The food is not only one of the most expensive parts of throwing a party. It’s also one of the most central too. People come together over food; it’s the great equalizer.
When throwing any type of celebration, the catering for events needs to be given a lot of consideration. If you’re looking to make things more interesting, there are seven ways you can impress your guests with what’s on the menu.
1. Unique Foods
When you attend a big event, you come to expect a certain kind of food. Traditional banquet hall food can be great, but it can get a bit boring too. For most events, the food takes up one of the largest portions of the event. Offering unique alternatives that will surprise and excite your guests can be great ways of ensuring your guests have the best possible experience. Catering for events doesn’t have to be routine—an experienced caterer can help you come up with fun ways to liven it up.
2. Live Cooking Stations
One of the many benefits of having live-cooking stations is that it provides its own form of entertainment during the meal. Dinner tends to be a slow point in any event’s agenda, so adding a touch of entertainment to that portion will get your guests excited.
Live cooking stations provide entertainment and delicious food, which is the best combination when it comes to catering for events.
3. Professional Bartender
Watching a professional work his magic while preparing drinks for your guests is enthralling. While you may think of bartending as a relatively easy job, there is a real art to it. A professional bartender can add some flair to your event, making the evening memorable for everyone.
4. Signature Cocktails
Another great option in terms of drinks is having a signature cocktail. A signature cocktail is a great way to make an event memorable while also tying together the theme of your event.
A professional bartender, or a mixologist, can help you come up with something that complements the food you’ll be serving. The name can also be a reference to the event itself—be it in name, colour, or flavour—emphasizing the care and attention that went into the planning.
5. Comfort Food
The appearance of comfort food items at big events has become more popular, and it’s also one of our favourite ways to impress your guests.
Comfort foods are those items that you don’t typically see in the catering for events but which are pretty much beloved by everyone. Think tacos and grilled cheese, mac and cheese and donuts. You don’t want these food items to overtake the event; instead, you can offer them as alternatives to the main course. Think twists to the classics for added uniqueness. Add pulled pork to the tacos or lobster in the mac and cheese.
6. Mini Options
Comfort foods are often incorporated into the mini-food craze that is currently taking place within catering for events. Mini options are both fun and practical.
Typically served by someone going around the room, or by stations that are positioned in different locations, mini foods allow the chance for your guests to move more freely throughout the event. They also allow guests to try a wider assortment of foods, a great way to enhance the feeling of variety.
7. Alternative Desserts
The most traditional dessert served at events is cake, and while cake is a great option, other desserts have become increasingly popular for catering in the last few years. Some make use of the trend towards mini foods; cupcakes and macarons are a great example. Others are all about providing fun alternatives for guests—ice cream stations and hot churros for guests to sample. The best option when serving alternative desserts is to have a variety, options that will cater to everyone’s tastes.
