5 Tips for Setting up a Holiday Buffet

We have a huge family, and when we get together to celebrate the holidays, we always set up our food buffet style. Setting up a buffet allows for a better flow of the food and ensures that all your dishes will be accessible and visible for selecting with ease. Here are a few of my favorite tips that I use to set up a successful buffet for the holidays.

Tip One: Decide on your Menu

I love cooking traditional Thanksgiving dishes; however, over the past few years, my family has enjoyed me incorporating a few nontraditional options. If you are looking for some delicious new fall dishes, check them out here!

Tip Two: Select your Serving Dishes Ahead of Time

Shop your china cabinets, entertainment closet or your relative’s home to find the dishes to house the items on your menu. Taking the time out to do this activity will decrease the risk of you running out of platters for your food, and it is also a huge time saver. If you are interested in how to create a beautiful buffet; check out my process from start to finish here.

Tip Three: Create a Drink & Dessert Stations in a Separate Space

Creating drink and dessert stations in a separate space will aid in keeping the flow seamless. I often like to create a drink bar that is easily accessible for guests throughout the entire meal and a dessert station that serves as eye candy until guest are ready to enjoy. If you would like to create a dessert station for your family this year; check out my tutorial here.

Tip Four: Determine the Flow of Your Buffet

Determining the flow of your buffet is essential for creating a seamless experience. I always like to start my buffet with plates and cutlery, followed by the meats and side dishes. In short, I set up my buffet from hot to cold ending with salads and breads.

Tip Five: Style and Label your Dishes

Styling and labeling your dishes is not only a beautiful way to put a spin on your buffet this holiday, but it is also a precautionary measure for your guest who may have severe food allergies. Labeling your buffet allows your guest to see clearly what is being served so that they can choose wisely and safely.

If you are entertaining a huge crowd this holiday; nothing beats the ease and comfort of setting up a buffet. I hope that you all enjoyed my top five tips for setting up a holiday buffet and found a few of them helpful. Please let me know which tip you will be incorporating this holiday season in the comments below! Until next time!

Cheers!

Melanie