«Create a Memorable Event» Series - Menu

First and foremost let’s separate at-home parties from catered events at venues, because usually at-home parties are “catered” by family and friends while venues either have in-house catering or you can/have to hire a private caterer for your event.

At-home parties, when the chef and caterer are the same person as the one who’s throwing the party, ALL (or almost all) decisions lay with that one person. Usually this person:

knows what the attendees like or can’t tolerate,
is a seasoned cook,
maybe even has a sample menu from previous parties
she/he knows and sticks to the budget
does the shopping, the cooking, the presentation and the clean up after the party is over.

This unique “all-decisions-in-one-hand” quality makes the at-home parties so difficult,

you have to have a good understanding of your time to cook, set up, decorate etc,
you need to know if you have all the equipment you’ll need,
you’ll have to consider weather forecast if you plan an outdoor event etc.

but also easy, because there’s

no coordinating multiple people,
no misunderstandings and
no “accidentally” getting out of budget!

When planning food and beverage choices for your formal or bigger and at-venue event you should “pair” your menu with your overall event style. When it comes to the style of the serving, there’s a plethora of options even for formal events (depending on the size and budget of the event), like

Buffet style

Plated
Small bites / Finger food

Stations

Cocktail
BBQ

When you choose a serving style, it will automatically dictate some of your food choices. To further accommodate your guest’s preferences nowadays you’ll need to think of dietary restrictions, (allergies, lifestyle choices) like vegan, ovo-lacto-vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, nut-free, Kosher, Paleo, Halal etc. That means that you’ll have to know your guests’ preferences; the best way to collect this information is to ask for it on the RSVP card (physical or digital). Your caterer has to have the proper training and knowledge when it comes to food safety (preventing cross-contamination, understanding of common allergens) and must be able to label accordingly and efficiently (these labels need to include basic ingredients and highlight common allergens at the very least).

A good idea might be to schedule food-testings with your preferred caterer/venue if at all possible because that will give you the best comparison to find out which food you actually like better (don’t forget to take notes), and helps you find the highest-quality food within your budget. And it is important to discuss your budget up front with your caterer, so they only present you with options that you can actually afford. You don’t have to break the bank to serve impressive dishes. Your caterer will help point you in the right direction.

Before choosing the right for you caterers, interview them! You need to know

if they’re insured,
if they are reputable (ask for references)
if they are present on the internet and social platforms (transparency, sample photos, history of the company and chefs)
if they have the proper training (certificates, credentials)
what type of events do they cater to (social, business, private etc)
how long have they been in business?

Choosing a caterer and a menu for all is not a small feat. Start early to search and leave time for decision-making so the outcome will satisfy you, the guest and won’t break the bank!

Thank you for being here for this segment of the series. If you’d like to start at the beginning, below you’ll find all the blog posts of the series. If you’d like to subscribe to our occasional mail in order to not miss future blog posts, news and releases you can do it HERE.

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Tünde - Nefeli