https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:01:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787893 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:31:19 +0000 Mrs. D 2787893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom's dining room isn't large enough for a sideboard, and the kitchen counter would be too messy from cooking, so we put all the food on the table the same as my grandparents always did. Then we pass food around counter-clockwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787878 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:32:28 +0000 lioneyes 2787878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm hosting this year and will do dinner as buffet on the sideboard in our dining room, with a few sides (multiple bowls of cranberry and applesauce) on the table. The Turkey will be on the kitchen counter (so my dad has room to carve it) but the kitchen and dining room are open to each other. Probably will serve dessert and coffee in the living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787758 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 12:09:13 +0000 krispi 2787758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We typically do buffet style in the kitchen, make your plate, then eat in the dining room. Our family goes overboard and always cooks way too much food. Our holidays are potluck where everyone brings a few dishes. There's no way we could fit it all on the table and still have room to sit and eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787558 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 08:14:24 +0000 looch 2787558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I don't put things up for a vote, lol. If I am making it, I serve it how I want. Why not do the mac and cheese in the ramekins? I think that sounds fantastic.</p> <p>Your husband sounds like my brother, complicated when it comes to food. I wouldn't make two meats, I'd just skip the turkey and serve ham. But I am a renegade like that, I don't buy into "tradition for the sake of tradition." Next year, i plan to serve salmon en croute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787557 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 08:13:07 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2787557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: your menu is amazing!! :grin: Mac n cheese is required at our Thanksgiving and I wanted to bake and serve that first in little ramekins, which was vetoed. I am making a ham in addition to turkey (dry brine starts today!) because DH requests ham. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787554 Sun, 19 Nov 2017 07:43:52 +0000 looch 2787554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: My heritage is Italian, so pasta is expected, let me get that out there. We're also adventurous eaters and we typically do not have small children other than my son and nephew. Everyone knows that when they come to my house, I don't serve things family style and they know I will have some interesting choices, but the food will be good and to pace themselves.</p> <p>When people first arrive, I have two things out: goat cheese and fig jam pizza cut into squares and the Costco frozen appetizer assortment. I serve a mixed cocktail, I like to let guests dictate this so I usually ask my cousin to cover it and he goes to town.</p> <p>First course is either homemade lasagne or store-bought ravioli with a seasonal sauce, usually butternut squash. I plate that in the kitchen easily.</p> <p>I serve either roasted cornish game hens or turkey breast as the star of the second course. I do a family recipe stuffing, no idea if it's my aunt's creation or what. The potatoes are a mix of sweet and yukon, oven roasted. Then I do one vegetable, usually string beans, as I can blanch them ahead and reheat them in a frying pan with some olive oil and salt. That's the plate, it's either you get the whole bird or a piece of the breast, no discussion over pieces that they want. At the table, I pass cranberry sauce, both the jellied in the can that I love and the homemade compote style. I haven't been able to figure out gravy, so I buy it, but no one uses it because the brined breast is flavorful and moist. We also have a green salad and this is the only time we eat it at the end of the meal. My aunt started that.</p> <p>My family eats a ton of fruit, so we always serve it at gatherings. I do grapes cut into small bunches, clementines/mandarins and a nut and cheese platter. </p> <p>For dessert, I am a fan of individual servings, so I do Ina Garten's apple cranberry crumb in ceramic dishes. Those bake while we eat the food. If I am feeling up to it, I do a pumpkin cheesecake, because we like the flavors combined.</p> <p>If I had to do two main meats, that would complicate things, is there a reason why you do that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787544 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 22:57:37 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So the funny thing is, we bought the previous owners dining room set when we bought our house, which includes a matching buffet cabinet piece. But we have it currently in the living room full of board books. I guess we should move it over for the holidays! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787538 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 22:18:11 +0000 StrawberryBee 2787538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sideboard buffet! We're lucky if there are enough seats for everybody at the table #webefancy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787507 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 18:44:43 +0000 Mama Bird 2787507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do both - main dishes on the table, and whatever doesn't fit, on the side. The whole turkey makes a brief appearance, but then gets carved in the kitchen. </p> <p>@808love: ha! And is the turkey bigger than the dog? :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787504 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 18:31:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I feel you are both better hostesses than I am. Last time I made a turkey I’m pretty sure it was still a little pink. Forget plating things, I’ll be happy if everything is cooked appropriately. </p> <p>Also- clearly I picked my user name before I had kids. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787500 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 17:15:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2787500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: details, please.