When you are tasked with organizing a corporate event, it is understandable that you feel initially daunted and frazzled. When company bigwigs come together after all, nothing short of perfection is expected from coming up with the programme to the food to be served. You as the organizer need to make sure everything runs smoothly or you may just find yourself scouring the want ads for a new job.
It always makes your job easier if the venue you choose has their own catering company they work with but most of the time, you may be required to host the event within company premises or at some swanky location that is more likely not going to have their own catering staff. When this happens, you need to be able to have a backup plan but first you need to have at least some initial plans on hand.
Knowing what type of guests to expect for your corporate events is a surefire way to make your menu planning easier. In corporate circles, when business people attend events that serve the same fare over and over again, they disparagingly describe these monotonous dinners are running the "rubber chicken circuit." To keep your event from being described this way, you need to consider several factors like the professional level of your guests, the number of time they attend these types of formal dinners, where your guests reside and their ethnic backgrounds.
When you take the time to profile your guests, you will be able to explain this to your chosen caterers who in turn, will be able to come up appropriate menu selections. Other factors you may consider can include the age group of your guests, which means that the older they are the milder the food choices should be. You should also consider any dietary preferences or specifications due to any medical conditions they may have or if you are expecting a younger crowd, fusion cuisines may be best since they are usually more adventurous and willing to try anything new. Also, remember that guests usually eat with their eyes and nose first so you must make sure that as they approach the buffet table, the food looks and smells great as otherwise, you could be looking at a still full table at the end of the party.
Another thing to remember is that your guests should be offered a variety of choices. You can offer at least two or three entrees, three or more salad dressings, serve all your condiments to the side and as far as dessert is concerned, you can offer one that is indulgent and one on the healthy side. Also, since the season in which you decide to hold your event also plays a huge factor, try to include seasonal items in your main entr矇e or desserts and also consider as well the region or location of the event so you can incorporate the famous cuisines that region is known for in your menu.
A popular food trend seen among catering services these days is fusion cuisine, which is basically combining the best that the world's regions have to offer. A common combination would be Asian/Chinese/Japanese cuisine or Mediterranean-Asian. Ethnic combinations appeal to most guests because it reminds them of their roots and offers a sense of comfort that enables them to relax and enjoy the party even more.
Time is also of the essence when it comes to planning the perfect menu for your corporate event. If you opted for boxed lunches, serve the food within 30 minutes of the guests' arrival or if you opted for plated meals, allow at least an hour and half for preparation before serving. Buffets usually require an hour at the most and cocktail receptions are usually held an hour before dinner will be served. Remember that it is most likely that guests will not have eaten anything before coming to your event so you should not keep them waiting.
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