N.Calvin
Have you ever heard of buffet finger foods? The option is sophisticated and practical to serve delicacies during any style of party.
And if you still don’t know this style of buffet, or are in need of ideas to build a finger foods menu, it’s time to read the post and learn more about this style of serving and see amazing ideas.
What is a Finger Foods Buffet?
The translation of finger foods is “eating with your hands”, and that is exactly the idea of this style of serving.
Finger foods involve the idea of food and appetizers that can be picked up by hand and do not require the use of cutlery when eating.
Although the mini snacks allow this idea of “eating with your hand”, the finger food style enters into a version of more sophisticated snacks that are served by waiters throughout the event.
How and When to Serve?
The finger foods buffet is wild for any event, and can be used on a menu alone, being a single style of food throughout the event. In this case, the ideal is cocktail-style parties, which are more practical, and events that are not at lunch or dinner time; that’s because guests can feel hungrier at these times. As such, finger food is a great choice for late afternoon events and weddings, or mid-morning brunch.
Another option to include finger foods in the menu is to mix the option with a dinner; leaving this style freer to serve only as an antecedent to dinner. The ideal time to serve finger food during the party is before dinner, which can work as appetizers.
The use of finger foods as a menu or part of it is super adaptable and therefore the style can be used in any type of party, such as:
- get togethers
- weddings
- Children’s parties
- birthdays
- Between others
The main tip to adapt what will be served finger food style, is to focus on the type of party and the main guests, and thus create options for delicacies that please the palate of the public present at the celebration.
Finger Foods Ideas
There are several options and styles of how to serve delicacies to eat with your hands, and if you are in need of ideas and inspiration, let’s go to a selection of snacks and ways to serve.
in the cup
If you’re planning a Mexican-themed party, you can include local dishes at the event, and one of the ideas is mini bowls with guacamole and crispy corn tortilla, which doesn’t require the use of silverware to pick up the antipasto.
Among the appetizers served in a cup and finger food style, the idea here is a mix of cherry tomatoes and seasoned mozzarella pieces. In this case, it is necessary to serve the appetizer with a fork.
Oh, and despite being a very simple appetizer, the fact of serving it in a small glass makes it more sophisticated.
More ideas
Basil leaves make food refreshing
on the toothpick 
Another interesting proposal to serve finger food style foods is to make skewers.
And with this idea, the bet was to assemble the skewer with half a cherry tomato at the base, basil leaf and seasoned buffalo mozzarella.
The chopsticks can also be the basis for a mini snack, as in this idea. Here the snack on a stick was made with cherry tomatoes, basil, the bread replaced by puff pastry sheets and as a filling the bet was to use cold cuts.
More ideas
The toothpick adds charm to the appetizer
In the pot / crockery spoons
Some containers already bring the idea of food served in the finger food style, and an example of this are these ceramic pots that bring the golden curd cheese skewer, with honey and pepper.
The pots, in addition to making the food look more sophisticated, also make it easier for guests to help themselves.
A slice of boiled egg decorates the top of the couscous
Still on the idea of finger food containers, the proposal here is the mini crockery pans, which bring mini couscous, as an idea of a hot dish served as an aperitif.
More ideas
The shredded meat was served in mini pans
The ceramic spoon enhances the way food is served
In bread/toast
The idea of hand held food allows for countless variations and recipes, and in this proposal the idea is very simple and easy to make.
As a delicacy, the bet was to make mini bread rolls with cold cuts. And to keep the snacks rolled up, a chive was used to hold each delicacy.
As an inspiration for finger food starters, the bet here was to assemble a filling with cold cuts on top of each slice of bread or toast.
More ideas
Salmon petals form a flower in the appetizer
Of sweets
When the subject is finger foods menu, soon one imagines a selection of savory foods, but the idea can go further and even make the sweets part of the party hand food style.
As an idea for the sweet menu, the proposal here is mini churros on a stick and dipped in little cups with melted chocolate.
If the idea is to make a healthy party menu, the sweets can be replaced by fruit, and in this idea the fruits were cut and served in small cups.
More ideas
The classic candy skewer was served in a small cup with melted chocolate
Snacks
In the list of savory snacks for finger food, one of the ideas is to make the appetizers fast food style, and following this proposal, the menu here includes mini burgers mounted on sticks, making it easier for the guest to help themselves.
Even the traditional party snacks can follow this trend of the menu to eat by hand, and in this proposal the sausage snack was mounted on a skewer.
More ideas
The cold meat roll with skewer is a different way to serve cold meats at the party
The glass of fries was served with ketchup on the bottom
Shepherd’s pie
A classic of finger foods are the “escondinhos” served in mini platters, which perfectly replace an appetizer.
And as an idea for the menu, this mini-escondidinho is made of crab, which makes the menu more refined.
In this case, it is necessary to offer a small spoon together.
Another inspiration for the Escondidinho is this version, which gains even more prominence due to the crispy cabbage on top, which gives elegance to the dish and adds a crunchier texture.
More ideas
The hideaway was au gratin
The green leaf adds an extra touch to the dish’s decoration
Japanese
If you fall into the category of Japanese food lovers, you can include oriental cuisine as part of the hands-on buffet.
Among the ideas, the proposal here was to use toasts as a base for very traditional dishes of Japanese culture, such as sushi; thus dispensing with the use of individual plates.
Another idea to transform the menu is to make deconstructed temaki in little cups, as in this proposal. The result is delicious and you can serve temakis in a simple way during the celebration.
More ideas
The sushi was served in mini plates
The ceramic pots serve as support for Japanese treats
Is finger food buffet cheaper?
This is a question that doesn’t have a concrete answer, and that’s why the word “depends” is what best defines it.
If the menu is for an event only of finger foods at brunch or mid/late afternoon, it may be a more affordable option, but this will also depend a lot on the delicacies served.
Options with fish roe, seafood and more exotic ingredients tend to make the menu more expensive, but there are many other economical and delicious options that can be part of the hand meals and thus be a cheap and delicious menu option!
How to Make a Finger Food Buffet: Easy Recipes
For those who want to follow simple ideas to create treats to eat with your hands, we’ve separated perfect and easy recipes so that you can create a delicious menu!
- In a container mix cream cheese with chopped green scent (scallions, mint and parsley). Season this mixture with salt and pepper and set aside;
- Cut cucumber slices and use a mold to reshape the cucumber slices;
- Place the cucumber as a base, a thin slice of radish on top and the seasoned cream cheese on top.
Now that you know the buffet style finger foods, you can already consider the menu for the party and serve delicious delicacies, whether at the wedding, birthday or even at a small meeting with friends.
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