Incredibly Delicious Chocolate Candies
File under : Food & Beverage
4:49 pm
Food and drink are at the heart of any successful company party. Often, the most difficult part of organizing and planning an event is deciding on the menu to serve. Event planning for a successful party means deciding whether to have a cocktail party with appetizers, a full sit down dinner or a buffet that could also include individual food stations (salad, meat, seafood and dessert).
The type of service and quantity of food you decide on will be guided by the time of day your event is scheduled for. And you\’ll want to consider staff expectations. But the budget may well be your largest consideration in determining the catering style you will go with. A sit down dinner, for example, will cost more because of the cost of hiring a service staff, renting tables, chairs etc. The food is also likely to be more expensive.
Planning for a buffet style event means you will need tables to accommodate catering equipment. Space for a carving station is required if your party planning choices include a traditional roast beef or turkey. For a cocktail style party with appetizers being served, use either presentation tables or wait staff to serve guests. An area for preparation will be needed for both of these party styles. Assess with the caterer as to whether or not the office kitchen will work.
Working with a smaller event planning budget? Don\’t worry. Choose menu items that will allow the catering company to simply drop off your choices. All you will need then is a table large enough to accommodate your menu items, and of course dishes and silverware to go with them.
Your event will have a better shot at success if you keep the following in mind:
- Food etiquette for your office. You know your workplace. Use that knowledge when planning any event. If you have an office full of women, plan on having \”pretty\” food. Something chocolate will be a sure hit. Conversely, if your company is filled with hungry construction workers, you probably want to go heavy on the heartier options and lighter on the \”pretty\” options.
- Sensitivity counts. The diverse nature of the workplace requires sensitivity to ethnicity and religious requirements.
- The quantity of food you will need to provide depends on the number of people attending and the time of day at which your function is taking place. Luncheons usually require less food than evening functions.
Cocktail party style:
- Light: 3-5 pieces per person
- Medium cocktail party: 5 to 8 pieces
- Full meal: 8-15 pieces per person
- Dinner style: 15-20 pieces.
- Cutlery, China and Glassware: The easiest way to make your event planning experience a positive one is to rent these items from the catering company. Choosing disposables can be a good way to too and many catering companies now provide eco-friendly items too. Plan to have delivery of all these items the day before the event. Doing this ensures being ready to set up the day of the event and also enables you to check for missing items.
- Double up on everything if you can. People tend to leave their glasses, plates, and cutlery wherever they wander. Plan on having as much as many items as the number of guests.
- Serving Staff. A buffet is a good choice if you are not hiring staff. Stack plates at the beginning of the line. Place cutlery and napkins at the end of the buffet line. Setting up in this fashion eliminates guests having to engage in a balancing act while serving themselves.
- To ensure that all your guests won\’t have to wait in a crowd around one buffet table, if there\’s space, think about setting up several. Be certain there are plenty of napkins, plates and cutlery at each.
- Wow factor. Providing butler service for your planned event will lend a certain elegance to the experience, and your guests will feel truly valued.
Planning the office party menu will go a long way to ensuring a successful event. Choose everything with your budget and guests in mind, and you\’ll have an event that will leave everyone talking — and for all the right reasons!
Robert Vidra is the founder and CEO of Simply Elegant,one of Canada\’s foremost catering and events companies, headquartered in Calgary. Simply Elegant is known for its unique and thoughtful approach to event planning, including corporate events, private parties and weddings. Their on-staff chefs and designer create menus, decors and even florals that perfectly reflect the occasion and match the budget.
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