Catering your next event is a challenging prospect, no matter what type of event it is. There are many things to consider and decisions that need to be made, but you don't have to do it alone! In this piece, we'll walk through some of the latest trends in event catering and how they can help you plan a better party.
Sustainability
If you're looking for a way to make your event more sustainable, look no further than catering. Food that's produced and served locally can have a powerful impact on the environment—not only will it reduce our carbon footprint, but it can also help local farmers and businesses. By choosing to serve local food at your event, you can support economic development in nearby communities while supporting the health of those same communities by reducing their carbon emissions. Plus, when you buy food directly from farmers who grow their crops organically or on a small scale, they receive higher prices for their goods and profit from selling them; this means more jobs for people around town!
Healthy Options
Healthy options are trending, and it’s not just for health reasons. Consumers are looking for healthier alternatives to traditional event catering offerings.
- Healthy options are available for any budget.
- They can be customized to fit your specific needs.
- They can be served at any time of day or night, no matter the event or venue.
Healthy options include fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, lean meats and poultry that have been minimally processed as well as low-fat dairy products like milk and yogurt instead of fatty cheeses or cream sauces full of butter or oil used in pastries (think “cupcakes”).
Trending Ingredients
You’re probably familiar with the concept of “trending ingredients”. These are ingredients that are popular at the moment and that you can use to make your food more Instagrammable, healthy and delicious!
Vegetarian Dishes Are Hotter Than Ever Before
It's no secret that Americans have become more health-conscious over the past few years. As a result, vegetarian dishes are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Vegetarian options tend to be healthier and more sustainable than meat-based ones, so it makes sense that people would gravitate toward them for their events.
For one thing, vegetarian food is often lower in calories and fat when compared with meat dishes (at least if you're using healthy ingredients). By offering a wide range of vegetarian options at your next event—from salads to pasta dishes—you can appeal to the health-conscious without leaving anyone feeling left out or hungry. Not only will you serve up delicious food that everyone can enjoy but you will also help those who are choosing not to eat meat feel welcome as well!
In addition to being good for your guests' health and well-being, serving a variety of plant-based dishes means better sustainability practices overall: less land is used for agriculture; fewer resources are used during harvest, less water is required; less fuel is needed; etcetera ad infinitum...
Milk Alternatives
Milk alternatives are a growing trend in the catering industry and with good reason. People are becoming more conscious about their diets and looking for healthier options, including plant-based milk to replace cow's milk.
Almond milk is one of the most popular alternatives to cow's milk because it has a light taste, making it easy to drink in large quantities without noticing that you're consuming extra calories. It also contains healthy fats that can help reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. Almond milk contains no cholesterol or lactose like regular cow's milk does, making it an excellent choice for those with dairy allergies or intolerance issues.
Soy milk is another popular alternative due to its similar taste to cow's milk but lower calorie count (60 calories per cup versus 90 for whole cow’s). Soy has also been linked with lowering cholesterol levels as well as reducing risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes type 2 Mellitus (DM2), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and hyperlipidemia (HL).
Sustainability
Sustainability is a hot topic in the world of event catering. The word has become synonymous with “green” and “healthy,” but what does sustainability really mean?
Sustainable food is any food that's good for consumers, the environment, farmers and their families, and animals. For example:
Sustainable food tastes good! It's often grown or raised in small batches by farmers who use traditional methods to grow foods without harming the environment or animals. So you'll find that even though a product might cost more than another similar option on the market (due to its higher quality), you'll actually be saving money over time because it lasts longer while not costing as much to produce. This can help lower your carbon footprint while also making sure you're getting what you need from each meal, so there isn't any waste!
Instagrammable Items
Instagrammable items are the latest trend in event catering. These are the kinds of foods and decorations that won't only look good on your feed but will also keep your guests entertained and happy.
If you're planning an event soon, try out some of these Instagrammable items! They'll add a personal touch to your party and help make it even more memorable for everyone who attends.
Innovative serving
Serving style. There are many ways to serve your food. Be creative and come up with a new way to present it.
Dish shape and size. The traditional round or square dishes are no longer the only options you have for serving your guests. You can also use different shapes, sizes, and materials for your serving dishes (plastic, metal, glass), as well as bowls or plates that aren't flat or round.
The color scheme of dishware and tablecloths: You may want to consider using different colors in order to match the theme of your event—or just because they look cool!
Creative Serving With Unconventional Flavors
Creative serving is not just about the food. It's also about how you present it and deliver it to your guests. The best event catering companies will do whatever they can to make your event memorable, and one way they can do that is by using unconventional flavors in innovative ways.
