What You Need To Know To Choose the Right Catering Style for Your Event

Food plays an important role in your event planning. Choosing a caterer doesn't have to be difficult, but it is vital that you plan for the event's dining needs properly.

Meal Options

Choosing the menu is one of the more enjoyable yet challenging parts when planning the catering. The right catering service will be able to meet your menu requirements with plenty of options.

Time of Day

The first consideration for any event is which meal is to be served. Events held at traditional meal times, such as breakfast or dinner, typically require a full menu. You can serve lighter fare—such as an afternoon tea or canapés and drinks—if your event is planned outside of the normal meal hours. Your caterer can help you determine what type of food is appropriate for the type and timing of your event.

Dietary Restrictions

Always consider any possible dietary restrictions of your guests. Allergies and intolerances, such as coeliac or peanut allergies, must be taken absolutely seriously by the caterer when planning and implementing the menu. You will also need to consider restrictions such as those that prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet. Your caterer must be willing to go over the ingredients list of all items being used if you are ordering service for those with restrictions.

Serving Style

A full service caterer will be able to provide you options on the style of service. There are many different options, but they tend to fall under three main categories. 

Table Service

Table service is the most formal option. Seating may be assigned or informal. Wait staff will verify the menu option chosen with each guest, and then the courses will be serviced table-side either plated or directly served en situ. Another less formal table service option is family style, where the dishes are set upon the table and guests serve themselves. 

Stand-up Service

For events where seating isn't provided for everyone, such as a meet-and-mingle event, stand-up service is ideal. This can be presented in one of two ways. Servers may circulate among the guests offering food from trays, for example. The other option is to have food stations set up around the event floor, where staff can top off drinks or guests can add a savoury bite or two to their plate.

Buffet Service

Generally considered the least formal option, buffet service is a suitable way to serve large groups when the event isn't to fancy. Corporate team building events, family reunions, and sporting gatherings often utilise this option.

You can choose between styles where the guests serve themselves or where staff serve the guests as they carry their plate down the line. The latter option is ideal because catering staff can verify food safety standards such as proper holding temperature and cross contamination avoidance.

Venue Limitations

There may be venue limitations that will affect the type of catering available. Fortunately, most caterers will work closely with your venue to ensure you are able to have the menu desired.

Kitchen Availability

Not all venues feature a kitchen that caterers can use, or the facilities may be limited to a few power plugs and a refrigerator. When kitchen space is limited or non-existent, your caterer must be able to prepare most of the food offsite and then arrange for safe transport and storage. It's unsafe for most foods to be kept at temperatures between 5 degrees Celsius and 60 degrees Celsius, so your caterer may need to be able to supply their own hot tables or refrigeration units at the event.

Serving Details

Another consideration is serving. If your venue doesn't offer table ware, linens, or other necessary dining items, then it is up to either you or the caterer to do so. You may be able to save time and expense of renting these items yourself if you choose a caterer that is able to provide them.

Contact Temptations Catering for help planning the food for your next big event.