordinary Caucasian lavash as a basis. Place whatever you like on it: pieces of meat, bacon, grated cheese, tomatoes. Place the improvised pizza in the oven and bake. It cooks very quickly, so be careful not to burn the base. To make the dish juicy, brush the pita bread with tomato sauce. We recommend baking the appetizer not in a standard form, but in a foil boat.
Tartlets with onions and mushrooms - a simple and satisfying dish . Fry mushrooms and onions together. Puree them with a blender. Place the resulting mixture into dough baskets.

Now for a few unusual appetizers that will be the highlight of any buffet table.

Mexican tacos are not yet so popular in Russia. We guarantee that you will surprise your colleagues with this exotica. For the base you will need Mexican tortilla, which you can buy in the store. For the filling, take feta cheese and mash it with a fork. Chop chili peppers, tomatoes, herbs. Mix them with low-fat yogurt and spices. Fill the folded tortilla with filling.
Sandwiches with shrimp or other seafood . Cut the bread into triangles. Sandwich bread is best. Mix herbs and melted butter or soft cheese. Place the resulting paste on bread. And place shrimp dipped in soy sauce on top. Complete the composition with a second piece of bread.
Grind the herring fillet along with onions and herbs in a meat grinder . Bring boiled or fried potatoes to the same consistency. Finely chop the boiled eggs. Mix all ingredients. Spread this mixture on bread and decorate with vegetables on top. This tasty and satisfying dish will quickly disappear from the holiday table.

There are many interesting appetizers that are great for a corporate or home buffet. And you yourself can easily come up with a couple of original recipes. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your buffet table look rich. To surprise your guests, all you need is regular products from your local store.

Menu for a buffet table at work

So, let's say that you are going to celebrate your birthday with your colleagues at your workplace. Of course, you can use catering services, but why overpay someone if there are simple and interesting options for organizing everything yourself.

First you need to create a menu. So that you don’t have to rack your brains over it, we’ll present you with our version.

It is suitable for both female and male companies:

Light snacks that do not affect your figure - strawberries with Camembert cheese and aromatic mint leaves.
Mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and basil on a skewer - lovers of proper nutrition will definitely appreciate this delicacy.
Canapes of melon, Dor Blue cheese and arugula leaves. The taste will be somewhat piquant and extravagant, but your colleagues will be very pleasantly surprised.
Roll made of black bread with peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and walnuts. All of these vegetables are used to prepare a puree, which must be seasoned with your favorite spices.
Profiteroles with Philadelphia cheese, salmon and avocado pieces are a complete appetizer that guests are usually one of the first to eat, because it is filling and very tasty.
Various bruschettas with meat, cheese and lightly salted fish. Bruxetts should be the basis of your buffet table.
Vegetable salads in cups. Take seasonal and fresh vegetables.
Desserts - panna cotta, cheesecakes or tarts with various fruit fillings. Cupcakes are also great.

You can avoid using sweets at all, or refuse salty dishes on the buffet table. It all depends on your taste preferences. However, think about your guests, perhaps some of them will be hungry and will happily eat bruschetta with fish, while others will eat only a vegetable salad and then start eating desserts.

Classic reception rules

Indeed, for a buffet table there are generally accepted and firmly established rules:

Each table should be 90-100 cm high.
They should have elegant tablecloths and buffet “skirts”.
Decorations include a flower arrangement.

The order of dishes and drinks on the table

Usually, plates are placed at one end of the table; hot and cold appetizers, salads, bread, cutlery, napkins, and drinks poured into glasses or glasses are placed in turn along the perimeter.
Dessert is placed in the center of the table. Each dish is served with those utensils with which the guest can transfer the contents of the common dish onto his plate.
Stacks of clean plates (6-10 pieces each), cutlery, and napkins should also be available.

Organizing a buffet at work requires the minimum that is available in the office. Usually several free tables are connected and covered with a tablecloth or oilcloth. A napkin is placed under each plate.

Sandwiches on the buffet table at work

As we have already noted, bruschetta is the basis of your buffet table. Bruschetta is the same thing as a sandwich, but it doesn't look as old-fashioned.

