Category: Food

Unusual Catering

Posted on by engineroom

By HQS Wellington


Sometimes you’ve just got to think big.  Generating the wow-factor with some unusual catering options can be just the boost an event needs.  Below you’ll find some top tips and some truly spectacular ideas for unusual catering and how to blow your guests away with extraordinary catering:

 

1) Sounds very obvious but let’s start with the basics – get planning!  How many people are you expecting and what are their expectations?  Once established, brainstorm – what can you do to really get them excited and what will be truly different?

 

2) Some of the best ideas work hand-in-hand with the venue – is there a stunning rooftop which could act as the perfect backdrop or a glamorous ballroom for a truly outstanding champagne reception?

 

When it comes to the food – our advice is to talk early on in the process to the chef. They are the experts and will love nothing more than a chance to do something a bit unusual.  Themed canapés, dishes and desserts are a sure fire hit – if it fits the atmosphere what about having dishes named after each of the evening’s key players?  Perhaps a tailored cocktail named after a new product/ honoured guest/the company etc?  If you’ve got the budget and it’s the right time of year try something spectacular – perhaps a full hog roast buffet or hitting on the current trend for all things eco, go for a totally meat-free evening, with all produce sourced sustainably.

 

3) All-in-all aim for impact and keep things relevant.  That’s why step one is so important.  It’s no good getting that 7ft company-themed blancmange if you know the event is to celebrate the company’s brand new, dairy-free range!

 

And finally, take comfort that as your event cheerfully goes off with a bang, whatever feat you manage to pull off this year, your successor’s got to try and better it!

www.thewellingtontrust.com

Breakfast Meetings

Posted on by engineroom

By Maria Schuett, marketing manager, Central Hall Westminster

Breakfast meetings are fast becoming the new way to carry out business. It is fair to say that taking your clients out for extended lunch meetings has become a thing of the past. With time and financial constraints being felt across the industry, it simply isn’t a viable way to conduct business anymore.

Breakfast meetings are often seen as an innovative yet practical way of carrying out business and in recent years have dramatically increased. Here are a few reasons why:

1) Compensating for the time spent away from your desk is becoming increasingly difficult especially with the pinch of the recession still on our tails. Therefore spending hours away from your desk travelling to and from meetings and enjoying an afternoon tipple just isn’t feasible anymore. Also, returning to your office to find your email inbox filled to the brim isn’t an inspiring prospect for a productive afternoon.

2) Our work ethics have dramatically changed over the years resulting in a ‘lets get down to business’ attitude. Rather than sealing a business deal over the course of two or three leisurely meetings we want more immediate results. Walking out of a breakfast meeting with a sure fire business prospect is almost guaranteed to give you positive vibes, that, coupled with the idea of maximising your time propels you forward in to a more positive working day.

3) There is a significant increase in restaurants and cafe chains offering a breakfast or brunch option which usually means there’s not far to go in search of a delicious and nutritional breakfast. Beginning your working day with a freshly prepared breakfast beats soggy toast and instant porridge by a mile. You can enjoy your mouth-watering breakfast whilst technically working, resulting in a full tummy and a potentially lucrative business deal – now that’s a result!

So whether you are organising an intimate breakfast meeting or a corporate brunch consider these simple rules:

What – Have your aims and objectives planned out and make sure the meeting is not only informative but also enjoyable.

Who – Think about who you want to attend and remember to listen to your guests and encourage discussion.

How – Make sure the time and location is convenient for all guests. Choosing somewhere fairly central is always a good idea.

www.c-h-w.com

Menu Planning

Posted on by engineroom

By 28 Portland Place

Whether it’s trays laden with luxurious canapés, plates of sumptuous sandwiches or three-course gourmet meal, the secret to a standout event is truly mouthwatering food. Good ingredients and expert preparation are an important part of this, but knowledgeable menu planning is the real key to success. Below you’ll find some top tips to make sure your menu’s are the talk of the evening.

Personal

It goes without saying – every event is different and it is worth considering some personal touches to really help draw everything together. If you’re organising an event for a notorious chocoholic, you could work a subtle cocoa theme through the courses whereas someone with a spicier penchant would appreciate a menu that is hot hot hot!

Seasonal

As the old saying goes ‘don’t eat hot broth in summer’. Ok, we made that up, but just like your wardrobe, your menu should change with the seasons and a good chef will be able to steer you through this process with an expert eye. Make sure the chef uses fresh, seasonal ingredients that will complement the time of year and leave your guests delightfully satisfied.

Sustainable

The buzzword of the moment – seriously, even the banks are getting in on it with something called ‘green banking’ – you need to get serious about your event’s carbon footprint and your chef can help by sourcing local produce from sustainable suppliers. The benefit of this for your event is clear – fabulously fresh food and some media-friendly stats to top it off.

Those are three fairly solid starting points – providing you don’t stray too far you won’t go too wrong! The real key is to sit down with an expert chef and spend some time working out what’s best for your event and plan accordingly. When you factor in all the other key ingredients (see what we did there!) you’re sure to have an event to remember.

www.28portlandplace.co.uk