The fragrance of cilantro in a mango salsa, the crisp snap of a heritage tomato in a salad, or the mouth-watering complexity of a warm bison steak just off the grill; each of these delights comes from Simply Elegant’s commitment to bring local food to your table in ways that many of us are unaware.

Craft beer and cider breweries, organic food grocers, community and farmers markets, and small niche specialty shops and butchers are just a few examples of the growing consumer interest in locally sourced foods. The local food movement has been gaining ground for several decades. Most people are familiar with the organic and sustainable food “movements” that were started by the “flower children” of the sixties.

History of Organic Food Movement

Over the past five decades, the organic food movement has grown to a huge industry that supplies products to restaurants, grocers and homes. More recently the “100 mile diet” and the emphasis on locally grown foods has gained popularity. Grocery stores are seeing increasingly more selective consumers seeking new and different products for their home dining and entertaining experience.

Local Foods in Calgary

In Calgary, the huge growth of independent grocers and small “gourmet” shops demonstrates the consumer demand for fresher, sustainable, local and organic products. Many stores have dedicated considerable space to organic produce and meats, whole aisles have been set aside for local products and tasting are regularly offered for new local products. Where you used to take a bottle of wine when going out for dinner, It’s become popular to take homemade or unique hand-crafted food gifts as a gift for your host.

Food magazines, gourmet food and recipe sharing websites like Pintrest have vast numbers of “posts” dedicated to locally sourced foods. As well, television talk shows, food programs and news sources are bringing us more information about farmers, commercial manufacturers and chefs who use fresh, organic and local food sources.

There are substantive environmental advantages to serving and consuming locally grown produce and meats. Reducing the transportation of food ensures fresher, riper produce and reduces the carbon footprint that transport trucks leave. The food industry’s love affair with the local food movement is a very complex and compelling relationship.

“Every person I have ever known expresses eating something tasty the same way, it first starts with taste, the closing of eyes, a smile and then……. recognition of a truly marvelous moment.  This is what I seek when people eat good food. I recognize that part of that experience stems from understanding what you ate and where it comes from.  Fresh food must be local, this means that it grew ripe not in transport but from picking it at the right time.” Robert Vidra

Simply Elegant on Fresh-made Food

At Simply Elegant, our CEO, Rob Vidra has made a commitment to bring clients a more exciting, fresh and local selection to our menu offerings. We are proud of the relationships that we have developed with local suppliers like Glengary Bison, Alberta Cheese and Poplar Bluff Organics. Along with our in-house grown herbs, these companies provide our clients with foods that make our menu one of the freshest dining experiences in Calgary.

We know that for a chef to be inspired they have to understand the foods they are using. Growing your own food helps bring someone closer to the art of cooking. Our chefs and catering team have been challenging themselves to making your dining experience better than ever! We’ve started with our “House Made Philosophy.” We believe that our meats, produce, condiments and sweets can be fresher, tastier and more affordable. With that in mind we:

• make food on the premises from materials that have not undergone significant modification from a natural state
• create menus from scratch using natural instead of processed foods
• grow herbs, gourmet salad and micro-greens in our in-house gardens
• use sustainable fishes and products and
• source local foods whenever possible

“Calgary can be an environmentally challenging place to grow fresh food but there are many opportunities to experiment on bringing local tastes to our menus. So why not try.” Simply Elegant continues to lead the way for others as we bring more of the local experience to our clients and consumers.

Watch for new menu items and much more from our amazing kitchens as we seek to bring you the freshest and most compelling selections for your upcoming events! Call us if you want to know more about our commitment to the local food experience and let us help you create a great event!

The post Viva la vida local! Simply Elegant & the Local Food Movement appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

A perfectly set table is a small masterpiece. And a beautifully folded napkin adds an elegant finishing touch to a dining table. Napkin folding is also a perfect way to dress up your table without much extra cost!

Cloth napkins make your guests feel that the meal is an event filled with moments worth savouring. Intricately folded napkins on the empty dinner plates or in water goblets add beauty and a formal polish to the table.

There are a number of different napkin folding options, and here’s a pleasant surprise, they are actually a lot easier to fold than you may think. Here are 11 napkin folds and instructions on how to create them.

