冷(leng)餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)：冷(leng)餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)又稱為冷(leng)食(shi)自(zi)助餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。菜(cai)品以冷(leng)食(shi)為主，但有(you)時也(ye)備有(you)少量的(de)熱餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。冷(leng)餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)會要準備自(zi)助餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)臺(tai)，餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)臺(tai)上(shang)同時擺放著各種餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)具，菜(cai)品、飲品都集中放在自(zi)助餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)臺(tai)上(shang)。賓客(ke)根據個人(ren)(ren)需要，自(zi)已取餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)具選取食(shi)物。賓客(ke)可(ke)多(duo)次取食(shi)，可(ke)以自(zi)由走(zou)動，任意選擇(ze)座位，也(ye)可(ke)站著與別(bie)人(ren)(ren)邊談邊用餐(can)(can)(can)(can)(can)。

自(zi)助(zhu)餐(can)(can)英文(wen)為(wei)Buffet ，原意(yi)是(shi)冷餐(can)(can)會(hui)，酒會(hui)。二次大戰(zhan)時，自(zi)助(zhu)餐(can)(can)形(xing)式被廣為(wei)引進入美軍(jun)后方駐地的軍(jun)用食堂，其內容(rong)已大大超(chao)出酒會(hui)的小食范疇(chou)，發(fa)展成主食、甜品、熱湯等供(gong)挑選的就(jiu)餐(can)(can)形(xing)式。

 冷餐與自助餐的(de)(de)形式基本相同。冷餐基本上(shang)以格調(diao)高雅(ya)、風味(wei)獨特(te)的(de)(de)冷菜、飲料、低度酒(jiu)為主，并非以進餐為主要目的(de)(de)，它通常適用于招待會(hui)、新聞發布會(hui)等(deng)。