Ordering buffet food is one of those jobs that sounds simple until you sit down to do it. Order too little and guests are left hovering over an empty table. Order too much and you are sending trays of sandwiches home in cling film.
Whether you are planning a christening in Barnet, a birthday in Chingford or an office lunch in Enfield, the right quantity comes down to a few simple questions about your guests and your event.
What Type Of Event Are You Catering For?
The biggest factor in how much food you need is whether the buffet is the main meal or something to keep guests going.
A buffet served at lunchtime or early evening, where guests will not be eating elsewhere, needs to be treated as a proper meal. A buffet laid out mid-afternoon or alongside drinks at an evening do can be lighter, because people will have eaten beforehand or will eat later.
As a general guide, a light finger buffet works well with around eight to ten items per person, while a buffet that replaces a meal is better planned at twelve to fifteen items per person.
An item might be a sandwich quarter, a mini quiche, a sausage roll, a skewer or a samosa. If your event runs over several hours, lean towards the higher end, as guests tend to return to the table more than once.
Timing matters more than you think
When your buffet is served has a big effect on appetite. Guests arriving at a wake straight after a service, or colleagues breaking for lunch at one o’clock, will usually be hungry and eat more.
A buffet served at three in the afternoon at a baby shower or anniversary tea is likely to be grazed on rather than eaten as a meal.
Evening parties sit somewhere in between. If your party starts at seven and food comes out around eight or nine, most guests will have had dinner, so a generous finger buffet is usually enough. If the food is served early in the evening and there is dancing and drinking afterwards, plan for more.
Think about who is coming.
Your guest list shapes your quantities too. Children usually eat less than adults, so for a children’s party, around five or six items per child is often plenty, alongside fruit and a treat. Teenagers, on the other hand, can easily out-eat adults, so it is worth planning for full portions for them.
Corporate events have their own patterns. For an office lunch in Enfield or a meeting in Barnet, attendees tend to want something substantial but quick, so a mix of sandwiches, wraps, salads and a few hot or savoury bites works well.
For a working lunch, allow for everyone to eat a full plate, as people rarely leave room for a second meal later in the day.
Getting the balance right
A good buffet is about variety as much as it is about volume. Rather than doubling up on a single popular item, spread your quantities across savoury, fresh, and sweet options so every guest finds something they enjoy.
A balanced finger buffet will usually include sandwiches or wraps as the base, a selection of savoury bites such as quiches, pastries and skewers, something fresh such as salads, crudités or a fruit platter, and one or two sweet items per person to finish.
If you are catering for a mix of dietary needs, make sure vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly options are included in proportion to your guests rather than as a single token plate.
Should you order extra?
It is sensible to allow a small margin, especially if your guest numbers are not confirmed. Adding around ten per cent covers unexpected arrivals and guests who go back for seconds.
For events where numbers are hard to predict, such as open house parties or wakes, a slightly larger margin can give you peace of mind.
Your caterer will be able to advise on this based on the event. Experienced caterers see the same patterns time and again and can tell you whether your order looks right for the occasion.
Planning a buffet in Enfield, Barnet or Chingford
At Cleous Bites, we help customers across Enfield, Barnet, Chingford, and the surrounding areas plan buffets for every kind of occasion, from children’s parties and christenings to funerals, baby showers and corporate lunches.
Tell us how many guests you are expecting, when the food will be served and any dietary requirements, and we will recommend quantities that suit your event and your budget.
Everything is freshly prepared and delivered to your door, so all you need to do is enjoy the day. Get in touch for a quote or download our menus to start planning.