What do you eat first at a buffet, hot or cold food?

Question

this might sound like a stupid question but my friend and I were arguing over it last night and i was wondering if there were any etiquette rules or something on what you should eat first the cold section or hot section

thanks

Answer 1

I say Hot cause when you first get in their you hungry but you can eat cold first it dosent matter

Answer 2

I would go for the salad first which is typically cold, then eat some hot food.

Answer 3

Typically the cold buffet first then the hot. The cold is usually small plates and the hot the entree. Also, from a tastes perspective, you want to sample subtler cold or room temp food before very flavorful hot food.

This is custom and not necessarily "etiquette." I was an event planner for many years. High end events where people spend dearly on food. This is how we always did it.

Answer 4

Cold. Fresh salad first then followed by small portions of hot food, lastly with deserts... I would really take my time to enjoy a buffet...

Answer 5

I recommend going for whatever you feel would please your palate the most. Every buffet has different offerings and even the local weather could affect what you might want to eat first.

Generally, I look to see what cold and fresh seafood (crab, shrimp, oysters) are available first. From there, it's just a matter of whatever looks good to me.

Answer 6

hot

Answer 7

depends on what season-winter-hot-soup-summer-cold-salad...

Answer 8

Depends whats the cold food.

Answer 9

I hate buffets, so I eat as little as possible.  They are infested with germs and filth.  I dont think there is etiquette associated with buffets and if there was, the people eating there would never know, so who cares?

Answer 10

I don't really think that there are any etiquette rules when it comes to buffets, except don't touch the food with your hands and don't breath on the food. Eat what you want to, it is your money. Go for dessert first if you want.

Answer 11

depends on the style of the buffet,  but most times cold stuff (salads) first.

Answer 12

I start with the hot foods then move onto the cold foods. Then I go backwards from cold to hot.

Answer 13

I always go for the salad first.

Answer 14

salad.   I need to stuff a pusher down there to clear the way for all the other c**p I'm going to toss at my colon.

Answer 15

Americans tend to eat salads first.  However, French eat them after the main course.  I like to do the hot first.

Answer 16

I think that the purpose of a buffet is to allow patrons to visit food items of their choice. Usually, I will eat a cold salad first, and then go to the hot entrees. This doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Sometimes, I would like to eat in reverse and have a warm dessert such as an apple cobbler.

Answer 17

I usually it a salad then my main course. so Cold First.