Whether it's a household party, business associates' lunch meeting, or a grand wedding party, you will need to shape a catering menu that caters to your guests' needs. No doubt, food is an essential part of any function, and this is what is going to make your guests feel happy if you serve them good food.
However, creating a catering menu for your function can be a daunting task, as it includes a lot of things. We are here with a detailed guide to help you shape a catering menu for formal and informal events. Stick to the end to learn how you should create a catering menu that will impress your guests.
How many People Will You Serve?
First things first, before starting planning your menu, make sure to know how many people will be serving, as some courses work best for a large group and some for a group of people.
For a large group of guests, you will prefer cost-effective ingredients that are easy to make for a large crowd. So, make sure you know the number of guests you will expect at the event, and then shape your menu accordingly.
Buffet or Sit Down?
It's important to decide on whether you will be having a buffet table setup or a sit-down style. For the buffet setup, you may want to go to the cheaper food ingredient that can be bought more by spending less. You may opt for one or two expensive buffet table setups.
However, in the sit-down, it's quite luxurious and perfect for formal settings. Make sure you know what type of table setup you will be serving your guests. It will make it easier for you to decide on the menu items.
Know Your Guests Before Shaping a Menu
This is one of the most important factors to consider while creating a menu, and it's often ignored by the guests. When you are shaping a menu, take notes by analyzing your guests.
For instance, if you are going to arrange a business lunch party, your guests would be business associates who mostly get to attend formal events the entire year. Your arrangements and menu should be versatile enough to match their expectations or standards to serve them professionally.
Moreover, take the clues from your guest's backgrounds, like where they reside and how often they get to go to similar events. All similar factors will help you shape a menu that your guests would love at your function.
Consider Your Guests Preference
Food preference varies from person to person, that's why knowing your guest's preferences while shaping a menu for your event. The menu should include everything your guests would eat comfortably, instead of leaving the function without finding anything favorable for them.
Let us narrow it for you to help you understand it in a better way. First of all, consider how many older people will be your guests if there are going to be some of them who have food items that will be suitable for them. Older people mostly prefer a milder menu such as vegetables, eggs, and tender meat.
Middle-aged and young-aged guests mostly prefer spicy food and something different like adventurous dishes. However, for guests having dietary restrictions, vegetables, plant-based dishes, and seafood is always favorable for them.
Always Have Alternatives for Dietary Needs
Considering the special needs of the guests has never been a top preference while shaping the menu. However, recently having a menu that's versatile, diverse, and offers everyone comfortable food has become essential.
So, while creating the catering menu, make sure to be prepared for the special needs of the guests. Special needs of your guests are mainly because of the people having dietary restrictions such as food allergies, religious requirements like Halal food, and voluntary food requirements such as vegetarians or non-vegetarians.
This is also connected with knowing your guests before creating a catering menu. Don't forget to know your guests and their dietary restrictions. Also, make sure your caterer will facilitate your guests with special needs.
Prefer Seasonal Items
When creating a catering menu, the season should always be considered as winter's food doesn't feel comfortable in the summers. Before finalizing your menu, explore what items are for the spring season and what are for the winter.
People aren't comfortable eating heavy dishes in the summer and light food items in the winter. So, consider the seasonal items and create the menu accordingly.
Look for fresh and locally produced items, like vegetables and fruits. Locally produced goods are more likely to be cost-effective as there are fewer carbon footprints involved while transporting them.
Include Regional Food Items
While planning the event, consider including the region-specific dishes on the menu to provide a different and unique experience to your guests. Having ethenic and regional dishes will make your event stand out and make your guests feel special.
Like, serve Russian salad, Mexican steak, and Chinese rice. Some of the regular regional menus are; Asian, French, German, Italian, and Mexican spicy dishes.
Work on the Representation of Food
When you are putting too much effort into creating a food menu, the food should look tasty, delicious, and colorful. The food representation makes the food taste better and makes the guests feel more hungry.
For instance, white plates provide the perfect background for the food by popping its texture and color. So, to serve with style and enhance the food presentation on the table, work on the serving wares.
However, we offer a wide range of plastic serving ware that comes in a variety of colors, designs, and styles. Our disposable serving ware will help you minimize the clean-up cost of the serving wares.
Whether you are planning a household party, wedding party, or picnic party, we provide party supplies that you and your guests would need while having a meal. Elevate your serving style with our elegant and stylish serving party supplies that come at a fraction of the cost.