Opera House Fan

1. Fold napkin in half.
2. Fold the bottom edge of the halved napkin up about one inch and hold in place.
3. Fold it back under the napkin in the opposite direction another inch. Continue this pattern until you are within four inches of the top of the napkin, finish with the last fold down away from you rather than up.
4. Fold accordion pleats in half down the centre with folds facing the outside. A four-inch flat portion of the napkin now sticks out from the center of your folds.
5. Fold accordion in half with folds on outside; four inch flat will protrude from the center.
6. Fold the unfolded corners diagonally and tuck them under the accordion folds then open the fan and stand it up.

Bird of Paradise

1. Fold the napkin in quarters with the four edges toward you.
2. Fold the edges up to form a triangle.
3. Fold the left and right points of the triangle to the center and then fold the extended points under.
4. Lift the center and hold the base – pull the four napkin edges out of the center to create the bloom.
   

Rose

1. Fold all four corners of a flat napkin into the center: then fold four points again to the center.
2. Turn the napkin over and fold four points again to the center pressing all folds tightly.
3. Turn napkin to form a diamond. Using one hand to hold two points at front center of the napkin and with the other hand reach under that point and pull up flap.
4. Repeat at three other points.
5. Holding center points, reach between petals and pull out additional flaps.

Cardinal Hat

1. Fold the napkin in diagonally forming a triangle.
2. Fold the left and right hand corners of the triangle to the top.
3. Turn the napkin over so that no folds are visible.
4. Fold up the bottom tip of the triangle and fold in half.
5. Fold the right side over the left making a circle.
6. Tuck one end of the triangle into the other.
7. Place the Cardinal Hat in an upright position and flare out points slightly.

Goblet Fan

1. Fold napkin in half with the edges at the bottom.
2. Accordion pleat form right to left.
3. Fold the bottom third up.
4. Insert into goblet and spread pleat to form fan.

French Pleat

1. Fold napkin in quarters.
2. Roll the first layer of the napkin toward you to the center.
3. Fold the second layer toward you and under the first – Do not Roll.
4. Leave the same width of the napkin as the rolled edge.
5. Fold the next layer of the napkin away from you and under the second leaving the same width as other two folds.
6. Fold under the right and left side edges to center back.

Crown

1. Fold the napkin in half diagonally forming a triangle.
2. Fold the left and right triangle to the top forming a square.
3. Turn napkin to form a diamond. Fold the bottom point 2/3 of the way to the top point and fold the bottom point back again to the base line.
4. Turn napkin over and tuck the far corners into one another forming a round base.
5. Stand a napkin upright and flair out the two top corners to form a Crown.

Flame

1. Fold tall four corners of a flat napkin to the center.
2. Fold the bottom half under the top half.
3. Fold the right half over the left half.
4. Turn the napkin clockwise to create a diamond.
5. Roll the top layer toward center forming a band.
6. Turn the second layer under to form a second band.
7. Fold the left and right hand edges under.

Trifold

1. Fold the napkin in half diagonally form a triangle with the long point facing you.
2. Fold the far left and right had corners of the triangle toward you to the bottom point.
3. Fold the napkin in half bringing the bottom point under to meet the top point.
4. Lift the napkin at the center to stand upright on the two side edges.

Peak

1. Fold the napkin toward on end into quarters.
2. Fold the right and left edge under and towards you creating a triangle at the top of the napkin.
3. Roll the right and left edges up into the base edges of the triangle.
4. Turn the fold over standing the triangle point up with the open edge facing you.

Candle

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally forming a triangle.
2. Fold one-quarter of napkin’s base edges, forming a cuff.
3. Turn napkin over. Carefully roll from left to right.
4. Tuck the remaining corner inside the cuff to hold the Candle firm.
5. Position the Candle with the highest point of the napkin facing you.

When it comes to the art of napkin folding, remember that each napkin fold will suit different themes and styles. For best results use square napkins when creating napkin folds. Well-starched napkins form the cleanest folds.