So, what kind of sandwiches can you offer your guests:

With sprats, cucumber, fried egg and lettuce.
With cheese, grated with garlic, seasoned with mayonnaise, and a slice of juicy tomato. Each piece of bread can also be garnished with fresh parsley.
With melted cheese, seasoned with garlic puree, and slices of canned pineapple. For a piquant taste, you can add mayonnaise to the cheese.
With canned tuna, tomatoes and boiled eggs. These sandwiches are decorated with greens.
With ham, cheese and olives. Instead of olives, you can use cherry tomatoes or a slice of pineapple (fresh or canned).
With feta cheese, olives and crab sticks. It is advisable to chop crab sticks and olives, mix with cheese and use the resulting spread to make a sandwich.
With cream cheese, avocado and a piece of red lightly salted fish.
With butter and red caviar. A traditional and familiar version of the sandwich.
With feta cheese and pieces of white grapes.
With ricotta and baked pumpkin pieces.

Outdoor buffets

If you don’t want to cook and set the tables for a buffet at home or in the office yourself, then you can always order an off-site buffet service, when a catering company comes and organizes everything on site, and you pay for the services and products.

There can be a great many reasons to use an outdoor buffet: wedding, graduation, New Year's corporate party, birthday, children's matinees, parties and anniversaries, presentations, conferences, forums, grand openings, fashion shows, balls, galleries, fairs, exhibitions, master classes, trainings, workshops, seminars and lectures. Let's look at several situations when it is better to entrust the organization of a buffet to professional catering companies.

Buffet at a wedding

If there is a wedding in your family, then there is already enough bustle and worry, and then there is also the preparation and decoration of the wedding table... it is much easier to order an outdoor wedding buffet, when professionals will prepare everything and bring it to wherever you order, be it home, or outdoors, or to a rented banquet hall!

As a rule, catering companies offer several packages of services for organizing a buffet for a wedding, from very budget to premium services, with delicacies, elite alcohol and all the accompanying details of the wedding celebration. Thus, newlyweds have the opportunity to choose the best option for the price. The cost of such services depends both on the number of guests and on the menu that will be offered to those invited to the wedding.

A feature of a wedding buffet will be its duration; if at a conference or seminar it lasts up to a couple of hours, a buffet at a wedding can take up to 4-5 hours, and sometimes last longer, until the night, this also affects its cost.

Buffet in the office

If you have a corporate party or your whole team is celebrating someone’s anniversary or just a birthday, then you can easily order delivery of pizza and rolls to the office, and buy drinks to your taste in the required volume. You don’t even need to think much about the furniture, because every office has tables, you can take disposable dishes, and you can eat pizza with your hands, so you don’t even need cutlery.

But if your company has a more serious reason for a buffet table, for example, a presentation of new products or services to wholesalers or regular customers, then the get-together format is indispensable. It would be optimal to order an off-site buffet, which the catering company will organize in your office.

Such delegation will eliminate the need to involve office staff in preparing dishes and setting the table, and then also fussing with washing dishes. And you can save a lot of time if you receive ready-made appetizers just a few minutes before the start of the buffet!

Buffet in nature

A buffet in nature is great, but there is always a risk that the weather may turn bad on the appointed day, so a catering agency may be more profitable than organizing a buffet yourself, because the services of such companies include:

protecting guests from bad weather;
protecting guests from insects;
maintaining cleanliness and hygiene;
maintaining food freshness;
maintaining the temperature of drinks;
light plastic furniture for a buffet table;
sets of appropriate dishes and cutlery.

The advantage is that you don’t need to think about all the above problems, fuss with food, dishes, furniture - everything will be brought for you, cooked, set the tables, and then cleaned and taken away. You only need to choose a place and time for an outdoor buffet, agree on the menu and decorations, and the catering agency will do the rest for you!

Snacks for the buffet table at work

Tartlets with salmon, melted cheese and slices of fresh cucumber.
Cheese, ham and fresh cucumber on a skewer.
Cheese profiteroles.
Sliced cheese with honey sauce and nuts. Place skewers next to the cheese plate so that each guest can help themselves.
Rolls of pita bread stuffed with Jewish salad and pieces of ham.
Bruschetta with herring and gherkin.
Puff pastry with cheese and fresh vegetables.
Shish kebab on a wooden skewer made from chicken fillet.
Chicken and mushroom julienne in tartlets.
Cheese balls on spoons.

Buffet drinks

When preparing drinks for a buffet table, you need to remember that some of them can be served in glasses, and some in bottles or jugs. For example, if we are talking about juices, compotes or fruit drinks, then jugs are used for them, next to which there should always be a sufficient number of glasses on the table. If this is a welcome low-alcohol aperitif, then filled glasses (for example, with champagne) are immediately placed on the table. If a bartender works at the buffet table and a cocktail bar is organized, then he prepares all the alcoholic drinks himself and there is no point in pouring them in advance.

