Tips for Planning a Brunch for a Large Group
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If you find yourself elected to serving brunch for a family gathering or a large group of out-of-town guests, make it easy on yourself by using prepared foods and easy-to-handle items that satisfy varying tastes. Don’t forget to use food as part of the decoration to create a festive atmosphere. Here are a few tips for planning a brunch for a large group.
1. The Brunch Table
Finding the right amount of space is one of the most difficult parts of entertaining large groups. Keep the tables for serving food and set out clusters of chairs to allow people to congregate together while they eat. Make sure you have enough small, tables nearby for setting down drinks. Add plenty of color to your table decoration to create a festive note. Reds, yellows, oranges and primary blues and green make guests feel relaxed and comfortable. Put out plenty of napkins and flatware. Keep cups close to the beverage serving areas to limit foot traffic. Buy extra containers of condiments so guests don’t have to stand in line.
2. Breads and Pastries
Unlike great grandmothers years ago, hostesses don’t have to spend days in advance of the event cooking breads and pastries for large groups of family. Supermarkets offer a wide choice in breads, rolls, pastries and cakes for every occasion. Mix up hardy whole grains breads with more delicate, crusty rolls. Add a variety of pastries, but opt for the lighter, less calorie-laden types.
3. Proteins
You can find a number of prepared meat items that only require warming, slicing and serving. Use pre-cooked bacon, sausage or turkey to provide the protein part of your brunch menu. Large bags of pre-cooked shrimp and jarred cocktail sauce are available in many supermarkets. Spiral-sliced ham goes a long way in serving a big crowd and can be served with easily whipped-up scrambled eggs for gatherings on the early side of the brunch clock. Or the ham can be used to make sandwiches with bread and rolls. Provide the tomato slices, lettuce and a variety of condiments. Encourage your guests to get creative and have fun. You can also find pre-cooked eggs that can quickly be turned into deviled eggs.
4. Fruits
You can serve fruits for your brunch in a number of ways, including large bowls of apples, oranges, bananas and grapes set out to enjoy at will. Fruit cut into pieces and mixed together in a fruit salad is another easy and attractive way to provide a fruit component for your brunch. Cut up orange pieces, grapefruit, pineapple, bananas, strawberries and blueberries for a cheerful and tasty treat. This can be served in clear plastic bowls or cups to that the mixture of colors and textures offer a visual dimension.
