261371 Thu May 16 21:08:18 -0700 2002 7 26 International 0 1381136 For our friends across the pond, expats and any anglophiles out there I need some suggestions for "classic" english food that could be served for a large party - hot, cold, stations - but more finger food or very small plates - not a buffet meal. Eg: Small cones of fish fingers and chips, sheppard's pie mini tartlets, chocolate bisquit cake, What did your family serve to guests on special occasions? Thu May 16 21:08:18 -0700 2002 0 tigerwoman 1 1381148 None of these were served on 'special occasions' (at least not in my household ...) but classic party foods - kids b-days, granny's b-days etc included; mini sausage rolls, cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon and served on cocktail sticks (mmmmmmm) ... and of course cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off ! Fri May 17 08:13:01 -0700 2002 1381136 0 Alex 2 1381151 yes, definitely cucumber sandwices... bread cut paper thin... also big bowls full of wotsits and those prawn cocktail shell-shaped crisps for the real "6th birthday party" feeling. and stacks of cadburys fingers (me taking the gastronomy route here!) also cubes of dodgy chedder threated on a cocktail stick with tinned pineapple (surprisingly palatable) and marmite sandwiches if you can get the filling... nigella lawson has a nice variation where she creams the marmite with butter first cupcakes with the tops sliced off and halved, filled with whipped cream and the top bits put back on like little winds or rabbit ears rice crispy/chocolate cakes ok, so //definitely// not taking the culinary high ground... but sure you can reinvent all these in a posher fashion to suit cheerio j Fri May 17 08:52:36 -0700 2002 1381148 0 Jon Tseng 1 1381161 think I'd change the theme if I were you - can't remember ever having interesting party food in the UK. Great parties, but food wasn't the focus... Sat May 18 00:30:34 -0700 2002 1381136 0 torta basilica 1 1381173 Dear oh dear. British food doesnt have to be deliberately awful. These days people nibble at Italian antipasto and Spanish tapas at parties - at least in London. One idea might be to have a look at a couple of Modern British cookbooks - such as those by Gary Rhodes, Nigel Slater and Delia Smith (even the great obnoxious one who shall not be named has some useful recipes in his cookbooks) and adapt these for party food. Sun May 19 05:19:45 -0700 2002 1381136 0 Hallie 1 1381233 And of course vol au vents with either prawns in cocktail sauce or mushroom and chicken. Dont forget the scotch egg. With ' British 'food it depends how old you are to what you judge as traditional. Nowadays everyone like exotic cuisine Thai/Chinese and indian things such as mini onion bhajis, pakora; satay, prawns in paper, dim sum,. See the any Marks and Spencers food hall. But for they truely authentic feel egg mayonaise sandwiches with the mayonaise absored into the bread oh yes. The British often serve pastry things like sausage rolls cold, truely awlful, they should be heated. My mother does a lot of buffets for friends, fellow conservatives etc and she often does hot, a curry with all the trimings breads, cutneys or a chili con carne with garlic bread + salad. Well received by the crumblies finally a word of caution it is cheaper and easier to do a hot buffet that lots of small fiddly cocktail things. Enjoy Wed May 22 08:18:16 -0700 2002 1381136 0 Kat 1 1381638 As an earlier message has already said, the English dishes you mentioned are more "every day" English foods, not special occasion stuff. The problem with our food is that, whilst it can be really good if cooked well and with good ingredients, it doesn't lend itself to snacks at parties (with the notable exceptions of a few aforementioned nasties like vol au vents and cold sausgae rolls - mind you, with care and attention, and decent fillings, these too could be really tasty). If you are putting on a party for English people who are in the States and you want to serve them party food they will think of as English, I think you are on the right lines with mini shepherds pies etc, but it would also be great to serve some of the stuff we now sneer at, like those above - and you must have a grapefruit hedgehog (the cheese and pine apple chunks on cocktail sticks stuck into an upside down half grapefruit). Lots of good (and yes, there are plenty of them!!)English dishes could be adapted to a tapas type menu - hot roast potatoes, with salt and/or gravy served on the side; various stews, with lamb or beef; mini sausages (or decent big ones cut up) with onion gravy and a dollop of mash; rare roast beef canapes with horseradish; fish goujons in batter with tartare sauce; smoked fish pate, like mackerel or kippers; mini baked beans on toast! and, of course, don't forget smoked salmon. Good luck - I hope this isn't too late for you party. Sun Jun 09 13:48:21 -0700 2002 1381136 0 theresa 2 1381678 Just for fun - here is the final menu - remember it's a cross between British and American (mostly) • Britain's Best - Mini Yorkshire Puddings of Roast Beef, Horseradish Cream & Gravy • G & T Olives - Gin and Tonic Infused Giant Olives Wrapped in Puff Pastry • Maryland Crabcakes Drizzled with Wasabi Cream • Classic Two Bite Burger - Mini Opened Faced Angus Beef Burger with Pickle Chips & Heinz Ketchup • Sausage Sticks - Grilled Sage and Herb Bangers Skewered on a Pretzel Stick • Bloody Mary Shrimp Shooters - Passed in Vodka & Tomato Infused Shot Glasses • Stilton Bytes - Stilton and Sundried Cranberry in Puff Pastry • Rosemary Lamb Satay with Mint Jelly • Cows in the Comforter - Kosher Beef Hotdogs in Pastry with Ball Park Mustard Dip • American Gigilio Quesidilla - Grilled Cheese, Crispy Bacon, Tomato & Scallion -best grilled cheese ever!!! • Bagels and the Times - Bite Sized Bagels and Lox Served on the Sunday NY Times • Little Italy Mushroom Risotto Bundles - • Enchilada Tartlets - Southwestern Cheese and Chili Tartlets Fusion Food Stations Late Night Takeout Station, from NY to London and back - served in Chafing dishes and trays- plated in individual sized Chinese take out containers • Auntie Dai's Chicken Dumplings- • Stir Fried Veggies in Garlic and Black Bean Sauce • Chinese Fried Rice and Basmati Rice Pilaf • Brighton Fish and Chips - Served in Paper Cones • Pickled Eggs and Onions • Sassy Samosas - Crispy Piquant Samosas with Vegetarian Potato Fillings • Tandoori Chicken Masala Crudite Display with Cheese and Fruit Station Stilton, Green Sage Derby, Vermont Cheddar, Rondele, Grapes and Strawberries Sunday Lunch Station served from chafers and platters and plated in a Martini Glass Tex Mex Sheppard's Pie Roast Loin of Pork with Cranberry-Pear Relish Georgia Sweet Potato Anna Over the Pond Pacific Grilled Salmon with Bow Tie Pasta Cheesy Southern Corn Bread Vidalia Devilled Eggs I Scream You Scream We all Scream for ICE CREAM – make your own sundaes • Platters of Mini Cookies • Old Fashioned Creamy Ice Cream and Assorted Toppings – Hot Fudge, Sprinkles, Caramel, Fresh Fruit, Marshmellow Fluff, Nuts and Whipped Cream – Cones available Paradise… Because it's a Jungle Out There... Mon Jun 10 23:50:27 -0700 2002 1381638 0 tigerwoman