Whether it’s a formal sit-down dinner, an everyday family meal, or a festive party buffet, artfully folded napkins add stylish flair and enhance any occasion. No matter how simply or intricately done, elegant and creative napkin folds transform meals into celebrations.

Napkin folding is an art that is easy to master. These simple folds will enhance your table and delight your guests.

The post Napkin Folding appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

You also have to select a date, determine a budget, decide upon the perfect location, carefully choose the guest list, settle on a motif, plan the decorations, decide on the choice of music…the list is endless.

But the most critical factor to the seasonal preparation and planning of a successful party most often rests on the choice and selection of the food and drink. Are you going to attempt this task on your own?  Or do you outsource it to a reputable and professional caterer?

Catering the Affair on your Own?

The decision to cater your own seasonal gathering can come with its own set of challenges. You will obviously be hoping to save money, as a professional caterer can sometimes be quite expensive.

If the affair that you have planned will have a rather small number of invited guests, it may be quite simple to prepare the menu yourself. Or perhaps a visit to the local delicatessen or a favorite restaurant can provide a wide array of prepared party trays for your festivities.

An added advantage to self-catering is that you are better able to choose exactly what items it is that you want to serve. If we choose to hire a professional caterer, many times our choices can be somewhat limited, or at least partially dependent upon the abilities of the company we select.

Important: When interviewing prospective catering candidates, make sure that you have a wide range of food and drink selections as options so that your seasonal party is a big success.

Hiring a Professional Caterer?

There are some definite advantages to hiring a reputable catering service, especially for larger events. These professionals are better versed in determining the amounts of food and drink that will be required for the size of the gathering that you intend to entertain. Although initially you are often spending more money by hiring a professional caterer, you could end up saving larger sums of cash in the end.

A common mistake made by those who attempt to provide the meal and beverages themselves is the over-ordering or under-ordering of the seasonal fare that we wish to provide. Buying too much can cost us loads of extra money and leave us with lots of leftovers. Buying too little can quickly end an otherwise fun and engaging event. You rarely will see a party end more quickly than when the announcement is made that the kitchen and bar are “closed”.

By the way, here’s a good post we’ve written on choosing the portion sizes and how much food to order for your events to avoid leftovers or running out of food mid-event.

Hire a Pro, and Enjoy your Party!

By hiring a professional caterer for your seasonal get-together, you gain the added benefit of being better able to relax and enjoy your own event. Let the professionals worry about the smooth operation of the party. They have the experience and the focus to ensure the careful organization of any social gathering. You can then spend your time hosting your guests, mingling, and introducing them to one another, making sure that everyone is able to celebrate the joyous festivities!

The post Should I Hire a Professional Caterer for my Seasonal Party? appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

Keep in mind that the time of day your party is planned for will directly affect the type of service and quantity of food required and staff expectations. But…the most important factor that will dictate the style of catering you choose is your budget.

Holding your office Christmas party on-site means you’ll need to keep in mind that the space available will dictate the style of service you choose. A sit down dinner requires room for tables and chairs. Be certain your budget will accommodate this style because you will need to hire serving staff.

A buffet style gathering will require tables for catering equipment and if you choose to have traditional turkey or roast beef, space for the chef carving station is a must. Presentation tables for an appetizer party are needed unless you decide to have wait staff serve guests as they mingle. You will still require a preparation area. Your staff kitchen could do the trick for this choice.

If you have to get the most out of a smaller budget, opt for the caterer to drop off your menu choices and then all you’ll need is a table to set up the presentation.

Here are a few more tips to help you plan the perfect office Christmas party that will have everyone talking about it – in the most positive way — for months to come!

• Know your office food etiquette. If yours is an office of women, serve food that is pretty and always add chocolate something. Perhaps you are a construction company; you will want to fill the gap with delicious home-style portions.
• Be sensitive. Keep in mind the ethnic and religious requirements of your colleagues.
• How much food is needed will depend on how many people will attend and the time of your party. Luncheons typically require less food then evening parties.

For a cocktail style party:

• Light: 3 to 5 pieces
• Medium cocktail party: 5 to 8 pieces
• Full meal cocktail party: 8 to 15 pieces.

Dinner style cocktail parties require 15 to 20 pieces per person.

