Regardless of whether you’re celebrating a successful sale or a company milestone with in-office food catering, or hosting an event with a huge list of people, picking the right menu is a significant part of organizing a party. You’ll need to ensure that your guests are comfortable and having a good time. When preparing the menu, it’s essential to consider the not-so-obvious food to ensure a successful program and delectable meal. Here are a few guidelines to follow while preparing a food menu to win over hearts and stomachs!
1. The Guest Profile.
To prevent your event from getting called a “rubber chicken circuit” (a common unflattering phrase used by business people who attend events), make sure that you consider the professional level of your guests, the frequency at which they attend similar events, and their ethnic backgrounds, while preparing the menu.
2. Preferences.
It is important to understand the preferences of your guests by looking at their profiles. This is when you can curate the perfect menu to appeal people from various profiles. Though these generalizations may not always apply, keep in mind that:
- Older groups of attendees may prefer a milder menu.
- Attendees concerned about health and fitness may prefer seafood and vegetarian options.>/li>
- Younger or middle-aged attendees may prefer spicier or simply more adventurous meals.
3. Special Needs.
Do not forget to take care of the special needs of each guest. Today, there are more dietary preferences and concerns to consider than ever before. These may include:
- Food allergies (such as lactose intolerance, nut allergies, etc.)
- Food Intolerances (such as Celiacs)
- Religious requirements (such as Kosher observance)
- Voluntary dietary restrictions (such as vegetarianism or veganism)
4. The Event Schedule.
Make sure that you consider the time of the event. You can’t be serving lunch at 7 p.m.; it’s just absurd. Consider the following options depending upon the time at which the event is supposed to take place:
- Box lunches – if you have 30 minutes or if guests need to be on the go/are moving around.
- Buffets – if you have 1 hour.
- Plated meals – if you have 1.5 hours.
- Cocktail receptions require a minimum of 1 hour before dinner.
- Working breakfasts or lunches should incorporate menu items that can hold up for longer periods of time without ruining the integrity of the food.
With these considerations, you wouldn’t find it difficult to prepare the most appealing food menu for your corporate event.
If you’re looking for a personal chef in New York, get in touch with Chef Nigel. His expertise in cooking quality meals from various cultures (including, but certainly not limited to) Italian, Asian, Caribbean, Cajun and Latin will no doubt make your event unforgettable. Contact him anytime at (800) 514-5076.
