Planning a menu for any event is extremely important and can often be a challenging task. It’s important that you provide a balance of trendy food with distinctive flavours that are appealing on the eye. Here are some helpful tips to consider when planning your menu:
Understand your guest profile
– Business / Professional
– Sports group
– Health conscious
– Experienced ÔFoodies’
– Ethnic group
Always consider the demographic of your guests and how those demographics may influence their preferences. The idea is to consider what menu items / selections your guests would enjoy the most and cater for the particular demographic accordingly.
Provide enough food
This is a golden rule of menu selecting! There is nothing worse than turning up to an evening cocktail function and there is not enough food. Understand your audience and the timing of your event and make sure you have enough substantial food items to keep everyone happy. It’s also a good idea to have a cheese or dessert station set up so people can access food after the food service has finished.
Provide menu choices
Make sure you are catering for any special dietary requirements, intolerances, or religious requirements. For seated events make sure there is at least three options available for entre, main and dessert.
Consider your budget
Everyone wants to offer an exceptional dining experience for their event but many don’t have the budget. One suggestion to stretch your budget is to limit particular exotic dishes to canapes, and include a children’s menu (pizza, chicken nuggets, fries etc) if you have children attending the event.You can also save money by selecting local, seasonal produce.
Theming
Your menu needs to compliment your event setting and theming. For example: An outdoor beach themed event would welcome a gourmet style BBQ menu or a winter wonderland theme would feature a selection of hot comfort food such as roast beef with seasonal vegetables and a pudding style dessert. Avoid mixing different themes – If you are offering an Italian style menu, don’t add a Thai food selection as well.
Understand the venue facilities
Do they have an in-house caterer or do you need to outsource catering?
Get creative
Have your guests cook their own gourmet lunch with guidance of a chef. This is great for team building!Think about different areas you could hold your breaks within the venue or grounds – Is there an outside area you could set up a simmer high tea for afternoon tea? If you are holding an all-day conference this will break up the day an refresh the delegates for the final session.Explore different themed break options. For example – Make your own ice cream sundaes, fruit kebabs or smoothies.
Should you need further guidance on selecting the perfect menu to compliment your event, give one of the expert consultants at My Venue Finder a call and we can guide you through the menu selection process, creating
a balanced and thoughtfully prepared event menu.
My Venue Finder
PHONE: 03 9459 8576
EMAIL: enquiries@myvenuefinder.com.au
WEB: www.myvenuefinder.com.au