Buffet Style

I live in New Jersey which should now be known as the Buffet State instead of the Garden State. I've seen this foodie phenomenon grow here in the last ten years. Every town has at least one all you can eat restaurant. It's a great premise really and one that can be adapted to your party style.

Most hosts and hostesses always serve just two or three dishes at a party. This is great but it kind of limits guests to dishes or tastes that they may not like. Follow what the buffets do - have many platters with a variety of vegetables and dips. You can also have that childhood classic - English muffin pizzas but put an adult spin on them. Have guests create their own toppings with olives , cooked shredded beef or chicken and different grated cheeses. You can also cut up some broccoli, cauliflower and onions for a raw food pizza. (Just bake the muffin slices with only a drizzle of olive oil and tomato on them).

For the main course serve smaller variations of party food. Chicken wings are a party saver as are any kind of kebabs. Everyone loves rice and pasta so make three to four smaller dishes of each . Salads are another good addition. You can make traditional potato and macaroni ones or try somehting new with arugula, or field greens. Since the warmer weather is coming grill your buffet. Guests love the season's bounty when it's been roasted over a fire. Because you want to mingle with your company also appoint a couple of sous chefs (or sous grillers in this case) to relieve you.

Desserts can be a fun cornucopia of easily made cobblers, ice creams and ices. If you're thinking about a big summer blow out stop by your local Rita's Ice and pick up party buckets in two or three flavors. You can let guests make parfaits with the different flavors, using ice and fresh fruit. Also a few quarts of just berries are a nice dessert topper as well.

Buffet style is easy to adapt to any party, especially summer ones. Just use your creativity to invent something that will rival the all you can eat ones in your neighborhood.

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