• Renting China, Glassware, Cutlery will make any party planners life much easier and is eco-friendly. You should be able to rent them from your caterer. If you want disposable, choose a caterer that has eco-friendly items available. Have the order delivered the day before to ensure you are ready for the set up the day of the event. If you are missing items, early delivery gives you time to make wrongs into rights.
• Double up on everything if you can. People tend to leave their glasses, plates, and cutlery wherever they wander. Plan on having as much as twice the amount as the number of guests.
• Serving. If you are not hiring serving staff, a buffet is the way to go. Stack plates at the start of the buffet line, and place cutlery and napkins at the end. Guests will then have less to balance while they serve themselves.
• Consider setting up the food in several spots if you have the space. That way everyone won’t be crowding around the same buffet table at once. Make sure there are plenty of napkins and plates at each station.
• Choose a theme. You can theme any party from décor to food to menus. How about a Winter Wonderland with an elegant colour theme of purple and gold.
  Fire & Ice: think ice sculptures and icicles combined with fire torches (fake of course!) or candles and a red Christmas tree. Or choose a Victorian Christmas to add warmth and charm to your office gathering. Themed parties add great value that will provide your office with an unforgettable experience.
• The wow factor. If you have the budget go with butler service and provide your staff with an elegant experience that says they are the best.

The post Office Christmas Party Food appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

Types of Corporate Catering

Before anything else, it’s necessary to determine what kind of corporate catering services you’ll need. This will depend on the number of guests as well as the type and location of the event. Corporate luncheons, themed dinner parties and team building events call for different preparations. Carefully consider the goal of your event, whether it be networking, learning or celebrating, to cultivate the appropriate mood and meal options.

Ordering Recommendations

This year, several unique changes are in store for corporate catering companies, as guests are moving toward new preferences. New options related to diet, food sources, and table set-ups will be central this year.

Interactive Stations

Encouraging casual conversation is a great way to allow guests to loosen up and network with others. This can be done through interactive stations, or individualized stands that invite guests to walk up and watch their food be prepared. Interactive stations offer guests the opportunity to customize their food and interact with caterers and other guests. According to research [the source link is broken http://cravecaterers.com/catering-trends-2015/], stations with chef demonstrations are often the tipping point between an average event and a memorable one.

Diet Specifications

As many people become more health-conscious and deliberate about their dietary choices, offering healthy options is a must. Delicious gluten free options are offered by many catering companies, as well as vegan and vegetarian dishes. To ensure your event accommodates everyone, always include some foods that are free of nuts, dairy, gluten and meat. This isn’t as complicated as it initially sounds. A fruit tray or a large salad is a great start.

Mash-Ups

Mash-ups are a fun trend that’s expected to grow this year. Essentially, mash-ups take two or more unlikely ingredients and combine them into one incredibly innovative and tasty treat. These could come in the form of desserts, appetizers or even entrees. Some common mash-ups include “dessert pizza” and donut ice cream sandwiches. While initially skeptical, guests will be delighted upon tasting one of these offbeat treats. This also gives guests a talking point during the event and after it has passed.

Get it Local

It’s expected that diners will seek out local, farm-to-table meals more and more frequently this year and beyond. Simply including a few local, fresh options at an event is a good way to keep up with this trend. Guests will be satisfied in knowing where their food is coming from. This also creates a sustainable, community atmosphere that fuels your company’s local ties.

Smaller Portions, More Variety

Guests seem to be gravitating toward smaller portions and more variety on their plates. They like picking at several foods without having to commit to one heavy entree. This trend is healthier, as it moves away from large, restaurant-size portions. If arranged buffet-style, this also eliminates waste, as guests can choose the amount of each food they want without predetermined portions.

Clearly, your options for planning a creative event are varied, and this is certainly not an exhaustive list of ideas. We’re Simply Elegant, a Calgary-based events and corporate catering company with innovative ideas and guidance on how to make your next event stand out. Let us know if we can help with your next event!

The post 5 Rules to Rock your Corporate Catering appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

Simply Elegant customizes menus to give your guests the ultimate in variety and remember to be sensitive to food allergies, ethnic and religious considerations. Budget conscious companies can enjoy our money saving meals utilizing our Weekly Specials.

