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

[disykat]

Thin sliced and fanned. I don't agree that rolled is the "way it is done." I usually see it fanned to match the cheese.

 

[maslex]

Okay, thanks for the responses. I did buy some small tongs this morning. I also picked up the lunch meat and cheeses. But now I'm second guessing myself on how much I bought. I don't think it'll be enough. If not, not a big deal.....I can go back out tomorrow. I got one pound each of ham & turkey and a 1/2 pound of roast beef. I'm thinking maybe 2 sandwiches per person (I know some aren't going to be eating so....), that will be approximately 32 "slider" sandwiches. And yes, I understand some people will eat one, some will eat 2, some might even eat 3 and some will eat none. We're also having other foods so they won't just be eating the sandwiches.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Okay, thanks for the responses. I did buy some small tongs this morning. I also picked up the lunch meat and cheeses. But now I'm second guessing myself on how much I bought. I don't think it'll be enough. If not, not a big deal.....I can go back out tomorrow. I got one pound each of ham & turkey and a 1/2 pound of roast beef. I'm thinking maybe 2 sandwiches per person (I know some aren't going to be eating so....), that will be approximately 32 "slider" sandwiches. And yes, I understand some people will eat one, some will eat 2, some might even eat 3 and some will eat none. We're also having other foods so they won't just be eating the sandwiches.

You should be fine. We've served twice that many people with that much meat, and had leftovers. Yes, we had other food to go with it.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Piled for sandwiches, rolled for finger food snacking.

 

[Christine]

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.

Great idea. Whenever I go to a party, usually the sandwiches are now made (lots of delis and stores doing that for you), but if there is just a meat tray with it rolled, I just eat the meat and don't make a sandwich, and I'm okay with that too.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

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

If it were a simple meat platter, I'd say roll em. But it's a build your own sandwich platter so fan it and use a pair of serving tongs. Also don't serve it all on one platter. Divide it up. Therefore if you have what I like to call an event, the maximum you lose is the platter(s) affected.

 

[usnuzuloose]

To me it would not matter, but you could try a few pieces and see which way you like it.

 

[Meriweather]

If it is sandwiches or crackers, etc.....I would use slices.
I like rolled around a mini breadstick.......we used to use cream cheese on those too. Now I want one

 

[ols386]

I like the idea of having the finger sandwiches pre-made, and cheese and condiments added. I don’t care for the idea of piles of meat, and people digging through the piles, with their fingers.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I used to work in a deli. The general rule of thumb is 1/4lb of cold cuts per person.

Yes, rolling is the hygienic way - even if people use their fingers, the idea is that they just touch their own pieces!

I'd also think about just getting regular sized rolls.

 

[Poohlove]

I prefer my lunchmeat sliced thin and don't like a lot of meat on my sandwiches so I vote sliced thin (Not shaved) and piled. I have seen trays done both ways.