Catering services add a special touch to any event, whether it’s a corporate lunch or a wedding. But with so many people to feed, it can be challenging to come up with a comprehensive menu. Here are a few tips for designing a menu that provides options for everyone on your guest list. 

4 Tips for Crafting a Balanced Catering Menu

1. Request Food Preferences

Add sections on your event invitations for guests to list their food preferences, such as checkboxes for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Also, request food intolerance information for allergens like gluten and dairy. Guests will appreciate this extra step and get excited for the event knowing they’ll have dishes to enjoy.

2. Avoid Known Allergens

Skip foods that are likely to cause allergic reactions, such as shellfish and peanuts. If you want to serve these foods anyway, create signs listing the ingredients in each dish. Also, keep them separate from non-allergenic foods to avoid cross-contamination.

3. Provide a Variety

Provide your guests with a variety of vegetables and proteins to accommodate different palates, such as sweet and sour meatballs, egg salad finger sandwiches, fried noodles, potato-macaroni salad, and fish tempura. This kind of assortment will ensure there is at least one type of food for everyone to savor.

4. Consider a Signature Dish

Ask the catering company if they offer a signature dish, which will likely be a crowd-pleaser. If the option makes it onto your event menu, highlight its popularity with a sign, so attendees are more likely to try it. 

Choose from the diverse menu available through Marians Catering for a flavorful event. The Wahiawa, HI-based company offers international, Hawaiian, Japanese, and pupu menus as well as disposable paper goods with every order. All food requests must include at least 20 guests. Call (808) 621-6758 today to place an order for a future event, or review the menu online. Get additional catering ideas on Facebook.