-
Sometimes all it takes to add some life to a catered meal is to place the food in an appropriate context. JBC Catering prides itself on "designing menus that enhance the ambiance." Food must work alongside a party's theme or atmosphere as much as each table's centerpiece evokes the party's mood. Even a basic dish will feel much more alive if it is served on a funky plate or next to some goofy figurines. For instance, Fun Food Catering in Los Angeles places their food among fun settings such as groups of snowmen.
To add even more adventure to the dish, dress up the food in addition to the items around the food. The Foodery specializes in delicious food that looks fun to eat. Dishes like their beer cheese fondue in a pastry shell or their glazed smoked salmon with wasabi on a slice of cucumber appeal to the eye first and then please the mouth. If the hors d'oeuvres, entrees and desserts look dazzling, guests will have a blast as they nosh away. -
Catered events usually feature only a handful of foods. To wow your guests, throw a wrench in the whole culinary equation. Rather than serve crab cakes, try crawfish cakes. Instead of pork tenderloin, delight your guests with bison tenderloin. Guests will have fun if they are caught off guard in a good way. Therefore, don't make every dish or hors d'oeuvres zany. Balance the strange fare with tried and trued dishes such as prime rib.
If you serve alcohol, feature brightly colored liqueurs such as midori or blue Curaçao. Even if you keep the event alcohol-free, spice up the drinks with a drop or two of food coloring.
Fun ingredients don't always have to rest on the exotic side of the fence. Dishes that require guests to work for their food and/or use their hands work well as long as you have an adventurous crowd. Artichokes, crabs and fondue are just a few of the dishes that will require your guests to interact more intimately with their food. -
Fun food catering often takes a lot of time and resources, but it doesn't have to. Even slight variations on classic dishes will brighten up your guests' palettes. Think of foods that come in several varieties such as carrots or basil. Rather than serve standard orange carrots in your dishes, opt for purple carrots. Instead of red tomatoes, serve multicolored heirloom tomatoes.
Classic dishes will also benefit from some fresh updates. Add some Mexican crunch to your standard lasagna with tortilla strips and mild chilies. Even the "rubber" chicken dinner will take on new life if you offer a variety of toppings and sauces for the chicken. Like a loaded baked potato, a fixin' bar for the chicken will ensure that your guests look a bit more fondly on this dull catered food mainstay.
