Our Top 5 Catering Options for your Corporate Event
Do you have an upcoming corporate event that requires catering services? Not sure which option to go with? Well, that all depends on your event structure and what you’re ultimately trying to achieve by running it. As the Managing Director of Lovejoys Catering and Events I have managed a huge variety of events and have seen what works well. To help you select the right catering service for your corporate event I am going to outline the top 5 options and explain why each option may be the perfect choice for your corporate event.
Hot Fork Buffet
A hot fork buffet is a great option if you want a hot, yet filling, meal served quickly at your corporate event. Such instances would be during a conference or seminar when a short lunch break is required, or before an afternoon corporate event during a short window where guests may be travelling from a distance. A hot fork buffet also works well when you are limited on your catering facilities and the space available. Occasionally a hot fork buffet may not be the optimum choice if there are several flights of stairs or the proposed catering area isn’t very accessible. However, we have a solution as the alternative is to deliver the buffet hot which we can do using our hot boxes. The only challenge with that is the distance we are required to travel as there is a limited time frame food can be served after being cooked, which is 2 hours. If you are considering this option then I’d always suggest giving us a call so we can suggest the best set-up for your corporate or work event.
A hot fork buffet includes options like Thai Green Curry, Lasagne, Tagines etc. which is served with the accompanying sides. It is served from chafing dishes which keep the items hot throughout service. Hot fork buffets are great when finished with our small desserts.
Cold Buffet
A cold buffet can be as simple and inexpensive as sandwiches and savoury items or as fancy as dry cured meats, cheeses and all the accompanying sides.
A cold buffet can be as relaxed or as formal as you like. We can deliver everything on disposable platters for you to use when you’re ready or we can set up our slate A-frames and wood effect serving platters complete with our serving staff to really create a showpiece for your corporate event.
Our cold buffets are a great option if you want something a bit lighter that is left out for people to pick at. A great example would be a light lunch during an all-day meeting. It’s essentially finger food and its aim is to be simplistic. However, you can always jazz it up or make it more formal, if the aim of the event requires it such as if you’re entertaining clients.
This option is one of the very easiest services to deliver and doesn’t require much planning or thought. It’s a great option if you have lots of different suppliers to coordinate, limited time or access is a challenge, or all three!
Street Food
Essentially, this option is the various street food items you see up town; such as cheeseburger sliders and fries, mini fish and chips, bbq pulled pork “dirty fries” etc..; in a snack-sized portion. These are then walked round to guests on our industrial-style wooden trays.
Personally, I love our street food because of the way it is served and the impact it has when it’s being served. It’s not for every event though and is best selected as an evening option where there is a much more relaxed, networking and interactive vibe. If you want to bring people together and get them talking then this works fantastically. They’re like canapés but on a larger scale.
Before you commit to street food you want to really think about the style of your corporate event. As much as I think it’s great I would be selective over the type of event I use it for. You will also need to consider whether your venue is suitable for this option as we will use deep fryers for the chips so consideration of ventilation and proximity to the serving area needs to be had.
Bowl Food
Bowl food is mostly our hot fork options served in smaller portions, as a complete meal, in black bowls which are decorated with micro herb garnish. These are then served in a similar way to our street food as they are walked round to your guests on trays. Options include chilli con carne and rice, beef bourguignon and mash and Thai green curry and jasmine rice.
I think this works well for a corporate seminar, conference or training event where you want to encourage your guests to stand up and network during a longer interlude. In addition to the style of the event you are trying to achieve you will also need to consider the logistical aspects of this option. Whilst there won’t be any deep frying (which means a little less complication) you will need to ensure we can bring ovens and cook on-site if your venue doesn’t already have these facilities. Additionally, this is served much slower than the hot fork buffet as you have the added time factor of individually playing each portion and taking it round to all the guests.
Barbecue
Lastly is the ever-popular barbecue. Our barbecue option includes delicious meats, fish and veg chargrilled for a smoky barbecued flavour that can be served with sides. You can keep this very simple with a grab-and-go option (just one protein) or make it a full spread with several proteins and sides.
