By | Ryan Zaritskyis
When you’re planning a corporate event full of high-level meetings and detailed presentations, food is the last thing on your mind. From the perspective of your attendees, though, what you serve will make a major impression. Just as much as they’ll remember a certain speaker or idea, they’re going to remember what they ate. That’s why, to create a successful, memorable gathering, catering is key. Whether you’re offering an entire day of meals or just lunch, it’s worthwhile to give extra attention to the food. With that in mind, here are tips for planning the perfect menu for your guests.
- Tailor to the type of event. Step one in determining a good event menu is thinking about the occasion. Obviously, a four-course meal wouldn’t make sense at a mixer, and boxed lunches won’t work at a gala. So ask yourself where you’re hosting, what attendees will be doing, and what kind of food would be appropriate. Will you need portable meals that can be carried from one meeting to another? Could nutrient-rich foods be key to keep attendees focused and productive? Nail down whether you’ll want plated meals, family-style, or a buffet. Think about where you’re holding the event and what attendees will be doing. This information gives you a good place to start in selecting food fit for the occasion.
- Always sample the food beforehand. Never entrust an important event to someone whose food you haven’t tasted. Any company can say its food is delicious, but unless you’ve sampled it, how do you know? Catering experts are willing to let you tastetest what they offer so you can have confidence in the quality of the food. Focus on finding catering that’s delicious and crowd-pleasing — the kind of meals that will wow a wide number of people.
- Provide choices where possible. Pleasing a crowd is easiest when you offer options. Not only will variety mean a greater chance of everyone finding something to like, but also some people will have special dietary needs that those options will help accommodate. If possible, ask about restrictions as part of your event registration, so you can know what allergies or dietary needs to consider. Possible preferences may include gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and/or kosher.
- Offer enough food. Nothing ruins an event faster than finding out the food’s gone and people are still hungry. Because you don’t want to host the event where everyone left starving, communicate clearly with your caterer. Providing an accurate headcount can help your food provider deliver the appropriate amount of sustenance for everyone. Pro tip: Always estimate high. Having a little too much food is better than running out.
- Keep drinks flowing. Especially for long events, keeping people hydrated is key to keeping them comfortable. Throughout your gathering, make drinks such as water, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and tea accessible to attendees. In certain situations, alcoholic beverages may also be appropriate.
- Consider having snacks available, too. Another good idea for lengthy gatherings is having simple, sustaining snacks on hand. While you don’t want food to distract attendees from the point of your gathering, you do want them to be focused and full. Talk to your catering company about little extras you can offer. Providing platers of grab-and-go items alongside mealtime can also give people a way to take a bite for later.
Hosting corporate events takes a lot of work and planning, from coordinating speakers to managing the guest list. Amidst all your efforts, though, don’t neglect one of the most important: the food. By investing the time upfront to get good, appropriate, tasty meals for your attendees, you’ll set the stage for a positive experience for everyone.
Author Bio:
Ryan Zaritskyis the owner and operator of MGM RoastBeef. Founded in 2008, MGM RoastBeefis a gourmet sandwich shop located in D.C. thatisdedicated to providing the freshestproduct possible.
