In the midst of organizing a stressful event and attending to a hundred details at once, it’s important to remember what lies at the heart of any event: ensuring that the guests have the best time possible. When it comes to events, the most memorable part for many partygoers is the food. The meal provides an opportunity for the guests to come together and socialize over a shared experience. It’s also tends to occupy the largest part of the budget and the biggest chunk of time on the actual day, meaning it requires some careful consideration.
Luckily, there are five catering ideas that are proven crowd-pleasers and we’re here to share them with you.
1. Pick a Theme
The catering aspect of an event can sometimes become routine or predictable, and having a theme that is carried out in the tiniest of details can really liven up the atmosphere. Your theme can reference a destination, an era, or even pop culture. Working with your caterer, they should be able to offer some creative suggestions for menu options that will service the theme and tie the whole event together. Another fun option is offering specialty cocktails that fit the theme of the event and are unique to your party.Don’t forget to work the theme into the presentation/delivery of the food. For example, you can have servers dressed in costume that ties into the entire evening.
2. Hire an Impressive Bartender
One of our favorite catering ideas is having a skilled bartender on hand to serve your party. Skilled bartenders are always crowd pleasers; guests love seeing a bartender who knows their stuff, makes excellent drinks, and is always ready with delicious recommendations.While flair bartenders are fun to watch, these days, the art of mixology has become increasingly popular. Seek out a professional bartender who has a great reputation for coming up with inventive cocktails and entertaining guests. You can ask your caterer for suggestions; chances are they’ve worked with a great bartender in the past or have a bartender on their team who would fit the bill.
3. Live Cooking Stations
This is another one of the catering ideas that has a proven track record as a real crowd pleaser, destined to liven up any party and give guests a completely memorable experience. Live cooking stations are interactive, with guests able to watch their food being freshly prepared and even participate in the making of their food. Live cooking stations transform the necessary task of feeding everyone into a form of entertainment in and of itself, which is great because the meal portion of a party tends to be the slowest.
4. Pay Attention to Presentation
The presentation of the food is something that many event hosts don’t put too much consideration into. After all, the food itself is what’s most important, right? While the quality of the good is very important, the presentation is equally important. Creative presentation is one of the easiest catering ideas you can implement to floor your guests. Beautifully presented foods not only look more appetizing, they also demonstrate an acute attention to detail that will make any event a chart topper. Be creative and unique. Make the presentation part of the décor and theme.
5. Offer Dessert Stations
Many guests look forward to the part of the evening when they’ll get the chance to partake in some sweet treats.Dessert stations are the perfect way to satisfy the sweet tooth while also providing intricate and beautiful options. While cake is still a fan favourite, many event organizers are choosing to branch out and offer more unique dessert options, like donuts, macaroons, cake pops, and cupcakes. The best dessert stations offer variety, with a little something for everyone.
Another tip: think miniatures! Bite sizes dessert treats are especially trendy at the moment while also being simple and convenient.
