What's Hot and What's Not?

What's "In" in the World of Catering?

In a world where history repeats itself, everything old is brand new again, and the fad today is old tomorrow, how do we really keep up? Well, this is the difference between the catering industry and restaurant industry. The restaurant industry may stay without the need for any change but the caterers could not. Caterers must always have the flair and style while doing it on a grand scale.


1. Food
Everything old is brand new again because the classic familiar meats are making their big comeback! In fact, a really popular way of presenting these classic courses is through a delectable menu with many different small courses to give a leaner, cleaner look, paired with wines appropriate for the course. Also beginning and rounding off the table are those mini-mini desserts and bite-sized canapés. Ethnic foods such as Dim Sum and East Indian are becoming more and more traditional, shifting from the fusion creations and are slowly incorporating themselves nicely with the trendy-themed caterings. Also on the rise in the catering industry are mixed-culture weddings, requesting a blend of two types of cuisine which features elements of two cultures with spectacular effect.

2. Beverages
Long live the martini - it simply refuses to die! In fact, it even reinvented itself with different ingredients such as Champagne, Saki, flavored Vodkas, and a lot more. The mini-bottle of Champagne sipped with a straw is definitely still in, and clients are still consuming better wines paired with their meals. It seems that customers prefer less, as reflected in today's beer choices such as Becks, Stella Artois, Corona, Heineken, and Sol. Do not ever forget the irresistible summer blender drinks, which will always be in style!

3. Presentation and Decor
If pictures are worth a thousand words, presentations are worth everything especially for caterers. You can have the most delicious food in the world; however, if it is not presented with style and flair, then the appeal can be lost in no time. With this premise, the entire event you planned for a long time hinges. The trend in presentation and decor is actually veering sharply towards a lean, clean look. Forget the old days of multiple draped linens! As a matter of fact, more and more events are beginning to be linen-free.

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.