One of the biggest hassles of inviting people over for a meal is deciding on the menu. In these days of strong dietary preferences, catering to varied food requirements can be tough. What happens if you have vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians and lactose intolerant all together at the same table? Even having a single person with a specific dietary requirement can be a pain – you can’t treat them as second-rate guests and offer just a dish or two when the other guests have so much more to choose from. Additionally, increasing the size of the menu to cater to all food demands will only add to the preparation time and leave you exhausted before your guests arrive.

But what if there is a way to serve up a great meal that is easy to prepare, will be loved by everyone and which will cover almost all food preferences? No, it is not too good to be true.

A Mediterranean Meal - The Perfect Entertaining Option

A buffet is the ideal way to serve Mediterranean food. The main components of the cuisine look great when laid out on a buffet table – the varied colors and textures are all eye-catching and inviting. Because the cuisine is based on either serving from a large bowl or involves bite-sized portions to be taken from a platter, a buffet is a great way to serve it as guests will be able to see all the food and try as much as they want. Mediterranean food revolves around vegetables, fruits, legumes, seafood, and white meat, with a steak added for good measure. There are both hot dishes and cold ones and it's easy to cater to the lactose intolerant, vegetarians, vegans and others who have specific food needs.

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Also Read: Healthy Foods for Hot Weather 

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The Menu

• A selection of salads is a great way to get the meal started. All kinds of vegetables with cottage cheese and olive oil-based dressing will make it easy for everyone to get started. Carrot sticks, asparagus and so on with a few simple dips are a great way to stimulate appetite.
• Fish and shellfish are staples of Mediterranean food so take advantage of the variety of ways by which you can cook them. Lamb or beef kebabs with zatar bread or manakeesh will take care of those who don’t eat seafood. Cold roast chicken is always welcome. Brown rice risotto, gnocchi with braised fennel, asparagus, spinach, sweet potatoes, eggplant roulades and other vegetable dishes in platters will keep vegetarians and vegans happy.
• Have lots of condiments available on the table so that food can be spiced up to meet individual tastes. Bowls of olive oil, red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar along with parmesan and feta cheeses and bowls of different types of olives will be more than enough. Don’t forget the spicy Greek yogurt - tzatziki.
• For dessert, you can offer a variety of fruits which are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine. In addition, you can have baklava, tiramisu, flan and biscotti on the table.
• End the meal with espresso, cappuccino, and some dessert liqueurs.

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Also Read: Mediterranean Cookies in San Mateo | Mediterranean Syrup Sweets 

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Your Mediterranean buffet will cater to all tastes and leave your guests full and happy awaiting the next invitation to your home. Best of all - it's so easy to prepare! You can find all that you need for the meal at a Mediterranean grocery, either in the produce section or the deli.

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