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I strongly recommend setting your table the day before your party. Many last minute things can come up the day of and you don't want to to get too stressed so this is a big "check" off your list. Go ahead and set out your serving pieces with post-its of each food item. The next day, simply fill the dish and put it in its correct place on the table.

 
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Instead of using a crockpot or chaffing dish to keep this chowder warm, I purchased 2 bricks from a local hardware store, placed a sterno flame underneath and the stockpot directly on the bricks. The chowder stayed warm all night and blended into the buffet beautifully.