Serving food buffet style at an event is so much easier and cheaper than plating food up
. It also gives guests the opportunity to eat what they want to eat so it cuts down the perfect deal on waste. Naturally keeping things warm will likely be a massive issue. You will absolutely have to have a buffet warmer system in place.
Typically buffets are set out on various trays. The trays each contain one type of food. The guests go up and form a line at the buffet table and help themselves to whatever dishes they would like to try. Keeping the food warm through out the time the buffet is open can be a little challenging if you don't use the right tools.
You have several different choices when you are looking at a buffet warmer.
The conventional kind is a two tray system with a small burner underneath. The burner is typically contained in a can of flammable liquid. The tray with the food does not sit directly on the burner to prevent the burner from burning the food. One tray is filled with water, that is periodically checked to be sure it has not evaporated; the food tray sits within the tray with the water, or right above it. There's usually a rack system involved as well and a lid. The down fall of this system is of course the heating source may not be very reliable and it will have to be checked often to insure that the fluid has not burned away or been extinguished.
This system is a very effective system of keeping food warm on a buffet.
The electrical systems work the same way as the conventional systems except instead of the can of fuel there's an electrical coil that heats up, usually the coil is made form ceramic so if food or water is splashed on it the damage is minimal if any.
Naturally the down fall with these systems is being able to plug them in; it might not be a very convenient thing to have to plug five or six trays up to an electrical outlet. This may not be the best option.
There's propane systems that come equipped with very small propane cans; the burners on these systems are similar to gas burners on the stove. This can be a very effective system although you do have to keep an eye on the propane tanks.
A buffet warmer is necessary if you are going to put food out on a buffet table. Finding the right buffet warmer will greatly rely on your preference and the location.