Good food is only one half of the equation for a successful event. The other half is how you serve and present it. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding on what food setup to choose. Some of the factors are the size of the event, your budget, and whether it’s a casual or formal occasion.
Here are four food setup ideas for your next event, no matter what your event theme or budget is.
1. Plated Meal
The plated meal is most commonly used during formal dinner services. If your event invitation has a combination of any of the following words, you should expect to serve a sit-down dinner: black-tie, gala, formal, or fundraiser.
It’s also a good idea to serve a sit-down meal if your event involves a presentation, award ceremony, or entertainment, since it keeps guests in their seats and minimizes the noise factor, allowing guests to focus on the performance.
Another benefit of a plated meal as your food setup option is that it encourages conversation and results in small-scale networking.
When serving a plated meal, the menu generally consists of two entrées. So if a large amount of your guests request a specialty diet, you’ll have to expand the menu or have the event caterers prepare specialty plates, at an added cost. You will also need to have a seating plan for any specialty plate delivery for the venue staff.
This food setup option rings in as the most expensive of food setup ideas, but can be a great choice if you’re looking to make your event very special.
2. Buffet
The misconception that buffets are just for brunch is long outdated, with some of the fanciest hotels in the world opting for buffet style serving for their four-star dinners.
A buffet is one of the bestfood setup ideas for large crowds, or events where guests arrive at various times.The buffet can be decorated to follow the theme of the event and add to the overall décor of the event.The great thing about having a buffet is that it offers a variety of food, allowing picky eaters or guests with dietary restrictions to pick their food.
Make sure that there’s an order to how guests line up for the food, and once the guest list reaches 75, it’s time to open a second buffet.
3. Hors D'oeuvres and Small Plates
Having waitstaff stroll around the party and offer hors d’oeuvres and small plates is one of the top food setup ideas to keep the focus on guests interacting and having conversations.
This food setup option is also the most budget-conscious, as the planner can control the quantities. If you choose to go the hors d’oeuvres option, consider the following tips: If your event is during the dinner hour, provide a more substantial fare that includes a starch, veggie, and two different types of meat. If you’re serving hot items, consider serving them over top a base of pasta or mashed potatoes, which will hold the heat. And remember to provide lots of napkins and have a constant rotation of staff retrieving empty plates from guests. Make sure to let your guests know if your event will be a small plate event, so they don’t arrive expecting a sit down meal.
4. Action Stations
Action stations are stands where chefs make guests their food right in front of their eyes.This interactive option is not only fun, but allows guests to pick and choose what they want to eat, which is great for guests with dietary restrictions. This adds an entertainment level to the food experience.
With any food setup idea, it’s important to keep in mind how the guests will eat the food. If your event’s focus is networking, and you don’t provide a lot of seating, a meal that has to be eaten with a knife and fork is not a smart option. If you expect your guests to eat standing up, make sure it’s food that can be consumed easily.
