https://www.caternow.com.auWhen planning the food and beverages for an event, it’s important for event planners to carefully consider the catering menu to ensure a delicious meal. Some catered events are, unfortunately, known for the poor quality of the food and this can in many cases tarnish the event as a whole.

The following guide will help you to avoid falling into this trap and make sure your sydney catering stands out for the right reasons.

Know your guests

It’s important to know what kind of guests are going to be the event you’re planning, as this would determine what kind of food you should serve. A business event with professional guests would come with an increased budget for food and therefore increased expectations. You should be aware of not only the professional level of your guests but where they reside and their ethnic background, as this would influence their tastes and allow you to plan the catering accordingly. 

Once you know the general profile of your guest list, you’re better prepared to offer menu options the guests would prefer. For example

-       Health-conscious attendees might prefer low carb, low fat options

-       Older attendees might prefer a more mild and traditional menu

-       Younger or middle aged attendees may prefer more unique and adventurous meals

Having said that, it’s just as important to keep the type of event in mind when considering the preferences of the guests attending, as even the most health-conscious people would indulge in comfort food if the occasion called for it!

Give your guests more choice

While you may do your best to cater for the preferences of your guests, chances are you’re not going to please everyone at the event with just one option. With this in mind, event planners should always provide a choice of meals for each course so there’s a better chance that all of the guests will find something they like. Some guidelines to consider include

-       Offering at least two different entrees

-       Offer three or more salad dressing options for salad courses

-       Serve all condiments on the side

-       Offer a healthier option or more indulgent option for meals (especially dessert)

Today there are more special dietary requirements to consider than ever before. Therefore it’s important that the event planner and caterer are aware of special dietary needs among the guests to they can plan accordingly. Common dietary preferences and needs include

-       Food allergies (lactose intolerance, nut allergy)

-       Food intolerances (celiac’s)

-       Religious requirements (Halal, Kosher)

-       Voluntary dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan)

Good catering should make the guests feel that they’re eating what they would have ordered had they gone to a restaurant and made the choice themselves and to make this happen you need to have a variety of options available to satisfy different tastes.

Incorporate seasonal items in the menu

The time of year should be a major factor when selecting the food and beverage for an event. It’s important to know what foods, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables, are in season. Another important consideration is the location of the event and what foods are popular in that area. Fresh produce adds to the authenticity of the event and will not go unnoticed by your guests.

Consider ethnic or regional catering

Events that serve cuisine from a certain culture allows a theme to be developed that will help your event stand out from the rest. Common ethnic catering themes include

-       Asian (Chinese, Japanese)

-       French

-       German

-       Greek

-       Italian

-       Mexican

-       Middle Eastern

Select a menu that fits the schedule

In many cases time will be the predominant factor when deciding the menu and meal service for an event. Should this be the case it’s important to choose the meal type and menu options that best suit the time you have for the meal.

-       If you’re on the go or have 30 minutes or less, Box Lunches are best

-       If you’re wanting to serve a plated meal, there should be at least 1.5 hours available for the meal to be eaten

-       Buffets usually take an hour to be eaten

-       Cocktail receptions require a minimum of 1 hour before dinner is served

-       Working breakfasts or lunches should contain menu items that can hold up for long periods of time

Presentation is key

When serving your guests any kind of meal, consider the final presentation and how it will entice guests to eat the food. The food should be colourful, visually appealing and have an inviting aroma. The presentation of the food should be such that your guests will want to eat it. Any decorations that accompany the food should add to this as well. If it’s not well presented, even the most delicious food will not be well received by your guests.