Deli Meat/Cheese Platters...........rolled or piled meats?

[maslex]

We'll be having about 15-20 people over Christmas night. Just going to have finger foods since everyone will be having a big dinner around 1:00.

I plan on making a meat/cheese platter so people can make little finger sandwiches (I picked up Martin's sliced rolls, so it'll be like a little slider sandwich)

So the husband and I are having a "discussion" (I'll just leave it at that lol) I'm saying to get the deli meats cut extra thin (maybe even almost shaved) He's saying to get it cut normal and roll them. I asked him why and he said....."that's how meat platters are done, period". I just thought it would probably be easier to make the sandwich with the thin sliced/shaved so you can just pile it on the roll instead of having to unroll the meat and put it on the bun (since they are small). I also plan on getting american cheese and provolone and cutting them into squares so it'll be easy to put on the sandwich.

So, how would you do the platter? Would you look at your host like they're weird if they just had a few piles of thin sliced meats on the platter instead of rolled? LOL

 

[L&Lfan]

I prefer your way. I never really got the rolled bit, except maybe it looks prettier?

 

[PollyannaMom]

I agree with you both. Rolled *is* "the way they're done"...but it shouldn't be! Your way makes much more sense, and I would like it better.

 

[Micca]

I never really got the rolled bit, except maybe it looks prettier?

I think this is the idea. If you're going for presentation rolled is the way to go. If I'm hungry and the food looks good, I can be versatile.

 

[MIGrandma]

I like your way better. For small slider style sandwiches thinner meat would work better I think.

 

[wenrob]

Neither. I “fan” mine so it’s easier to pull a slice of meat and then a slice of cheese. Still looks nice but more practical than rolling.

 

[shoney]

I would roll. But honestly for that many people I would have ordered the platters so they were already done.

A pile of shaved meat doesn’t sound appealing. People will dig in a take piles?

 

[willowsnn3]

I prefer the piled.

 

[mjkacmom]

Piled is so much easier. Here, cold cuts are usually shaved very thin.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Rolled makes it easier to pick up the meat with a fork, which is what I would hope guests at a party would be doing. Shaved very thin is a nightmare to pick up with a fork OR finger, so that would cause some serious germ sharing. For sliders, less meat certainly makes more sense, but the process of getting the meat from platter to plate is a problem. Make sure your squares of cheese are relatively thin squares, so that you have a similar meat:cheese ratio.

 

[Kitty 34]

Piled all the way

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Rolled makes it easier to pick up the meat with a fork, which is what I would hope guests at a party would be doing. Shaved very thin is a nightmare to pick up with a fork OR finger, so that would cause some serious germ sharing. For sliders, less meat certainly makes more sense, but the process of getting the meat from platter to plate is a problem. Make sure your squares of cheese are relatively thin squares, so that you have a similar meat:cheese ratio.

I was thinking the same thing. Rolled seems more sanitary to me. There's always going to be someone that wants to use their hands instead of a fork or pick up too much with a fork & use their hand to scrape some of it back onto the platter. I'd be passing on a pile of meat that people have touched with their hands.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Hybrid - cut extra thin, and then rolled. If you cut it super thin & stack it, the meat will fall apart as people try to separate it for sandwiches. On the flip side, if you cut it "normal", it won't roll properly. So, thicker cuts SHOULD be stacked/fanned.

So my vote is - you're BOTH wrong


Edit: but the person who actually assembles the tray gets the final say.

 

[design_mom]

I think rolled looks prettier but it's harder to put on your sandwich. I would prefer stacked or fanned. If stacked, could you put several small pairs of serving tongs with it? It would be easier to pick up shaved meat with tongs than a fork.

 

[L&Lfan]

Piled with tongs. You can never guarantee germless even with rolled using forks if there are kids and ignorant adults present.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'd bypass the pile, but I love a rolled piece of meat.

 

[anniemae]

thin sliced, piled.

 

[msjprincess]

Thin sliced and rolled

 

[Happyinwonerland]

around here the mini sandwiches are served pre-assembled and then you can add your own condiments. I've never seen a tray of rolled or sliced cold cuts.

MIL use to serve her Christmas ham in fanned out slices, but that's the extent of my experience with a pile of meat.

 

[Mirielle]

I had this very dilemma a short time ago. Fretted over how to place the meat on platter and ended up making the sandwiches myself. Turned out much better than having people slop the platter up, attempting to do who knows what. Yes, it took a good bit of time to do, but it really looked nice. Personally, if I have to build my own sandwich at a party, I'll just eat something else rather than bother with all the fuss.