Some Modern Catering Trends

Everyone is trying to cut costs nowadays as the world economy continues to give us all the jitters, but cutting costs does not necessarily mean cutting standards. We all still desire to celebrate milestones in our lives and this is most often done by throwing a party. The latest catering trends are a case in point, where almost every catering company has changed its focus from established but expensive favorites to menus showcasing cheaper but no less tasty ingredients served in imaginative ways.

So what has been ditched in favor of the new way of catering? Firstly, full bars are out, as the host has to pay for every bottle opened. If one guest asks for a special whiskey, for example, and the barman pours it for him and nobody else the entire night, the host will have to cover the cost of the entire bottle. Not having a full bar service also means saving on the wages of the barmen and the hiring of all the different kinds of glasses. The new way is to serve an alcoholic or non-alcoholic punch to get things going, and then offer both a red and a white wine with the meal. For very special occasions like weddings and anniversaries, champagne or champagne cocktails may still be on the menu. Not surprisingly, different types of bottled water have also become popular, especially with younger guests.

Expensive ingredients like filet mignon, foie gras and caviar are definitely out, while more healthy and/or organic options like chicken, fish and sea food are now the order of the day. Locally grown seasonal fruit and vegetables now form a major part of caterers' offerings, as they are much cheaper than imported, out of season, alternatives.

Identifying Your Corporate Catering Needs

It's also wise to identify if your boss is hoping for a casual or perhaps formal party. In case your supervisor intends an informal party, definitely don't lose your sense of style. Be certain that the corporate catering remains to be somewhat stylish but yet amusing at the same time. The food should still be impressive and the place need to look amazing. For formal corporate catering parties, it is advisable to get the help of skilled planners in order to get the work performed effectively, specially if this is your 1st time to plan a celebration with this magnitude.

Make certain that the corporate catering will start in time. The best way to do this is actually by being at the area 2-3 hours before it starts off so that you'll be able to repair any kind of last minute difficulties. The entire affair really should have pauses in the middle so that the guest visitors will not be very exhausted.

Lastly, when conducting corporate catering, be familiar with the budget which the company is eager to give you. Be sure that you take full advantage of it and also that you are ready to put your best foot forward despite the fact that the budget is restricted. Make the most of the amount of money that you have.

Some Difficulties with Corporate Catering

There are instances where in the accomplishment of a business is dependent upon those events that be held even after office hours. The suitable instance of these types of gatherings is certainly the one and only business catering occasions. If you are sent to prepare such occasion, you might like to reflect on offering it all considering the fact that a flourishing corporate affair can bring about a really satisfied and content supervisor. Allow me to share certain advices that will help you handle an excellent corporate catering occasion.

Have all points quickly. Recognize the quantity of people that will most likely be joining. Make perfectly sure that the location will be able to cater for each person and also that there is plenty of cuisine for everybody. Moreover, try to get the big names that'll be joining the event. After getting their names, do a little background checks. Consider to check the factors which these people are seeking for in any corporate catering.

More Trends in Catering

Full service catering events are not nearly as popular as they once were and have been replaced by buffets and strategically placed stands serving a variety of delicious finger foods. Not only does this reduce the actual amount of food to be prepared with large quantities having to be thrown away, but it reduces the cost of wait staff to a minimum, the hiring of tables, tablecloths and napkins, cutlery and crockery.

Desserts are always the most popular part of any menu, but more recently the accent has been put on fresh fruit options and small, individual sweet bites, as opposed to the rather dated full sized offerings like whole crème caramels, large servings of chocolate mousse or huge slices of cake. It is a known fact that most people only have one or two spoons of any dessert and the rest remains on the plate to be thrown away, so bite sized offering are much more economical and less wasteful.

Luncheons are always easier on the pocket than dinners, when one compares the same menu for both events. The number of daytime celebrations is on the rise and one of the reasons for this is that it is a natural limiter of guest numbers; and not that many people drink in the middle of the day, so alcohol costs are kept down to a minimum.

Corporate Catering in a Corporate World

Corporate life can be challenging. Particularly business meetings or larger gatherings where clients must be involved, fed and entertained can be a challenge to pull off, especially with so many other aspects of the business to keep up with. Corporate catering services are often selected in order to assure that the bigger business meetings and board meetings go forward without a hitch.

Employers and larger businesses tend to work harder and to play harder than any other set of people. Making sure that those parties are all they should be and that the food is reasonably priced, well laid out, and pleasing to the palate can be a challenge.

This means that a corporate party can be even more of a challenge since a wide range of people with different tastes, food preferences and backgrounds will all be together in the same place, and each will require careful handling. In addition to these considerations, religious preferences and sometimes food allergies need to be taken into account when preparing foods for large gatherings.

Corporate catering services are quite often the best method of handling an event that may prove to be more challenging. Even board meetings can be catered so that every attention is given to the small details that will keep the members pleased and the meeting flowing smoothly.

Choices for Your Catering

When it comes to catering, the most important decision to make is what person or company will be handling your order. No matter what the event, you want to make sure that everything goes smoothly, the food is delicious, and the guests are pleased with their choices. So once someone is set to cater, the next decision is the type of meal that will be served.

Hors d'oeuvres

If you are planning something casual, you may just be looking for finger foods and appetizers. In this case, you will be able to make several different selections and have them out for the duration of the party or meeting. You can also choose to have the catering company bring waiters to make sure that your guests are always just an arm's reach away from any of the choices. For more casual events, you may just stop by and pick up trays of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables to be placed on a table for guests to enjoy.

Buffet Style

For larger events, many times catering companies offer a buffet style meal. This works well when the number of guests is a little uncertain. You may have some idea of how many are going to be there, but not down to the specific number. Here guests go down a line of tables and make their choices from some of the things you have chosen to have out. Here each guest gets what they want and they can choose to eat more or less than you may have expected.

Set Menu

In some cases, especially more formal events, a catering company may have a set menu with a soup/salad, appetizer and entree. For weddings, the cake is typically the desert, however other desserts can be ordered as well. Each person receives the same meal and is served each part of it at the same time as all of the other guests. While this is typically more expensive that the above options, it does make it a little easier to have everyone getting the same thing.