Choose a catering company that takes the time to listen to your needs. Your caterer should deliver the highest quality of service throughout the year including peak seasons and be committed to pride in food presentation to keep it fun and varied.

Reasons for Catering Hiccups: Did you confirm both eating and delivery times? Is the meeting a different address from your billing address? Is your loading dock difficult? Are you having a fire drill today? Let the caterer know if you only have stairs.

Deliveries are affected by Calgary blizzards, infamous road construction and special events like Stampede.  Inform the office of the food delivery if you will not be present to receive it. Never assume – always ask your caterer questions. Don’t forget drinks and disposables and ask about potential food allergies.

Food expectations vary greatly from one company to another so be mindful of food styles – healthy  vs. comfort food; sit down hot lunch vs easy to eat for Lunch and Learn’s. Your budget is proportional to food quantity, quality and style so utilize Simply Elegant Catering our Weekly Specials for variety and greater savings. Discuss platter pick up when ordering as it is usually the next working day after food deliveries. Manage your sandwich variety by changing up the type of breads and fillings for your staff.

Vegetarian Menu Ideas

• Baked summer fruits served with a of plain very low-fat fromage frais, followed by a slice of sesame Ryvita topped sliced apple and lemon curd. For the summer fruits, bake raspberries, peaches, strawberries and blackberries.
• Pea and pumpkin curry with steamed Thai fragrant rice.
• Vegetable moussaka

Lactose Intolerant Menu Ideas

• Orange juice, calcium fortified
• Turkey on Italian bread with Mayonnaise
• Roast beef with Noodles and Broccoli

Celiac Menu Ideas

• Eggs, Canadian bacon or turkey bacon
• Stir-fry with meat, poultry, seafood and chopped vegetables served over brown rice
• Pudding, ice cream or yogurt topped with berries and whipped topping

Peanut Allergy Menu Ideas

• Order simple dishes with only a few recipe ingredients.
• Avoid sauces unless you’re sure they don’t contain nuts.
• Confirm with kitchen that food processors, cutting boards, pans, knives, or other food preparation equipment have not been used for nuts.

Fish Allergy Menu Ideas

• Aerosolized fish proteins inhalation causes allergic reactions so people with fish allergies should avoid hibachi-style communal grill menus.
• Sushi offers high risk for cross-contamination due to the close proximity of fish and non-fish items.
• People with fish allergies should avoid eating any other food fried in the same oil.

Low Sodium Menu Ideas

• Avoid instant rice, pasta, and other pre-packaged foods, since they often have a high salt content.
• Choose raw nuts over salted, roasted nuts, unsalted nuts or seeds, dried beans, peas and lentils unsalted popcorn or fresh fruit instead.
• Choose any menu that is created using fresh, frozen or canned food items that are processed without added salts.

Muslim Food Restrictions

• Avoid any pork dishes at a banquet when Muslims are in attendance because the other dishes might become contaminated in preparation or serving.
• Do not serve alcohol in the presence of guests, especially government or religious officials, from the more fundamentalist Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia or Kuwait; even if you know that the individual may drink in private. Many Muslims, Muslims fast until sundown during the month of Ramadan.

Corporate catering needs a lot of special considerations when compared to a traditional catered event, like birthdays and parties. A corporate event usually means that it is related to a business gathering where one company is trying to impress the representatives of another company by looking professional.

Corporate event catering is more about presentation than anything else. Not only will the food be rich, but the dining table sets will look neat and organized. You will even have waiters that will take people’s plates when they are done.

The Event Ambiance

A corporate event is all about making the attendees feel as comfortable as possible. Chances are the event may be trying to sell a product or service that the hosting company is offering. So, if the clients are impressed with the professionalism of the event then they will likely be tempted to invest their money into what the company is selling.

Know Your Guests

You must consider knowing who your guests are and what they like to eat. For example, if you are hosting a dinner party with a Japanese corporation, then it wouldn’t really be appropriate to serve hot dogs and hamburgers at the event.

