A buffet meal. One where many foods are served on a table and the diners help themselves. In France this will almost always be followed by diners then taking the food to a table where they sit down to eat. In England it also covers the occasion when people stand to eat or cluster in groups of seats with their plates on their knees, trying to manoeuvre napkin, cutlery, drink and food without catastrophe. Foods may be hot or cold.
