I found this list helpful. It is a list of Do's and Don'ts from Perfect Entertaining. Some things are obvious, but some things are like - Oh yeah, that makes sense, why didn't I think of it before. I especially like the tip about not leaving space on the buffet table. It makes perfect sense, but I had never thought of it before. I know these tips aren't specifically for Southern food, but they are great general buffet entertaining tips. I hope they help.
You should also check out the halloween section of perfect entertaining. They have lots of recipes and suggestions.
Halloween at Perfect Entertaining
The Don't List
Don't serve food that is easier eaten with more than one hand. Noshing on chicken wings one handed is an art form, and many people have not developed it. When you add a drink and plate into the equation, food needs to be very portable and easy to handle.
Don't serve round items. Seems silly, but how often have you seen grapes, unsauced meatballs, or olives take a header from a plate? The one exception to this is if they are toothpicked to prevent rolling.
Don't serve anything with a sauce. OK, so you can get away with a few sauced or dressed items, but keep in mind that when individuals are holding their plates they are not always balanced. The sauce that is really great on one dish is not so great on another dish…and is even less enthralling on your carpet.
Don't use flimsy paper plates. Paper or plastic plates are fine…but make sure they are very sturdy. People tend to load up plates with more food than seems possible and flimsy plates are not up to the task of being carried with a full load of food.
Don't leave space on the buffet table for people to put their plate down. Before you accuse me of cruel and unusual punishment, there is a real reason behind this. I have seen it time and time again…if people have to hold their plate while getting food, they are more careful about balancing their plate and not over loading it. It is much easier to stack things or really pile on the food if the plate is on a stable surface.
Don't serve dishes that require a bunch of accompaniments. While offering a salad with a variety of dressings and toppings to use is nice for the guest, maneuvering plates to add dressing is always tricky and the whole process can really tie up your buffet line.
The Do List
Do provide small plates. They are much easier for guests to handle and they can always come back for seconds.
Do provide tons and tons of napkins.
Do offer a wide range of food that can be picked up and eaten without a plate. Skewered or toothpicked vegetables, fruit, cubed meat, and cheese cubes are all great examples of this. This allows guests who want to snack without a plate to do so easily.
Do keep the area around the food table clear. Don't encourage guests to linger near the table by placing other tables or chairs near the area.
Do make sure you have enough seating for everyone who might have to sit. This would include the elderly, anyone who has any physical handicaps, or who just cannot stand for long periods of time.
Do remove any unnecessary furniture and knickknacks from the area. You do not want your guests stumbling over footstools or moving your precious collectibles to find room on the table for their plate.
Do offer specialized areas and break up the buffet into smaller stations. You can break up your buffet by food style, such as hot food in one area and desserts in another, or else you can create smaller stations for specific dishes.
