Whether you’re having a Sunday brunch, Mother’s Day breakfast, a special Valentine’s Day/Easter, Passover or other breakfast spread for family, friends or even coworkers; you’ll want to have a nice breakfast that everyone can enjoy at their leisure. Besides a no-fuss menu, you’ll need some serving pieces. You’ll also want it to clean up quickly so you can enjoy yourself too! If you have a counter, sideboard, sofa table, buffet table or even a conference table you can quickly make a beautiful display with a variety of foods on a self- serve buffet. Here is a list of items that you will want to consider having on hand:
- · 2-4 Trays (oval, square and/or round) all the same color
- · Serving bowl
- · 3-Tiered stand or cake stands
- · Spatula, tongs and pie server
- · Punch bowl/ladle or pitchers for juice (depending on how many people you are expecting)
- · Glasses
- · Napkins
- · Forks
- · Small plates
- · Card holders and place cards to mark what the items are on the buffet
- · Table Runner
- · Warming plate(s)
- · Coffee and mugs with cream and sugar bowls, stir rods or small spoons (this can be set in another area if there is not enough room on the buffet)
- · Champagne bucket and glasses (optional for mimosa’s)
Prior to the breakfast (can be up to a couple days before), you’ll want to lay down the table runner to dress up the buffet area and protect it from getting scratched. Pick a color that will go with your theme. Then set out the 3-tiered stand or cake stands on one side and the punch bowl or pitchers on the other side to create balance. I like using stands to create a more interesting visual display than having everything laid out flatly. Set the warming plate(s) in the back, just off center. If you are having both a punch bowl and pitchers, put those on opposite ends and put the stands in the center towards the back. Then set out the trays in the center towards the front. Set out the napkins and forks on one side and glasses on the other near the pitchers/punch bowl. Fill out the place cards ahead of time or place those in the holders near the appropriate serving dish so guests will know what the items are. Put all serving utensils on their appropriate tray, plate, or bowl.
If this is for an office party, whoever is bringing in food, can set their items on the appropriate serving pieces on the buffet the morning of the breakfast.
The night before, you can put all pastries out and cover with plastic to keep them fresh. Put the juice in pitchers and put those (as well as champagne if you choose to serve it) in the fridge. Put fresh fruit in the bowl and refrigerate if necessary. Prepare your favorite breakfast casserole (but don’t cook yet) and refrigerate. Thaw any frozen items and place in the fridge. Put out a slim vase with 1-3 stems of your favorite flower in the back of the buffet.
The morning of the breakfast, preheat the oven, get out all fruit and juices and place on the buffet. Uncover the pastries and make the coffee. Put the casserole in the oven and cook any hot foods that you plan on serving (eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, pancakes, etc.). If you have early risers, they can help themselves to a nice continental breakfast before or while you are cooking. Otherwise, you can count on the rest of your party waking up as soon as they smell the coffee and breakfast cooking! Put out the rest of the hot food and enjoy!
Bon Appétit!
Karen