For hot drinks, be sure to organize a separate table with coffee machines and coolers - there should be tea pairs (cup and saucer), coffee, tea for brewing, lemon, sugar, cream or milk.

If waiters are working at the buffet table, then they can serve alcoholic drinks on trays already poured into glasses or glasses; filled wine glasses, which can easily be taken from the tray, will save guests from awkward communication with the bartender or waiter.

Drinks are poured into glasses and glasses. Glasses with alcoholic drinks and jugs with juices and fruit drinks can be placed on snack tables right away. Or a separate cocktail bar is organized, where a bartender works, pours drinks and prepares cocktails. Waiters can also carry filled wine glasses and glasses on trays, unobtrusively offering them to guests.

Salads for the buffet table at work

Salads can be displayed on the buffet table in glasses or in tartlets:

"Caesar" both in the classic version and with shrimp.
"Herring under a fur coat"
With meat, cheese and baked bell pepper slices.
With tuna, apple and celery.
Grilled vegetables seasoned with olive oil.
"Mimosa".
Classic vinaigrette.
Classic Niçoise.
"Greek salad.
Classic "Olivier".

For what events would a buffet be the best option?

An excellent option is a buffet table for a birthday. This is a holiday when dancing and karaoke are appropriate. To free up space for the dance floor, a buffet is organized. And even the fact that guests can move freely around the hall has a positive aspect - most guests will actively take part in the festive program. There will be room for those who want to sing.

In addition, close comrades, friends and relatives usually gather for a birthday. They have a lot to talk about. And the buffet allows such informal communication for everyone. No one is limited only to the company that happens to be closest, as is usually the case during a feast.

Dessert buffet table

Children's buffet table

A children's party wouldn't be complete without a buffet. This is where conditions are needed for true fun. After all, it doesn’t matter to the kids whether there are hot dishes or how good the meat and side dishes are. They will be pleased with a sweet dessert and bright snacks, but the main thing that a child’s soul awaits is the opportunity to play and move around. The buffet option is exactly what will completely satisfy all the needs of the kids.

Another important event can be decorated with the idea of such a design. A buffet table for a wedding is the right decision if it is celebrated in a small room, or if it is decided that the dishes will be prepared with your own hands. What other advantages are there? You can invite a fairly large number of people. A buffet allows you to make the menu corresponding to this extraordinary event varied and interesting, but at the same time reduce costs.

A program has been developed for corporate events, which includes competitions and quests. Having fun and socializing is the main reason why colleagues gathered, and therefore the feast is replaced by a buffet table.

Buffet table at home

Buffet table in eco style

A buffet reception is suitable for business meetings. It is important to resolve some issues and give everything an informal style, while you can treat your partners to something that will show them your spirit of hospitality and willingness to be generous and original.

Fruit buffet table

Buffet table decor with newspaper

Canapes on the buffet table at work

A slice of salmon or other red fish, avocado and fresh cucumber.
Prunes wrapped in bacon, fresh olive or black olive.
Spicy cheese and sun-dried tomatoes on a piece of rye bread.
Puree of crab sticks, melted cheese and garlic, rolled into balls and rolled in cheese shavings.
Red fish with curd cheese and boiled quail egg.
Ham with hard cheese and olives.
Tomato with smoked bacon on toast, smeared with mayonnaise.
Shrimp with olive and fresh cucumber on a lettuce leaf and a slice of rye bread.
Herring, cream cheese and a slice of kiwi on a piece of black bread.
Sausage basket with Jewish salad, cheese and herbs.

History of the buffet tradition

The word “buffet”, which came to us from French, is translated as “on the fork”.

A buffet is a way of organizing a table when guests during an event can be treated to snacks and drinks of their choice.

It's easy to guess where this name came from. The fact is that the main cutlery at a buffet table is a fork. Also, the event does not require the presence of chairs and tables, at which guests are usually seated.

The habit of eating while standing has spread throughout the world thanks to French politicians. At 5 pm there was a snack in Parliament, during which all members stood with forks at the tables. This tradition also took root in the Russian Empire, but with some variations.

In the vast expanses of our homeland, tables with drinks and small snacks are called buffet tables. In all other countries the term buffet is used. Both words mean approximately the same thing, but with some differences.

For example, at the buffet table only cold or “finger” snacks are served. They are usually taken by hand or with a skewer. In addition to cold dishes, the buffet offers hot ones.

A buffet is usually a short meal. A buffet, on the contrary, is a longer event. But, despite the minor differences, both formats are convenient if you need to organize a meeting of a small number of participants, subject to time and room size limitations.

