Planning an event can be challenging since there are several different factors to consider. You can’t plan for everything, but deciding the perfect menu early on can help make your event a success. You can make people forget about event delays or awkward incidents if the food is great. In fact, the amazing food is sometimes the only thing people remember about events!
1. Consider the Occasion
The first step in choosing the perfect meal is making sure it’s suited to your event. For instance, is it a professional event? A casual get-together? Bachelor party? Once that’s answered, think about the atmosphere of your event. Funeral food isn’t going to be the same as a wedding menu, right?
Also, consider how you want your guests to feel after having the food. If people will be enjoying heavier beverages at your event, try serving lighter finger food. However, if it’s a dinner party, try having a course menu lined up. Remember that your menu should reflect the occasion.
2. Take Advantage of the Season
Incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables into your menu. If it’s summer, you can use mangoes, watermelons, and strawberries in your salads, drinks, and desserts. Fruit boards are also colorful and refreshing additions to an event.
If you’re planning a party in autumn, you could incorporate root vegetables like pumpkin, squash, and carrots. Lentils and green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are also popular choices for soups during chillier seasons.
3. Guest Preferences
Though exotic dishes can be intriguing and good conversation starters, they might not be suited for most people. It’s also important to remember the spice level that your guests prefer. If you’re unsure of these details, you can always make an online poll and send it to your guest list.
If you’re conducting a poll, it will be helpful to find out about any food allergies. But if you’re planning for a big guest list, or a poll is not an option, then you can try avoiding some common allergens or include a few menu items without them. Normally, nuts, fish, and citrus cause strong allergic reactions.
4. Surprise Them with Variety
Even if your guests are meat or cheese lovers, you need to make a balanced menu that offers variety. Offering a small, but wide, selection of different types of foods will make your event more interesting for your guests and give them opportunities to try new cuisine. If you choose to serve this kind of menu, a charcuterie board would be a great centerpiece!
5. Coordinate Meal Courses with Event Schedule
If you’re going to have multiple courses served throughout the event, then timing is crucial. For instance, appetizers and refreshments can keep your guests busy in the beginning of the event and through event delays.
Coordinating your meal courses will also help you to pick out food items that can be served and eaten within a certain time frame. Make your guests excited for each course by adding it to the event itinerary or menu. This is also an effective strategy to get your guests to stay till the end of your event.
6. Pair It with Drinks
Don’t underestimate the power of drinks! If you want your guests to feel refreshed and ready to have fun, try adding cocktails to your party menu. But if it’s a more intimate and relaxed theme, then pair your food items with the right type of wine. For your underage guests at the event, make sure to offer alternative drinks like fresh juices, sodas, or smoothies.
The most important step of meal planning is putting in thought and effort. By combining the different tips and strategies from this article, you can select the best menu for the event.