Whether welcoming your most V.I. of VIPs, upgrading from the cliché pizza party, or fueling the crew during an end-of-quarter eleventh-hour grind, a conscientious catering plan comes in clutch every time. Motivate and titillate your team using the following list of finer touches.
Assess your head count.
This can be tricky because you want to give an air of abundance, but not obscene waste. We suggest portioning enough for your confirmed guests plus at least 20%. For instance 10 people dining in a conference room would warrant an order for 12 sandwiches and 12 portions of side dishes. If you’re uncertain of the number of attendees, err on the highest possible count plus the suggested 20% padding. Pro Tip: Include takeout packaging on your buffet table to allow personnel busy with their noses to the grindstone a chance to enjoy a bite later.
Modify accordingly.
Believe it or not, there is still a handful of people remaining with zero dietary exceptions, just walking around in the world, raw-dogging whatever is served to them without any qualms whatsoever. What’s their secret? The rest of us can only imagine the ease, however our gratitude remains for those who accommodate our innumerable allergies, sensitivities, religious and ethical dietary needs. Keeping a running list of any staff and their unique restrictions, or asking your visiting guests in advance, in the very least shows courtesy and concern for their wellbeing, and in the extreme can also save a life. Separate potentially dangerous dishes so that cross contamination isn’t a risk, and label everything clearly.
Be considerate with your selections.
This isn’t the county fair, unfortunately, so leave the messy finger foods at home. Unless of course you do work at the county fair, in which case, a tip of the cap to you. For the rest of us pencil pushers, the office is no place for funnel cake, chicken wings, or corn on the cob. The copier is already finicky enough without sticky fingers poking around. Menus can be enticing without being fussy, so stick with approachable but high quality, familiar fare that isn’t sloppy, and isn’t polarizing. A good example of a divisive food is Sushi. You either love it or you fear it, and it’s smart to avoid a dicey choice when attempting to appease the masses.
Be a sweet pea.
We concede that dessert isn’t mandatory in the middle of the day, but it’s certainly a delightful little treat, now isn’t it? Deliver the unexpected with tea time favorites like Nutella Parfait and Chocolate Dipped Churro Bites. We don’t know if it’s a data-backed fact that business booms where a S’mores Bar is present, but we do know happy moods benefit everyone. And for goodness sakes, don’t forget the beverages. Provide quality, hot, and copious coffee with all the fixings, and a variety of teas, soft drinks, and spring water.
Call in the pros.
You are incredibly good at…whatever it is you do, and the folks at All Occasions Catering are masterful at their craft, too. You could order a random assortment of takeout from the deli down the road, and surely there are many area purveyors who can deliver a perfectly fine spread. But there are elements to an expert catering package not provided with the local lunch joint, including but not limited to:
- Intuitive menu creation fine-tuned to your audience and occasion.
- Logistical forethought so your meal arrives fresh and on time.
- Set-up and clean-up, no productivity lost on your end.
- All the little elements that are easy to overlook, such as salt and pepper or serving utensils.
- Help with food service when needed.
- An image of professionalism and polish.
- A lasting partnership to fast-track future lunch meetings.
This is a lot of reading in the middle of your workday, so let us do the thinking instead. Take a look at our suggested menus, or simply reach out today and allow us to take this off your plate, so to speak.