</p> <p>What’s on your menu and how are you serving it in courses? We are having two meats and four sides. I’m serving it all at once in part so the non-meat eaters can have a full plate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787490 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 16:31:38 +0000 looch 2787490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plate and then serve if I am in my own house as my kitchen is separate from the dining room.</p> <p>I make it a point to have a restaurant experience, the menu is thought out (appetizer, first, second, dessert courses) so that no one leaves hungry but also doesn't just stuff themselves silly. I have done it the other way (turkey with 1000 side dishes) and it's a waste of food in my family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787472 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 15:04:29 +0000 808love 2787472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Turkey is on the table so we can make sure the dog doesn’t run off with it. #truestory </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787468 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 14:49:00 +0000 Corduroy 2787468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is making me feel better. We always had the food on the tables for holidays growing up. I'm hosting and will have two fairly crowded tables. I was trying to figure out how to split all the food and make room on each table + have double the serving dishes. Buffet it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787453 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 13:47:36 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: yes to carving the turkey first! I never understand the old movies where the dad comes out and carved it at the table. Seems like a big mess to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787423 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 11:48:24 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2787423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Side table for most of the food. I like to have cranberry sauce and gravy on the table along with salt and pepper. I would have bread on the table too if I served it.</p> <p>Side note, I also carve the turkey before serving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787422 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 11:45:04 +0000 honeybear 2787422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buffet-style here, but that's mostly because I have a smaller dining table so once everyone is seated and has a place setting and wine/water, plus a couple of candlesticks and the gravy boat/salt and pepper, there's no more room! But I prefer having the food out of the way as a general matter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787411 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 11:02:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: both of our moms always put everything into serving dishes on the table for every meal. Now that I’m an adult I’m like- omg that’s so many extra dishes for every meal! Normal dinners at home are always served out of the pot it was made in on the stove. I don’t mind washing the extra serving bowls on holidays but that’s it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787410 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 10:51:27 +0000 Pollywog 2787410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I strongly prefer buffet style. I feel it goes a lot smoother and I actually get to set up my plate the way I want, as opposed to in the order dishes are passed. Plus I feel I spend all of my dinner passing food to someone who changed their mind/forgot something/wants seconds. Plus the hot/heavy bowls and their trivets are a pain to pass, especially with kids </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787409 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 10:34:57 +0000 MrsADS 2787409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All on the kitchen counter/sideboard/stove. This is the case for all meals, holiday or night. Nobody got time to wash a bunch of extra serving dishes!!</p> <p>My husband's family always puts everything on the table, holidays and for regular meals too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787407 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 10:21:06 +0000 jhd 2787407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually have food set up on kitchen islands or counters. This is because we often don’t all fit around the same table. If we are hosting something I use my sideboard as the dessert table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787405 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 10:17:41 +0000 youboots 2787405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A bit of both- bread, butter, sauces etc on the table. If we do family style it goes on the sideboard after the last person serves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787382 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 09:03:13 +0000 mrsrain 2787382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always done it buffet/sideboard style, both growing up and now as we host it. I like leaving the table free of food clutter and having a centerpiece. I also keep a few things on the table that people might want more often, like salt and pepper, butter, and wine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787381 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 09:00:02 +0000 SweetiePie 2787381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Middle of the table is what we always did when it was just my nuclear family. For bigger get togethers (my mom is one of 7 kids) it was done buffet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787377 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 08:28:14 +0000 Jennibenni 2787377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like it off the table and set up as a buffet line. Then people don’t have to stop eating to pass the potatoes or whatever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/holiday-dinners-food-on-table-or-sideboard#post-2787376 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 08:23:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 2787376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally random and vitally important question. </p> <p>For holiday dinners, do you put all the food in the middle of the table, family style, or have t on a nearby sideboard or counter to leave space on the table? </p> <p>I always had it in the middle of the table but it gets crowded if you have a lot of side dishes! </p>