Buffets are very popular at various corporate events. They help make the meeting of colleagues comfortable, since all participants can communicate in a relaxed atmosphere while snacking on light dishes.

Making such a table at home is also not difficult. The buffet format is suitable if you want to turn the event into pleasant communication, and not into the usual feast.

How to inexpensively set a buffet table at work, menu ideas

If you find all the presented buffet options too sophisticated and too expensive, then there are simpler ways to set the table for your colleagues on your holiday:

Option 1:

You buy tartlets and fill them with cream cheese mixed with garlic and herbs.
Make sandwiches with pieces of herring, butter and pickled cucumber.
Place a salad of fresh vegetables in glasses.
Make sausage and cheese slices.
Desserts include chocolates and cookies.

Option 2:

Prepare profiteroles, fill them with Jewish salad mixed with crab sticks.
Make Olivier salad and place it in glasses in portions.
Place sliced cheese, ham, and fresh vegetables on the table.
You can put fruit canapés.
For dessert - cake pops and marmalade.

Option 3:

Bruschetta with butter and canned tuna.
Caesar salad in a glass.
Fruit and vegetable canapés.
Rolls with salmon and cream cheese.
Cupcakes, cookies and candies.

Buffet menu

Before you start drawing up the buffet menu, you need to find out how many guests there will be in order to prepare food and drinks in reserve, because if there is not enough for everyone, it will ruin the whole event (a satisfied guest will praise the buffet for two, and a dissatisfied guest will complain to ten). It’s a good idea to clarify whether there will be vegetarians among the guests and prepare a separate vegetarian menu.

Vegetarian buffet menu

The buffet menu should take into account:

Welcome aperitif for each guest - 50 ml.
For 1 guest you need at least 500-400 grams of various snacks and desserts.
A minimum of 500 ml of various non-alcoholic drinks is required per guest.
Minimum two cups of coffee or tea per guest.

When you are setting a table for a buffet, you must remember that cold appetizers are arranged so that:

They always served snacks in front of the guests, which did not lose their appearance and taste during the buffet table (1-2 hours).
Appetizers with mayonnaise, butter or spark are placed on the table last, so as not to overwhelm.
The serving size should be such that they can be easily pricked on a fork/skewer or taken by hand: canapés, tartlets, mini-sandwiches, bruschetta, cold cuts, mini-burgers, cheese slices, rolls, pancakes, portioned salads, pickles, fruits.

How to set a beautiful buffet table at work, photo

Make sure that guests also have access to tissues, sanitizers, drinks and plain water. To do this, it is better to buy small bottles of water or pour drinks into glasses in advance so that guests do not waste their time, but can immediately wash down their food.

Of course, the atmosphere at the buffet also plays an important role. Smiles, good mood and lively music will help you complement your holiday and celebrate it in the most interesting and fun way.

Where to order a buffet

If you don’t know how to correctly calculate the number of snacks for the number of guests, which side to put the cutlery on, and where it’s best to buy food for the buffet table, contact professionals - catering specialists. Such specialists know everything about how to properly organize a buffet. Including how to choose the optimal buffet menu for your guests, how to set the table beautifully and comfortably, and what dishes to serve first. In addition, you cannot do without catering specialists when organizing a large-scale buffet for a large number of guests.

One of the most popular catering companies in the capital is. Catering service employees offer their services for organizing a buffet table from start to finish. They will provide various menu options taking into account your budget, prepare delicious, mouth-watering buffet dishes, and deliver buffet tables, dishes and cutlery to your event. The cost of organizing a buffet is transparent. You can order a buffet for any budget, in any place and with any number of guests.

Catering specialists can organize both a small family or corporate buffet for several dozen people, as well as a large-scale buffet for an exhibition, conference or holiday. You receive impeccable service, only the highest quality dishes, individual menu development and table decoration to suit your requirements. At the same time, ordering a buffet completely eliminates the situation of unsuccessful organization, which beginners and non-professionals often encounter. These are situations when guests did not have enough food or utensils or when poor quality ingredients were purchased. Turning to professionals allows you to avoid such troubles, participate in the event and communicate with guests without being distracted by organizational issues.

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Types of buffet

A banquet-buffet can be of two types: a real buffet and a semi-buffet. In the first case, guests are not seated. Buffet tables are installed in one room. In the next room you can put the right number of chairs so that guests, tired, can still sit down. In the second case, several small tables are placed in the hall and guests are seated at them. After finishing the meal, small tables can be removed to provide more space for guests. In both cases, guests, as a rule, serve themselves, take extras if desired, and take used plates to a specially designated place.