Over the past decade, the catering industry has doubled in size. With this level of growth, catering services by vendors like this food service company are stepping up their game and offering unique food experiences as a part of their catering menu ideas.
Gone are the days of the plain chicken breast and overcooked steak. Your next event is the perfect time to try one of these menu ideas to elevate your menu and delight your guests with unique flavors.
Let’s get to the food!
1. Charcuterie Boards
Place these elegantly arranged boards around your event and eliminate the need for servers lapping the room. Not only do these boards provide a beautiful display, but they give guests a variety of flavors to try.
You can control how fancy and how large your boards are to suit your event theme and size. This makes them an excellent solution for when your guest list is fluctuating.
Try using these ingredients on your boards:
- Cured meats
- Cheese
- Olives
- Nuts
- Fresh or dried fruit
- Crackers or baguette bread
- Jams and jellies
Doesn’t that already sound delicious?
2. Brussel Sprouts
Don’t reject these little round veggies right away! Done well, you can elevate your event with this sophisticated vegetable. Make them approachable by combining them with other flavors you know your guests will love.
You could have them wrapped in bacon. Pop one bite-sized sprout in your mouth and your taste buds will delight in how the bacon fat brings out the earthy nuttiness of the brussels sprouts.
Or you could serve crispy sprouts at your special event at the Blue Plate. They have a unique take on brussels sprouts that involves dried sour cherries and a Dr. Pepper reduction.
3. Artisan Bread
No catering menu is complete without a basket of bread at the end of the table. Elevate your menu by kicking out the mass baked bagged bread, and replacing it with some artisan loaves.
You could stick with something simple like a few loaves of sourdough. Or you could get fancy and have a couple of different varieties for your guests to choose from.
Make it easy to serve by making the loaves person-sized. Or you could have it pre-sliced.
4. A Coffee Bar
Skip the lukewarm coffee and packets of sugar that seem more like an afterthought. You can put together an impressive coffee bar that will mirror a mini coffee house at your event.
Start by offering a selection of coffees. This could include a cold brew, a nitro brew, and a decaf. Then provide a selection of creamers such as non-dairy, traditional creamer, and a flavored option.
Try These Catering Menu Ideas
Try one of these ideas for your next event and give your guests an elevated dining experience. Each of these ideas takes your menu and gives it a bit of sparkle to bring life to your event.
You don’t have to do all of these catering menu ideas at one time; you could pick one, like the artisan bread, to tweak your menu.
Check out the food section of our blog for more great recipe ideas.