Bar Party Food

[lawling]

Apologies if this has been discussed in detail before or if it should have been posted to the Food section.

I'd be interested to have views on the advisability or otherwise of eating some of the food served at bar parties. I'm sure that fruit and the likes of freshly roasted pork is usually safe enough but I wonder about things like chicken and stuff with mayonnaise that has been sitting around for a few hours in the heat and dust.

I have heard a few reports of people who had been violently ill blaming party food but on the other hand I've also heard that there are some guys who go the rounds every night looking for party food so that they don't have to fork out for a meal!

I usually come upon bar parties after I have already eaten an evening meal so I'm never tempted too much and if I eat anything it's usually bread or fruit.

[wileycoyote]

Personally,I always find the following tempting at parties and they can be eaten early/late :

Small chipolata sausages

Cubes of pineapple

Doritos or some other form of nachos with salsa

Good Luck

[Basil B]

Best people for advice on free bar food is the "Balloon chasers", very noticeable with there presence at any bar with balloons outside and a pig roast on the go.

They often will pass by any bar that is setting up a pig roast inquiring when it will be served, turn up 10 minutes before the alloted time, order the cheapest beer, and ask very loudly when the buffet will start, first in the queue when the buffet is served and when they have had enough to eat will soon clear off.

BB

[torrenova]

The standard fayre is pig on a spit as I am sure you are aware but I tend to get more easily manageable things like steamed prawns (freshly steamed and covered in film), covered rice dishes, any finger food is easily covered from the supplier. Western food is very popular if good quality but always left if cheap stuff. Again, it can all be covered.

I have never had a problem with it but I have refused to dine at some places.

Often what goes around best is a big bowl of chilli or something with rice, even stew as western food. Kept hot, no bugs, opened and eaten.

You'll find that the open dishes, Thai style with everything out in the open will tend to be the lower end of the cost budget. Thus no cling film, lack of utensils, cleanlines etc.

[Jimmyd]

Best people for advice on free bar food is the "Balloon chasers", very noticeable with there presence at any bar with balloons outside and a pig roast on the go.

They often will pass by any bar that is setting up a pig roast inquiring when it will be served, turn up 10 minutes before the alloted time, order the cheapest beer, and ask very loudly when the buffet will start, first in the queue when the buffet is served and when they have had enough to eat will soon clear off.

BB

How dare you insult me like that! I never arrive more than 5 minutes before serving time!

[Humphrey Bear]

Apologies if this has been discussed in detail before or if it should have been posted to the Food section.

I'd be interested to have views on the advisability or otherwise of eating some of the food served at bar parties. I'm sure that fruit and the likes of freshly roasted pork is usually safe enough but I wonder about things like chicken and stuff with mayonnaise that has been sitting around for a few hours in the heat and dust.

I have heard a few reports of people who had been violently ill blaming party food but on the other hand I've also heard that there are some guys who go the rounds every night looking for party food so that they don't have to fork out for a meal!

I usually come upon bar parties after I have already eaten an evening meal so I'm never tempted too much and if I eat anything it's usually bread or fruit.

I would suggest that most of the damage is caused by the drinks served with the food.

There are one or two caterers who supply a lot of the better bar parties, much better than do-it-yourself places. I used to attend parties at places where I was a known regular in days gone by - and there were too many of those! But nowadays there seem to be balloons outside one or other bar almost every night - one way to boost trade I suppose, but surely only if the food is a cheap selection.

Working in Saudi I can only dream of a pork roast. but sixteen days and counting .......

[tobyarnott]

I reckon some people can handle dodgy food better than others. I've never been sick after eating at a bar party but I have been after eating at some supposedly good restaurants in LOS and elsewhere.

I think you should use common sense though and avoid something that appears to have been sitting out in the open for about 5 or 6 hours.