Aside from décor, music and entertainment, food is a huge part of any event. Food is what satisfies people; it awakens the taste buds and ignites the senses. It fuels you throughout the night to keep you laughing, dancing and drinking with friends. It brings up old memories and creates new ones. Food is life, and good food is a sign of love.
When planning your next event it is important to find the right balance of items for your menu. You want to make sure all of your guests can enjoy what you serve. Remember though, that there needs to be a good balance of items to choose from and as a rule of thumb: It is better to have too much than too little when it comes to feeding your guests at an event. No one likes to leave hungry.
How do you craft the perfect menu? Firstly, know your guests. In pretty at any party these days, you will have guests who don’t eat meat, who are vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, or will out right devour anything you have to offer, so make sure you have items on your menu for all types of lifestyle choices.
Most menus will begin with a selection of hors d’oeuvres to keep guests happy while everyone starts to arrive. Depending on how many options you are offering, makes sure this selection caters to the needs of your guests. This is their first tastes of what the evening has to offer, so make it a good one. They don’t have to be fancy or out of the ordinary; sometimes timeless classics like a mini slider, grilled cheese and tomato soup, pizza, etc…if elevated to the next level with taste and presentation, can be some of the most exciting and memorable dishes on the menu.
After your guests are seated and dinner begins, the menu should be based on the timeline of the event. It is important to space out the food properly so that something is available to your guests throughout the night. You don’t want your guests to get too full to celebrate with you, but you don’t want them to feel unsatisfied either. You need a good balance of hearty dishes, light palate cleansing courses, and a mixed menu so that everyone has something they can enjoy.
No night is complete without dessert! Just like the hors d’oeuvers were the opening act for your event, dessert is the grand finale. You want your dessert table to be your end of the night temptress. Most of us try our best not to be tempted by the sweetness of a dessert table, but we recommend you make it so spectacular that your guests just can’t resist it. It should have a selection of something light, fluffy and delicate. Perhaps it is almost guilt-free! it should definitely have some sort of rich chocolate. It should combine flavors of sweetness, tartness, and creaminess. It should make your guests feel like a kid in a candy store (literally) and bring a second wind to the party that is filled with joy and abundant happiness.
When you plan a well-balanced menu for your guest, you are giving your event an orchestra of flavors that indulge the mind, body and spirit, so think carefully about your guest list when planning your next celebration because the right menu can make your party soar to great heights.
