To prepare the table for a buffet it is important to plan in advance, in order to obtain the best aesthetic and practical result. The buffet will be the center of your event, and therefore it is worth investing a little time and energy to make it inviting. Read the steps below to find out how to set the table for a successful buffet.
Steps
Step 1. Place the buffet table in the right position
It must be clearly visible, but not in the way. If you plan to have many guests and the room is large enough, place it away from the walls so that it is accessible from both sides.
Step 2. Think ahead about how to arrange the food on the table so that you don't have to waste time rearranging it
Decide which direction you want your guests to follow to take the dishes and various foods. It is good to arrange the courses on the table in a logical way, following the order of a meal (appetizers and salad followed by first courses, etc.). Finish the journey with the cutlery and utensils wrapped in napkins.
Step 3. Arrange some of the serving trays higher than others to make them more easily visible and accessible
Doing so will also give a nice aesthetic touch and make your table more lively. You can use boxes or containers covered with tablecloths as support bases (make sure the containers are strong enough). Do not overdo the height: doing so will make the table chaotic, and it could even be dangerous. The height variations in the arrangement of the dishes should be slight.
Step 4. Decorate the table with elements that reflect the occasion for the buffet, or the current season, but do not overdo it
Attention must always be first of all captured by food, and ideally the decorative elements must enhance its appearance, not hide it and visually "suffocate" it. Create a themed centerpiece using fruit, flowers, decorative elements, and candles, and then pick up on this theme elsewhere on the table. It is best if possible to use edible foods and decorations, for example lemons, lemon leaves and cinnamon sticks. Avoid sprinkling glitter or other inedible decorative elements on the table - they could end up on the plates.
Step 5. Arrange all the plates and empty trays that will be used for the buffet on the table, in order to get an idea of the final result
By doing this you can check that the aesthetic result is to your liking, that the elevated trays are safe and that everything is easily accessible. You can also make sure you have all the plates and trays you will need for the various parts of the buffet.
