Mashed Potato Bar
My sister-in-law got married not too long ago, and her reception featured a prime example of sophisticated simplicity: a mashed potato bar.
Almost everyone loves mashed potatoes. I mean, really, what’s not to love? But people never seem to quite agree about what’s the best thing to mix with them: the possibilities are limited only by your range of culinary creativity. Julia’s mashed potato bar featured (and I hope I can remember all of the offerings; I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I leave anything out) irish potatoes with your choice of gravy, orange cheddar cheese, chives, corn, and butter. A healthy selection of classics, to be sure, and it was quite tasty.
Julia already knows, so I’m sure she won’t be offended by my mentioning it here, that I have some ideas for expanding the potato bar to an even wider selection of possible inclusions. I list them here for you, free of charge, but it would be nice of you to invite me to the next occasion where you have one. I love mashed potato bars!
For starters, a range of cheeses would be an interesting touch. In addition to cheddar, you could include a blue cheese of some sort (I’m partial to Stilton, but I doubt I’d go that fancy for a buffet line: perhaps if it were intended only for a dozen or so of my nearest and dearest), feta, asiago… or whatever you’re partial to.
My in-laws sometimes serve their baked potatoes with olives and salsa, both of which would match well with mashed potatoes. I’d avoid the canned black supermarket olives, though, and go instead for a selection of pitted Greek country olives.
When my brother got married, lobster mashed potatoes were on the menu at the rehearsal dinner. Again, that’s probably a bit too cher for a buffet line, but a can of special crab meat would be a great option.
Sauteed mushrooms are also a great match with potatoes. If possible, go for something along the lines of crimini (AKA baby bella). They’re not much more expensive than white button (and actually, at my supermarket, they used to be cheaper!), and they pack a heck of a lot more taste.
While we’re on the veggie track, tiny nubs of roasted broccoli would be fabulous! Diced red and orange bell peppers. Caramelized onions and shallots. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
But why stop with Irish potatoes? Mash some sweet potatoes too, and have some inclusions for them.
Candied walnuts or pecans. Brown sugar. Itty bitty marshmallows. Cinnamon. Roasted cranberries. Roasted diced apples.
Then, there are items that could go with either type of potato: Shredded turkey. Roasted fennel. Shaved truffles.
With all of the possibilities, I don’t see why more buffets don’t include potato bars. They’re low-cost, easy-prep, and high-popularity tables that would fit in as easily at a hootenanny as at a black tie gala.
April 5th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I like egg as a topping for nearly anything, and if left to my own devices will drop egg yolk into hot mashed potatoes to let it cook there. That sort of thing wouldn’t work for a bar, though.
April 6th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
For an at home potato bar how would you suggest keeping the potatos warm. It seems like I am alway plagued by room temp mashed potatos when ever I try to do something like this.
April 6th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Ps. I think wilted spinach or another green would be quite tasty in there. I also like carmilized onoins in my potatos. Or a roasted garlic butter.
Now you have me thinking……and hungry.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Horseradish is fantastic in mashed potatoes! I am not a die-hard horseradish fan, but had horseradish mashed potatoes at a restaurant quite a bit ago and am sold.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
My top-secret mashed potato recipe involves stirring in cream cheese, milk (if necessary), and melted butter with roasted garlic and rosemary after being hit with an immersion blender. I’d tell you the precise quantities, but that would be lying: There really aren’t any. Just make it up as you go.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Isn’t that the way most “recipes” work?…
September 12th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
For my friends baby shower we have a mashed potato bar. I will be offering several gravys. White wine with mushroom, lobster, and traditional brown gravy. I will keep them warm with tealight trivets. I will of course offer the traditional sour cream, chives, etc…We are having a coctail party without the cocktails.
September 13th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Our favorite mashed potatoes were introduced to us by our son in law…When you mash your potatoes, instead of adding cream and butter, add cream cheese and sour cream. We’ve served it many times now and it is always a hit. To keep them hot at a bar use a chaffing dish, crock pot or steam tray.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
A Reply to the tea light idea for keeping the mashed potatoes warm - won’t work! You really need to use a chafing dish w/ sterno or put them in a crock pot (less elegant). The tea light won’t generate enough heat to keep them “hot”, which is what you should strive for, instead of just “warm”. With out the temperature, all those yummy ingredients won’t melt into the potatoes.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I am having a cocktail party and will be featuring a whipped potato bar. I know that it is considered proper etiquette to eat mashed potatoes with a fork, but in this case (serving the potatoes in a martini glass) would you go with a dinner fork, salad fork, or teaspoon?
November 9th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Hi MK - I guess it depends on your crowd - fancy group? I’ve actually seen a well mannered girl enjoying her meal with a spoon, although there some of the inevitable talk later about bad manners….
November 9th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I think definitely a spoon. To see why, read this.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:49 am
What about whipped potato shots. No need for spoons and smaller portions will help the guests with that pesty age old question of too many carbs to work off the morning after.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
Any suggestions of other items to serve in beside Martini Glasses. Would like something different and cool.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
[...] Re: the Mashed Potato Bar, Gloria asks: [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am
My daughter in law to be is doing this at the wedding. I thought she was nuts until I read this. Sounds so tasy, easy and different. I love the idea.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I went to a fund raiser and they had a mashed potato bar with regular mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes and chardonnay potatoes. They were all a big hit, especially the chardonnay potatoes. I am still trying to find a recipe for the chardonnay potatoes, they were absolutely delicious.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Try mixing in some ranch dressing in with your mashed potatoes before serving them… it gives the potato a great consistancy and they taste great!
January 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I am surprized not to have seen BACON here. Or is it just me? I am a confessed Bacon freak.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I just found this old blog post and I love the idea. I had never thought about having a mashed pototo buffet - but I think the possibilities are endless. Being of both polish and irish decent I love the potato! You can do so many things with them and they are always great!
April 27th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Now that is what I call, um, raising the bar!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Having this for my daughter’s engagement party. I went to a wedding who featured it and it was a huge hit; cheap and fun! Fortunately, I handpaint glass for a living and therefore have hundreds of martini glasses on hand. Going to paint each one different and make it even more special. Using unusual toppings, beef stroganoff; a meal in a glass….chili….chix pot pie ingredients; leaving out the potatoes….can’t hardly wait. I come up with a new topping daily!
November 12th, 2010 at 10:06 am
That is one amazing mashed potato bar, loved the video.
January 1st, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Re: Phil - last January - YES, finally someone mentioned BACON! IMHO a mashed potato bar without bacon is naked. Must be real bacon, fairly crisply cooked, and crumbled. We did potato bar for a family party of about 25 people last year and 3 lbs of bacon was not enough. Will be using at least 4 lbs this week.