Buffet ideas?!
Answers: as any one got any ideas for a buffet apart from the normal stuff it is for a residential home for the elderly thanks
Also do some sweet things, like mini jam or lemon curd tarts, mini egg custards small things, as you will always get older folk saying 'I don't eat a lot' don't put too much on my plate, but you can guarantee they will always have room for a 'wee cake'
wow...I'm doing one of those tomorrow...lol
I'm doing all the basic boring stuff..traditional like....and then I'm adding samosas,onion bahjis,veg pancake rolls....lots of spicy stuff....these are mostly for me and the other staff..lol
Well they do like a HOT meal, so avoid anything like cold meats and sandwich things. How about a chicken dish, chicken marsala, or chicken with artichoke hearts and lemon. It would be best if the chicken were in small pieces, so they dont have to cut it.
There are many many easy potato casserole recipes that are quite easy. If you decide to go the Honey baked spiral cut ham, make sure the slices and cut in half. The elderly love to eat though they dont eat much.
sandwiches, sausage rolls, cheese and pineapple, brushetta, pin wheel sandwiches, crisps, dips and old people always love fruit cake!!
Mini versions of meals - mini yorkshire puds with beef in, mini burgers, mini hot dogs,
Big pan of stew or soup (homemade veg or pea & ham) to warm the residents cockles!
Fish and chips.
Ask the residents what food they like to have at parties, they will prob come up with some interesting ideas!
Just add a twist to the usual things - eg instead of sausage rolls have sausages wrapped in puff pastry.
Or have a theme - eg tea party, wartime etc.
Have fun xx
Most of the elderly would enjoy comfort foods... macaroni and cheese, muffins, cornbread, potato or rice dishes, that green bean casserole, yams, and lots ff sweets. I wouldn't go too fancy with artichokes or kiwi or salmon with orange curry.
Get the residents involved. A week or two before the buffet, prepare a flyer and distribute it to the residents, advertising the buffet. Ask them if they can think of a dish they'd like see, to write it down. If they have a recipe, or their children have a recipe, ask them to attach a copy of the recipe.
When you prepare the dish and set it out, set a placecard near the dish, indicating what it is, and who it's "from." Sure, the residents may not be allowed to cook the food themselves, but they'll feel involved if their name is attributed to some dish, since some of them may no longer be able to cook for themselves or their families, and some have families who live too far away to visit them on the holidays. They'll know that someone still gets to enjoy their dish.
When you prepare the final flyer, reminding the residents when the buffet dinner is, indicate what dishes will be available, and who they're "from".
A word of advice though: Some residents may submit duplicates. The best advice I can offer is choose the recipe that looks the easiest to make, and will be adjustable to feed a larger group. When you prepare the flyer, be sure to give honorable mention to all those who submitted recipes, even if they didn't make the cut.
Maybe even hold a contest, where everyone who submits a recipe will get a free "prize", like a $5 gift card to Wal-Mart, and those whose recipes make the final cut and will be prepared will get a $20 Wal-Mart gift card.
You have to take into account a bunch of things sice it is for elderly. A lot of them have dietary restrictions or they cant chew and swallow that well. I would do a soft fish dish like salmon, a chicken dish like lemon chicken, rolls, salad, a pasta like something plain with marinara sauce. You should also have steamed vegetables with a little butter. Dont use too many spices as a lot of them dont like it or they cant eat spicy foods. Good luck!