Instead, you will want to serve the kind of food they would normally eat in their native land. In the case of the Japanese, this would be fish, sushi, teriyaki, rice and etc. That way you will earn their respect and it will help you in developing a business relationship together. The same applies with business people of all countries, not just Japan.

The Venues

Corporate events should also be indoors whenever possible. You don’t want your event to look like an outdoor picnic with flaming grills and flies buzzing around. Instead, you want to have your event inside a building with a comfortable room temperature and lots of cleanliness.

Use the Venue Concierge service to find the perfect venue for your event in Calgary.

Remember that presentation of the event is just as important as the food that’s being served. Even the food should be presented in a professional manner with chefs placing the food on people’s plates or waiters bringing the food directly to the guests’ tables.

Serving the Food

Depending on the type of corporate event, you will want to figure out if it is a good idea to let people serve themselves or not. Usually an event with Fortune 500 corporate representatives won’t even want to get their own food. They will expect it to be delivered.

These are the considerations you have to make when hosting a corporate event. Let us know if you have questions or comments (leave below) about catering to your next corporate event.

The post Considerations for Successful Corporate Catering appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

There are so many different reasons to hire a caterer, like for business events, birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, home model showcases and more. The type of catering menu that you select should resemble the theme of your event in some way.

Corporate Catering

If it is a corporate event, then your menu should have food listed that your guests would like to have. For example, if you are doing business with a southern company from the United States, then you might want to have food from that region on your menu.

This may include grits, fried chicken, biscuits, stuffed ham, cornbread and etc. After all, the point of a corporate party is to try and please your guests because you want them to do business with you. If they are happy with the food on the menu then they will be happy with you. That is the logic behind planning ahead when choosing your catering menu.

Wedding Catering

Another popular form of catering is for weddings. What is unique about a catered wedding event is that the food preferences really coincide with the preferences of the bride and groom. The guests are just attending the event in order to see a wedding, so you are not trying to “sell” them anything like you would at a corporate event. The menu of a wedding is pretty typical; however, you will find a lot of sweets there.

Most particularly, you will find wedding cake, pie, cookies and so on. The main meals are whatever the bride and groom picked out. Their food choices could be due to their cultural upbringings with certain foods. Chances are the guests coming to the wedding share those cultural interests and will love the food being served. So, there shouldn’t be any issues here.

Events Catering

Many people don’t realize that concession catering takes place at most sporting events. An example of such event catering is Calgary Stampede. All of the hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and chili at sporting events come from caterers. It sure doesn’t appear as professional as a corporate event, but these caterers work just as hard to cook and prepare the food like any other caterer would. The menus are simple enough, but that’s okay because people are mainly at the event to see a game and have a good time doing that.

Make sure you check our catering menus section and let us know if you prefer to pick of the existing packages or order a custom order for your event, wedding or a corporate banquet.

Choosing a Catering Menu from Simply Elegant

So, you are going to hold a party and needs catering services that will suit your needs, requirement, and budget? We’re confident that your search will end at Simply Elegant.

Planning the catering menu is essential. Whether it is an elaborate wedding reception, small client appreciation reception, or a corporate party, food can make or break your event.

Thus, choosing the best and the most reliable catering services provider for the function is the best element in the event planning procedure. An experienced and knowledgeable caterer can make life easier. So it is worth the money and effort choosing a company that you can easily rely one, one that you can trust.

Event Suitability

You need to be able to choose from a wide variety of catering menus. We have breakfast, cocktail packages, cold dishes selections, wedding packages, hot combinations, stampede packages, events packages, and holiday packages. These options are ideal for functions and events, so you don’t have to worry about finding the best deal.

Regardless of what type of event you will be holding, we will be able to cater to your unique needs and requirements. We are equipped with the necessary expertise and experience in this field, thus we can guarantee 100% client satisfaction.

Beverages

Planning on serving beverages on your event? Let Simply Elegant handle it all for you. We are licensed to serve alcohol for the clients. They offer a full range of excellent bar services – from beer, wine, to full bars with martini luge, this company has a lot to offer!

Our bar staff is professional and efficient and is dedicated to taking care of the guests in the most entertaining and fun manner as possible. So, when it comes to having a party with a blast, you can expect a one of a kind service in line with their exceptional beverages selections.

