Cohousing-L Mailing List: Buffet vs. Family-style common dinners

[Joani Blank (jeblank]

Family-style serving is preferable to buffet most of the time. One negative
of buffet style that hasn't been mentioned yet is the specter of 40 people
waiting in line especially a line that has come to a dead stop for a few
minutes because something on the serving table needs to be replenished.

The extra dishes problem is/are a small price to pay for the friendliness
of family style eating.

But let's not be dogmatic about it. Hybrids are perfectly acceptable.  For
example, bread, salad, side dishes, veggies, butter, condiments, etc. can
be on each table and just the main dish on a buffet table. Or the main
course for vegetarians or meat eaters (whoever is in the minority) can be
on a buffet table. Or everything but desert can be on the main table, and
people can pick up their coffee and dessert on a buffet table.  

Joani Blank