Half Time Habits By Jorj Morgan For all the beauty of the fall season, there is one thing that we cannot overlook. Fall means football and football means feeding football watchers. Here are a couple of fun ideas for your next football party. Buffet Table Basics If you want to feed your football-watching crowd, there is no better way than to offer the meal on a buffet table. A buffet table permits the guests to serve themselves from lots of platters of easy-to-eat, deliciously prepared food. Don't feel that you are limited to using your dining room table for your buffet. You can create an interesting presentation for your next football party anywhere that you please. How about using the island in your kitchen or the counter top next to the stove? A dining room sideboard or a family room bar makes an excellent buffet area. In warm weather an outside barbecue grill area provides a great treat. If the weather is inclement, set low tables in front of your big screen T.V. All work equally well when you envision your buffet. There are two tips that make any section of your home a great place to set a buffet. First, make the buffet accessible so that your guests aren't stumbling over each other. Secondly, begin at the beginning. Build the meal with each dish and be mindful of time outs and penalties when planning to serve. You certainly don't want to be forced into an overtime situation when you are in the lead. A great buffet line flows well. I bet you have been at parties where the table is set with duplicate food dishes on each side of a long table. A guest grabs a plate at one end of the table then works his way down either side. You know what happens. Some guest will stroll around the entire table so as not to miss a dish. Others collide at the opposite end and have to turn around - plates in hand - to avoid running into each other. Let's save the blocking for the field and prepare a winning game plan. Coach your football watchers to the proper starting location by placing all of the utensils, dishes, and napkins at the beginning of the buffet. For easy handling, you may consider wrapping utensils in napkins so they are easily held. We want to avoid fumbling when we have the ball! Place the wrapped utensils in a large basket at the front of the buffet for easy identification. Our game plan is to keep the players moving down field. The order of food platters on your buffet is designed to offer the ability to choose their favorite foods in portions that they desire. Layout the buffet as you would serve the meal. Salads - Serve fresh crisp salad greens in a chilled bowl. Salad dressings are placed next to the bowl so that every guests is able to view each available selection. Place a pepper mill nearby. Bread and Rolls - Next in line is the bread or rolls and the butter dish. Rolls that are to be used for sandwiches with a meat entrée such as turkey breast or tenderloin are pre-sliced and kept covered in a basket or large bowl. Entrée - Following the breadbasket is the entrée platter. You want your guests to know that they have hit the crescendo of the meal. The entrée platter should be lavish and well garnished in its presentation. Condiments and Sauces - Condiments are placed after the meat dish and usually served in decorative containers. Place a specialty sauce or rich gravy next to the entrée (not at the end of the buffet). Side Dishes - Set all of the side dishes after the main course. Scatter pairs of salt and peppershakers at several points on the table. Desserts - Your desserts outshine the final score of the game. Serve them separately or at the end of the game. Regardless of the score - we want a "W" in the Football Buffet Party column. For is a terrific buffet dish that is guaranteed to garner fan approval at your next football watcher's buffet party try Chicken Chili with Veggies Party Menus: • Football Favorites • Arm Chair Athlete's Party Jorj Morgan is the Lifestyle Director of BlueSuitMom.com and the author of At Home In The Kitchen, a cookbook due in spring 2001. Email Jorj at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your buffet party tips and recipes. We will share your ideas with other BlueSuitMoms.