This option is best suited to the spring and summer as we all link barbecues to that time of year. That doesn’t mean you can’t have it out of that season, it just goes down better during those months. The great thing about a barbecue is the flavour that is added to the proteins from the charring effect. As outlined with the other options, this isn’t suitable for every type of event as it is best targeted towards one with a more relaxed feel, such as an office party or networking event, with more time for the option to be served.
Conclusion
You may have figured by now that access and the catering space are big features when picking your option for your corporate event. With heavy kitchen equipment and gas bottles needing to come on-site, access and space need to be figured out early. With the smells from the cooking and potential space to plate up the sides, a fair-sized catering space is required. In addition, this will be served from a buffet table so space for that in your dining room must almost be taken into account.
Hopefully, you have found this blog useful and you feel better placed to make a decision on the type of catering that would work best for your work party or corporate event. Before you decide I would always recommend booking a call with me or one of my team to discuss your needs and help guide you to the option that suits you. We appreciate you’ve only done this a few times, or sometimes even never so we’re always on hand to support you with the planning of your event. Good luck with your next event and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Lovejoy Catering and Events are award-winning Essex-based caterers with almost 60 years of experience in corporate catering, and party and wedding catering. Call us on 01376 425 376 for a helpful fact-finding call.
Our Top 5 Catering Options for your Corporate Event
Do you have an upcoming corporate e cering services? Not sure which option to go with? Well, that all depends on your event structure and what you’re ultimately trying to achieve by running it. As the Managing Director of Lovejoys Catering and Events I have managed a huge variety of events and have seen what works well. To help you select the right catering service for your corporate event I am going to outline the top 5 options and explain why each option may be the perfect choice for your corporate event.
The grounds of this beautiful venue encompass over 1000 years of defensive ramparts, medieval husbandry, classical sweeping landscapes and romantic gardens. The two buildings of the Norman Castle and the Georgian country house provide several dining rooms, two dance floors, lawns for relaxing or games and an estate where your imagination can fly to create spectacular and memorable events.fgh g v#5d6770fggggggggggggggg
Let Lovejoy Catering and Events help you with the planning and running of your special day. Established in 1963, we are a family run business spanning three generations providing a friendly, professional and personal service. With over 50 years’ experience catering for thousands of successful events we are well placed to help you. As an award-winning caterer, we pride ourselves on creating dishes from scratch, using the finest ingredients from carefully selected local suppliers. Our team has a genuine love for making your wedding or event one to remember.
The magnificent historic and grand Banqg suppliers, Lovejoy Catering and Events and let us wine and dine you like royalty! As one of Essex’s best catering companies we will always strive to match your menu to the unique and grand surroundings of Hedingham Castle. Please contact us on 01376 425376 for more information.
Our Top 5 Catering Options for your Corporate Event
Do you have an upcoming corporate e cering services? Not sure which option to go with? Well, that all depends on your event structure and what you’re ultimately trying to achieve by running it. As the Managing Director of Lovejoys Catering and Events I have managed a huge variety of events and have seen what works well. To help you select the right catering service for your corporate event I am going to outline the top 5 options and explain why each option may be the perfect choice for your corporate event.
The grounds of this beautiful venue encompass over 1000 years of defensive ramparts, medieval husbandry, classical sweeping landscapes and romantic gardens. The two buildings of the Norman Castle and the Georgian country house provide several dining rooms, two dance floors, lawns for relaxing or games and an estate where your imagination can fly to create spectacular and memorable events.fgh g v#5d6770fggggggggggggggg
Let Lovejoy Catering and Events help you with the planning and running of your special day. Established in 1963, we are a family run business spanning three generations providing a friendly, professional and personal service. With over 50 years’ experience catering for thousands of successful events we are well placed to help you. As an award-winning caterer, we pride ourselves on creating dishes from scratch, using the finest ingredients from carefully selected local suppliers. Our team has a genuine love for making your wedding or event one to remember.
The magnificent historic and grand Banqg suppliers, Lovejoy Catering and Events and let us wine and dine you like royalty! As one of Essex’s best catering companies we will always strive to match your menu to the unique and grand surroundings of Hedingham Castle. Please contact us on 01376 425376 for more information.