Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have a kitchen island, borrow two card tables from the neighbors. Bam: a kitchen island.

Most people who don’t have kitchens big enough for islands don’t have kitchens big enough to set up card tables in. Are you really that isolated from the middle class?

Hi, literal minded, unresourceful one: how about two card tables set up in the living room, or even a long hallway, pushed against a wall? Honestly, do you ever try to be creative or resourceful?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we host a lot throughout the year and we have large number of people invited to any event. And we also do a lot of organized potluck meals. We almost always serve buffet style.

We mainly use chafing dishes to set food on islands or tables before the party starts so that we don't have to reheat. Refills are warmed in the oven and kept on a simmer. Appetizers are served in one area, entrees in another, desserts and drinks in yet another area - this keeps people from congregating in the same place. Elderly and kids go first and are served by able bodied adults. You can certainly have seperate seating areas for the comfort of kids and elderly when they are eating.

(In our social circle, it is common for a few moms to serve and feed all kids, in one place, at one time - before everyone else get to eat. Feeding children and elderly first is a community responsibility lol.) _

Another tip is that since we usually have a huge amount of extra food, there is never any danger of food running out. Which means that no one is jumping the line to get to food. We also keep a lot of tupperware (or disposable plastic containers) handy to pack leftovers. People who are interested in taking food home after the event can just pick up the disposable containers filled with food. This prevents the host from being stuck with lots of leftovers. It also gives most people a break from cooking the next day. Everything is taken care of.

Why moms? Are dads not invited? I thought it was a “community” responsibility, and the way you’ve painted it is women’s work.

Try and pull that stick out from your butt. Everything is not a gender war. What kind of community and family do you belong to?

Yes, it is usually the moms of younger kids who will herd the kids together and make sure they all eat. Dads usually get the heavier job of setting up the chairs and tables, filling the coolers with ice and drinks and taking out the trash/recycling. They also organizing outdoor games and man the grill most times. Happy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have a kitchen island, borrow two card tables from the neighbors. Bam: a kitchen island.

Most people who don’t have kitchens big enough for islands don’t have kitchens big enough to set up card tables in. Are you really that isolated from the middle class?

I don't understand the "lack of space" problem. The alternative to buffet style is that the host essentially walks through the kitchen as though it is a buffet making plates for people, right?

So just leave the food exactly where it would be for that to happen.

Anonymous wrote:When I’ve done fancy buffets for 20-50 people (I host a lot of showers) I put the food on my huge island in my kitchen. People go around both sides and then I have tables in my dining and living room. I normally put desserts on my dining room buffet. I still have rolls, salt and pepper and butter spaced out on the tables. Plus great centerpieces.

For smaller buffets I use my buffet in my dining room. I can fit about 5 dishes on there and the turkey/ham in the middle of the table.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.

Yep this is how it goes. Parents of young children eat last and hope there is enough to go around. It reminds me of that line in A Christmas Story "my mother hasn't had a hot meal for herself in 15 years". After you get everyone what they want, cut their food, and get them settled then you can fill your own plate if others aren't already making their way for seconds.

You guys have some paltry gatherings, and some unhelpful guests. I have two kids, and DH and I each make a plate for them and then go through the line. It doesn’t take that long to go through the line, even if there are 18 people or so. I’ve never NOT had a full, hot plate of food (and seconds) even when I was breastfeeding, and even when I was breastfeeding AND hosting. Those who ate earliest are willing to help do small things like hold a baby, refill a 5yo’s milk cup or whatever else a kid may need so that the parents can eat.

Big family with a lot of kids, some have 3, others up to 5. It's different for other people. 18 is a small gathering.

What’s your excuse for not making/buying enough food? After one such meal you would think that people would pitch in and bring, like, a Honeybaked ham.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.

Yep this is how it goes. Parents of young children eat last and hope there is enough to go around. It reminds me of that line in A Christmas Story "my mother hasn't had a hot meal for herself in 15 years". After you get everyone what they want, cut their food, and get them settled then you can fill your own plate if others aren't already making their way for seconds.

You guys have some paltry gatherings, and some unhelpful guests. I have two kids, and DH and I each make a plate for them and then go through the line. It doesn’t take that long to go through the line, even if there are 18 people or so. I’ve never NOT had a full, hot plate of food (and seconds) even when I was breastfeeding, and even when I was breastfeeding AND hosting. Those who ate earliest are willing to help do small things like hold a baby, refill a 5yo’s milk cup or whatever else a kid may need so that the parents can eat.

Big family with a lot of kids, some have 3, others up to 5. It's different for other people. 18 is a small gathering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.

Yep this is how it goes. Parents of young children eat last and hope there is enough to go around. It reminds me of that line in A Christmas Story "my mother hasn't had a hot meal for herself in 15 years". After you get everyone what they want, cut their food, and get them settled then you can fill your own plate if others aren't already making their way for seconds.

You guys have some paltry gatherings, and some unhelpful guests. I have two kids, and DH and I each make a plate for them and then go through the line. It doesn’t take that long to go through the line, even if there are 18 people or so. I’ve never NOT had a full, hot plate of food (and seconds) even when I was breastfeeding, and even when I was breastfeeding AND hosting. Those who ate earliest are willing to help do small things like hold a baby, refill a 5yo’s milk cup or whatever else a kid may need so that the parents can eat.

Big family with a lot of kids, some have 3, others up to 5. It's different for other people. 18 is a small gathering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.

Yep this is how it goes. Parents of young children eat last and hope there is enough to go around. It reminds me of that line in A Christmas Story "my mother hasn't had a hot meal for herself in 15 years". After you get everyone what they want, cut their food, and get them settled then you can fill your own plate if others aren't already making their way for seconds.

You guys have some paltry gatherings, and some unhelpful guests. I have two kids, and DH and I each make a plate for them and then go through the line. It doesn’t take that long to go through the line, even if there are 18 people or so. I’ve never NOT had a full, hot plate of food (and seconds) even when I was breastfeeding, and even when I was breastfeeding AND hosting. Those who ate earliest are willing to help do small things like hold a baby, refill a 5yo’s milk cup or whatever else a kid may need so that the parents can eat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.

Yep this is how it goes. Parents of young children eat last and hope there is enough to go around. It reminds me of that line in A Christmas Story "my mother hasn't had a hot meal for herself in 15 years". After you get everyone what they want, cut their food, and get them settled then you can fill your own plate if others aren't already making their way for seconds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

We aren't going to get past the grace thing on one of the holiest days of the year with some of our elderly family members. We just aren't.

I don't think we have enough counter space for that, and the logistics would mean the line going into and out of the kitchen would be through the same door. I just don't see how serving that many people off kitchen counters works in many houses.

We do grace before the first person goes through the buffet. If a person has mobility issues an able bodied person fills the mobility issues person’s plate for them and then goes back to fill their own plate. Parents tend to help the younger ones too.