For example, one of the most popular trends in wedding catering is incorporating local ingredients into dishes that traditionally don't use them. This gives guests a unique experience as well as something fresh and exciting to try out on their taste buds; plus, it makes for great photos! If you've been searching for new ways to amp up your event's entertainment value without breaking the bank or getting bored with typical offerings like sandwiches or salads (which are still great options!), then this might be just what you're looking for!
Food Walls
Food walls are the latest trend in event catering, and it's a good one. A food wall is a large, custom-designed table with different food items arranged on it. The point of the food wall is to allow guests to pick their own "meal" from the different options available so that they can create their perfect combination of flavors.
A few ways this works: You can ask your caterer for suggestions on how they would serve certain foods together; if you're doing an Asian-themed dinner party, they might suggest incorporating some sushi rolls with other offerings like chicken satay or spring rolls; if you're having a Mexican-themed party, maybe some tacos alongside guacamole and salsa (and maybe chips as well). If you're looking for something more formal than that—say, for example, at an office holiday party or wedding reception—you could also go with stations where servers offer samples of various appetizers and entrees that guests can choose from.
When it comes time for your event planning process, though... don't forget about the design element! Food walls are really popular right now because they look great in photos posted online—but even if yours isn't going up on Instagram anytime soon (or if yours is but doesn't always get likes), then consider adding some flair by making sure there's plenty of color contrast between each item being offered--that way no matter what color scheme or theme fits best throughout rest o
Pairings
As you begin to plan, consider pairing your catering with the following elements.
Food and drink: Wine and cheese is a classic pairing that can be used as inspiration for many more ideas. Consider using wine in one of your recipes (like a wine-braised pork belly) or offering it as an optional beverage at an event. For example, if you're hosting a whiskey-tasting class, pair each course with a different kind of whiskey and encourage attendees to taste them all together at once.
Music: Put on some tunes that complement the theme of your party and see how it affects people's moods—and tastes! Maybe folk music will get folks swaying in their seats while country-rock gets them tapping their toes; maybe classical music will inspire people to share stories about their grandparents' favorite composers; or maybe hip-hop will make everyone want to dance instead of eating. The possibilities are endless when you start thinking about how music can influence those around you...and vice versa!
Location: The environment plays an important role in determining what we eat—we tend to crave lighter fare when eating outside during hot weather compared with heavier fare when eating inside during winter months—so think carefully about where you're planning on hosting your event before making any decisions about food options (or location altogether). If possible, find out whether there's anything nearby--such as fruit trees or vegetable gardens--that guests could sample directly from the source instead of through pre-prepared meals at the event itself; if not then consider bringing some fresh produce along with everything else so attendees can enjoy these items together."
Nostalgic Dishes
Nostalgic dishes are a popular way to satisfy hungry customers. People love comfort food, and they especially love to eat food that reminds them of a time in their life or place in their life. Event catering companies can incorporate this style into their menus by offering nostalgic dishes for guests to enjoy. Some examples include:
- Homemade macaroni and cheese
- Fried chicken
- Waffle sandwiches (this is a very popular restaurant dish at the moment!)
Alcohol-Free Cocktails
Alcohol-free cocktails are becoming more and more popular for events, especially when catering to a variety of different types of guests. The idea behind an alcohol-free cocktail is that it's made with non-alcoholic mixers and other ingredients. You can also sometimes find alcohol-free beers or wines, but today we'll focus on the most popular type of cocktail: mocktails.
Some examples of non-alcoholic ingredients include soda water, lemon juice, lime juice, syrup (like grenadine), and ginger ale.
Specialty Cocktails
Specialty cocktails are a great way to add variety to your party menu. Cocktails can be made with any alcohol, and they can also be made with any flavor of juice or soda—and even syrup!
New trends in event catering can be used to make your next party better.
Some of the newest trends in event catering can be used to make your next party better.
Making the most of new trends: If you are looking for ways to create more memorable events, take advantage of these new ideas and techniques. Using them will help ensure that your guests enjoy themselves and have a great time at your party or event.
Making your party better: Using some of these new ideas will really make your party stand out! You'll be amazed at how much fun things can be when you try out something different!
More exciting: Newer trends may not mean anything without an open mind, but once you've tried them out, they'll become second nature to everyone involved—and that's what makes them so special!
Conclusion
We hope these trends have given you some inspiration for the next time you’re planning a party or event. There are many ways to shake things up and make your next event more innovative and exciting for your guests!
As handleforme, we are ready to provide the best options for your party, by providing the best services for your party. You can find out some options we are offering this link. For any customized request based on your needs, please get in touch with us for the details!