One of our specialties is coffee! You get to choose from great coffee selections like the Java Estate, Rainforest Alliance Santander, and Monasterio. All these can surely satisfy your guests!

Feature Menus

So, you want to have corporate lunches without stretching your budget or putting a hole in your pocket? Don’t worry! Simply Elegant offers Feature Menus. You get to choose sandwich menu both vegetarian and gluten free at compelling and reasonable prices. You may also want to consider our Food To Go features!

The post Choosing Your Catering Menu by Event Type appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

There are many options of professional services at your disposal. Some of the best caterers may be individuals, others may be larger organizations. But no matter which type that you choose, all are legally required to utilize a licensed kitchen in preparation of the food choices to be served. Be wary of the individual who cooks from their home kitchen, and then delivers the food to your gathering.

Factors to Consider

The selection of the right catering service for your event will depend on a few major factors. Some are more adept at planning smaller social gatherings while others are more skilled at coordinating larger functions. During your interview process, it is best to predetermine the skills set of each individual caterer.  

Ask about previously catered events. Ask about the number of guests, the types of food, and the magnitude of the affair itself. Ask about examples of unforeseen circumstances that might have occurred during one of their functions, and how they dealt with the urgent resulting issues. By educating yourself on how these catering professionals handle emergent situations, the final decision of which caterer to choose for your event may be immediately clearer.

Interview Tips

Never hire the first person that you meet. Shop around.  Get details and estimates. Even if the catering service comes highly recommended by other friends or associates, your party may be of a completely different type than theirs. Therefore, the referred professional may not be the best suitable choice for your specific requirements. Talk to several catering companies before making your final decision.

Check References. If the caterer says that they have no references, then don’t even consider that company as a viable option for your event. This method will not always 100% guarantee the perfect final choice, but is a definitive help in narrowing down your options. Ask to inspect their kitchen.  Check for cleanliness issues. Perhaps attend an affair of theirs prior to hiring the catering service to see if they instill a smooth style of operation in their coordination and planning.

Book Ahead

The best caterers are usually very hard to hire. Their schedules are typically already filled for many months in advance. Hire early, no less than 6 months prior to the event. The more time before the party that you can hire the catering service, the better the chance for a smooth running operation.

Once your selection of catering professional is determined, make certain to document every detail from the date, to the menu, to the price list. You don’t want to be left in the lurch on the eve of the party without a professional catering service. Follow-up with your caterer regularly in the weeks preceding the event to cover all of your bases.

The post Choosing the Best Caterer for Your Event appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

Know your guests. Are they predominantly male, female or mixed? Are they of a certain age, income  bracket, or culture?  Do they work together at a job or share a profession? The more you know about them, the more you can predict what foods they’re going to enjoy. Pinwheel sushi may be lost on oil rig workers and a side of beef won’t go over well at vegetarian convention.

Factor in the time of year. Think ahead to what will be fresh and readily available for the season. Fresh foods, local where possible, will taste better than foods that have spent a long time on the high seas.

Be culturally sensitive. There are times when it’s not appropriate to serve certain foods. During Ramadan, for example, if your group includes Muslims, you want to ensure that when and how the food is served is sensitive to the fact that they must fast during the day. Do any of your Jewish guests require Kosher meals? Showing your guests this level of respect sends a strong signal about the care and attention your company demonstrates in its business dealings.

Do you know if there are any allergies in your group? If you’re not sure, ensure whatever you serve clearly identifies any common allergens like nuts or shellfish.  When serving nuts or shellfish, it’s better to make sure they are clearly visible and not hidden.

Consider using china for your event instead of disposable paper plates. If you do use disposable plates, ensure you use the biodegradable kind.  Your guests will appreciate the extra respect shown to them and care towards the environment.

What’s the purpose of your event? Your food should support what you are saying and not fight it. Make sure the food reflects the occasion. If you are announcing  a bad fiscal year to shareholders, you would be better serving a budget conscious spread than opting for caviar and the finest Champagne.  If you are selling a luxury product, you probably want something other than chicken wings and domestic beer.

