Food for a meet & greet?

Wingit

We're hosting a meet & greet Monday evening at our home for a friend that is running for Congress.  I anticipate I'll have about 12 guests around 7ish. 
I'm new to political rubbing-elbow type of events.  The only other one I've been to for him served pizza but i'm not interested in serving that. 

Any other ideas for something easy and casual?  Should i just buy a sandwich tray & serve fruit & drinks and call it a day?  I love entertaining but this isn't about me and fancy finger foods & cocktails, it's about getting people there to meet him and listen to his message.

Any ideas are welcome, thanks!

busybodyk

sandwiches and drinks sound appropriate.

6fsn

I would try to keep things easy to eat, handle, and nothing that may dribble.  I'd probably do preassembled roll ups sliced into a couple of bites instead of building sandwiches.  A chicken satay, bruscetta, vegetable/fruit tray, cheese platter.

kimnelson09

I think that the time frame lends itself to a more formal menu than sandwiches.  I don't think that you need to whip out the caviar necessarily, but a sandwich tray just seems a little out of place to me. 

I would do hors d'oeuvres, personally, and offer some on the lighter side, some on the heavier side and some sweet.  They present well, are easy to eat if there isn't enough seating, and can be as elegant or as homey as you want them to be.  

I get that you want the food to be secondary to him and his message, but it still needs to complement the tone of the event.  If there's any type of money in the way of campaign contributions exchanging hands, you'll need to do better than a deli tray.     

6fsn

As a second thought, I'd try to make things you don't eat with your fingers.  I wouldn't want to put down a sandwich to shake hands with someone.  I'd much rather put my real fork on a real plate and shake hands.  It's just more hygienic and polite. 

I agree with kim that it needs to fit the tone of the candidate and thier politics.

kimnelson09

6fsn:

As a second thought, I'd try to make things you don't eat with your fingers.  I wouldn't want to put down a sandwich to shake hands with someone.  I'd much rather put my real fork on a real plate and shake hands.  It's just more hygienic and polite. 

I agree with kim that it needs to fit the tone of the candidate and thier politics.

That's a very good point.  OP, is there any way that you could do a formal dinner party or have invitations and whatnot already gone out?  With only 12 guests, I would definitely consider it. 

rottimom

The need to shake hands is an excellent point.

How about choosing items that are eaten with a fork or on a skewer, but are still single bites or easy to cut with just a fork.  Mini quiche, meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, Proscuitto and melon on a skewer, fruit salad, mini crab cakes...there are lots of ideas to choose from once you decide how to proceed.

 

Wingit

Thanks for all the input.  I finally received more details and we'll be cohosting with 2 other couples at a neighborhood clubhouse.  We'll be doing a couple hot hors d' oeuvres, fruit & crudites and cheese and hoping for 50 guests. 
I jumped th gun when I posted because I only had a few details from DH who had agreed on our behalf. 
Thanks tho girls!  Oh, and yes the food with be "hand shaking friendly".