How to plan a menu for a cold buffet?

10. 02. 2022 Cold buffet - menu full of delicious and original dishes

Are you still deciding what dishes to serve at your buffet? Do you have no idea what to choose for a cold buffet to pleasantly surprise your guests? In this article, we will introduce you to typical, but also unusual dishes that are suitable for a cold buffet. We will also inform you about what our catering offers and how we handle cold buffets.

What is a cold buffet?

Studený raut je nedílnou součástí rautového pohoštění. Jedná se o studené pokrmy, které se podávají jako předkrmy, snacky v průběhu dne, a především na večerním rautu. Nejčastěji se používají sýry a uzeniny vysoké kvality, vejce, maso, ryby, mořské plody, ovoce i zelenina ať už syrová nebo tepelně zpracovaná. Studený raut je vhodný především na firemní akce a večírky, coffee break, kongresy a konference. Na delší nebo slavnostní večer je ideálním řešením doplnit studené pokrmy teplým jídlem a nabídnou tak hostům bohatý výběr těch největších dobrot. Zajímá vás, jaké pokrmy jsou vhodné pro teplý raut? Podívejte se na náš článek, který se teplému rautu věnuje podrobněji.

What are the appropriate dishes for a cold buffet?

Any cold buffet menu should include variations of popular chicken and pork mini-sausages and sandwiches, as these timeless classics are the foundation of a successful buffet. But you should also surprise guests with modern dishes. Try serving a roast beef sandwich in bread, mini burgers with jerked meat or duck breast, English roast beef or tartare with bread chips. Salads, spreads and platters of cheese and quality cold cuts usually complement any cold buffet. Don't forget to serve side dishes with your food.

For example, our menu includes chickpea hummus spread, cheese and ham spread, tapenade of sun-dried tomatoes and herb curd, duck rilletes with confit red onion and pork belly spread with cumin and marjoram. For salads, you can choose from mozzarella with tomato and basil pesto, Chopped salad, mixed vegetables and fruit salad depending on the season. We can serve local chateau bread, banquet bread with poppy seeds and sesame seeds or multigrain bread with the buffet.

We highly recommend trying the popular Finger foods - dishes that you can take away and eat anywhere. For inspiration, we offer beef tenderloin carpaccio with parmesan and rocket, smoked salmon, duck liver pate, pollo tonnato, marinated prawn, caesar salad with chicken or roast pork flank.

Jednohubky na studený raut od profesionální cateringové společnosti
Flying buffet

Our tips for completing the buffet menu

  • canapés - small appetizers with ham, cheese, garlic, smoked salmon, roast beef, duck breast or beetroot and goat's cheese
  • ice cream bar - rolled gluten-free ice cream without artificial colours and preservatives, handmade in the original Italian way (lavender, coconut, vanilla, salted caramel, pistachio, lemon, strawberry)
  • chocolate fountain with fruit
  • cheese fondue - Raclette cheese, grenaille chips, tomatoes, pickles, peppers and onions

Benefits of a cold buffet

Compared to a hot buffet, a cold buffet has many advantages. The dishes can be prepared from raw vegetables, which can be used to create interesting, colourful and varied snacks. Cold buffet dishes can be served at any time of the day and within a longer time from creation, up to two days. The advantage of simple dishes is that they are quick to prepare and save energy. The dishes do not need to be heated, so there is no need to provide warming trays.

Disadvantages of a cold buffet

A cold buffet is not suitable to be served on its own at weddings and other major events. In such cases, you should always complement it with a hot buffet, which will enhance the level of your event. Hungry guests will appreciate it. A small disadvantage may be the less pronounced aroma for some gourmets.

What is the right place to choose for a banquet

For a perfect banquet, you need the right atmosphere. A banquet should be served in a comfortable space that is suited to it. Banquets in companies and institutions are most often held in conference rooms or halls. At weddings, there are usually a few more options. In the summer months, of course, a banquet can be held outdoors, for example in a tent or on an outdoor terrace.

If you cannot find a suitable place for your social event in the vicinity of Chlumec nad Cidlinou or Prague, we will be happy to help you with the choice of space. We can arrange a banquet for any occasion. In addition to a wedding, it can also be a birthday party, a corporate party or event, a garden party, a congress or conference and many others.

If you wish to have a different venue, don't worry. We will cook, prepare and deliver everything to the location of your choice. We routinely cater in the surrounding area of Chlumec nad Cidlinou in parts of the Central Bohemia, Pardubice and Hradec Kralove regions, within about an hour's drive.

Would you like to arrange a cold buffet from our company?

Whether you choose our cold, hot, vegetarian or wedding buffet, do not hesitate to contact our company. On our blog you will find information on other types of buffets. But we do not only deal with buffets. We are also specialists in banquets, receptions, banquets and fine dining experiences.

If you would like vegetarian or vegan dishes, or if someone has any health restrictions, please do not hesitate to let us know. We will accommodate all requests so that everyone can be catered for and every guest can enjoy.

We offer a range of additional catering services that you can take advantage of. Some of the services we provide include assistance with food and venue selection, professional service at all times by our expert staff, food preparation using quality ingredients, final clean up and more.

Would you like to organize a social event in cooperation with our first-class catering?

Author of the article

Eliška Procházková
Eliška Procházková

I graduated from a general high school and now I am studying at a university in Brno. My major is economics and management. I like sports, music, movies and I like to spend my free time with my friends.

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We cook with love,
we serve with passion

What could be more beautiful than preparing delicious dishes from selected ingredients and then serving them to guests? We love our work and pride ourselves not only on serving the perfect menu, but also on the overall impression of the event. Satisfied smiles are our greatest reward.

Chateau Catering Team

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