Use food to manage the energy in the room. Forgo heavy carbs in favour of lighter fare if it’s a working meeting and you have a heavy agenda. Conversely, if you’re delivering bad news, a little comfort food — mom-inspired dishes like mac and cheese and shepherd’s pie — can help ease the pain.

Look for unique or personal touches you can add. Does your CEO love a particular food? Perhaps each division can request a dish. Does your charity event involve auctioning off a trip somewhere with great food? If so, include dishes from that location. Look for ways to integrate your food choices into your event.

Be careful of serving your group the same thing over and over. Sandwiches have their place but serving the same selection each time you have a working lunch will make your team grow resentful of giving up any of their downtime for company business.

Look for a caterer who spends time and works with you to help you achieve your goals. Food is a very cost effective way to achieve many ends, including:

• reward staff for putting in longer hours
• encourage donors to give more
• bond with clients
• Engage potential customers

Take care in choosing the food you serve them and they will take note.

Food mooding your event is part science and part art.  Start by knowing who you are feeding and what you are trying to accomplish. From there, look for ways to underscore your message and connect with your guests.

If it’s worth the time and money of feeding your guests, it’s worth the little bit extra to ensure that what and how you are serving them leaves the right impression.

The post Setting the Food Mood with Catering at Events appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.

While you’re in the office party planning stage, keep in mind that the time you schedule your party for  will directly affect the type of service and quantity of food required and staff expectations.  But…the most important factor that will determine the style of catering you choose is your budget.

Holding your Christmas party in the office means space is a consideration.  A sit down dinner requires room for tables and chairs.  Before you plan on it, be certain your budget will accommodate this style because you will need to hire serving staff.

A buffet style gathering will require tables for catering equipment, and if you choose to have traditional turkey or roast beef, space for the chef carving station is a must. Presentation tables for an appetizer party are needed unless you decide to have wait staff serve guests as they mingle.

You will still require a preparation area. Your staff kitchen could do the trick for this choice.

If your holiday office  party planning budget is very small,  opt to have the caterer drop off your menu choices. Then all you’ll need is a table to set up the presentation.

Here are a few more tips as you finalize your Christmas office party planning:

–       Know your office party food etiquette. If yours is an office of women, serve food that is pretty and always add chocolate something.   Perhaps you are a construction company; you will want to fill the gap with delicious home-style portions.

–       Be sensitive. Keep in mind the ethnic and religious requirements of your colleagues.

–       How much food is needed will depend on how many people will attend and the time of your party. Luncheons typically require less food then evening parties.

Office Party Planning For a cocktail style party:

• Light: 3 to 5 pieces
• Medium cocktail party: 5 to 8 pieces
• Full meal cocktail party: 8 to 15 pieces.
• Dinner style cocktail parties require 15 to 20 pieces per person.

–       Renting China, Glassware, Cutlery will make any party planners life much easier and is eco-friendly. You should be able to rent them from your caterer.  If you want disposable, choose a caterer that has eco-friendly items available. Have the order delivered the day before to ensure you are ready for the set up the day of the event.  If you are missing items, early delivery gives you time to make wrongs into rights.

–       Double up on everything if you can. People tend to leave their glasses, plates, and cutlery wherever they wander.  Plan on having as much as twice the amount as the number of guests.

–       Serving. If you are not hiring serving staff, a buffet is the way to go.Stack plates at the start of the buffet line, and place cutlery and napkins at the end. Guests will then have less to balance while they serve themselves.

–       Consider setting up the food in several spots if you have the space.That way everyone won’t be crowding around the same buffet table at once. Make sure there are plenty of napkins and plates at each station.

–       Choose a theme.  You can theme any party from décor to food to menus.  How about a Winter Wonderland with an elegant colour theme of purple and gold.

Fire & Ice: think ice sculptures and icicles combined with fire torches (fake of course!) or candles and a red Christmas tree.  Or choose a Victorian Christmas to add warmth and charm to your office gathering.  Themed parties add great value that will provide your office with an unforgettable experience.

–       The wow factor. If you have the budget go with butler service and provide your staff with an elegant experience that says they are the best.

The post Planning the Food for Holiday Office Party appeared first on Simply Elegant Catering.