The food industry continues to change with a greater focus on organic ingredients, local sourcing and originality becoming necessary for caterers to remain relevant.  “The menu is the most important tool for a caterer or restaurant owner. Just think about how a retail store has to keep their stock current and fresh so customers will keep coming back. The same goes for food service.”  Here we’ve compiled 15 ways to freshen up your catering menu for the coming year.

Design

How would you describe the look of your menu? This is usually the first item that people request from you. Make sure that it is worthy of being passed around. Update the look and have shorter versions on hand so that you can pass them out on the go.

Original Cocktails

Creating new drinks that fit a theme or season can add a signature touch to your beverage menu. You’ll always want to offer the classics but including original drinks with fresh ingredients will help set your catering company apart.

Edible Flowers

There are a wide variety of edible flowers and they can make a beautiful addition to many menu items. Garnishing salads, entrees and drinks with fresh flowers will add color and conversation to any wedding celebration.

Bite-Sized Everything

Creating miniature versions of your popular menu items is a growing trend and is something that you should consider offering if you don’t already. This allows you to translate entrees into appetizers and offer a bigger variety of dessert choices.

Drink and Appetizer Pairings

A combination drink and appetizer menu that offers complimentary pairings adds a sophisticated touch and optimizes each guest’s catering experience. Be sure to include a wide variety of options to fit individual tastes.

Tasting Menu

Fine dining restaurants have long offered multiple course tasting menus that showcase the quality of their ingredients and the skills of their chefs. This is quickly becoming a must have for upscale wedding parties. Utilizing new techniques, exotic ingredients and luxury food items will bring flare to your tasting menu and entice clients to increase their catering budget.

Seasonal Menus

Crafting unique menus for winter, spring, summer and fall will provide your guests with a variety of fresh, in season options to choose from.  Not only will this make for higher quality dishes, it can also save you money on food costs.  Your menu design should also change with the seasons.  Small details like flowers for spring or a winter scene in the colder months can catch the eye of potential customers.

Unique Foods

Gone are the days when simply offering chicken, steak and pasta constitutes a catering menu.  Experimenting with your own take on traditional dishes as well as offering international dishes with exotic ingredients can make your menu selection a powerful selling point.  Research trends in the food industry for direction and inspiration.

Lemonade Stand

Setting up a lemonade stand is a fun way to add some flavor to your spring and summer events.  Of course, you’ll want to offer more than just lemonade.  Having a variety of seasonal themed drinks, glasses and accessories can give your bar a unique flair.

Dessert Buffet

Tastes tend to vary when it comes to sweet treats and hosts want to make sure all of their guests have a chance to indulge.  Setting up a dessert buffet that includes sugar free and gluten free options as well as traditional items will ensure everyone gets what they are looking for.  Make your display colorful and eye-catching while including detailed descriptions of your dishes.

French Fry Station

There are many French fry lovers out there and most kids can’t get enough of them.  A French fry station that includes a variety of toppings can be a hit for any party.  Some things to include are chili, cheese, a variety of veggies and of course ketchup!

Hibachi Style

Hibachi restaurants are extremely popular these days and incorporating that style into your catering offerings can be a big win financially.  You can choose to have an experienced chef put on a show for the guests or have each person cook their own.  This makes your event a memorable experience and can cut down on your overhead. 

Crepe Station

A crepe station that offers both sweet and savory ingredients can add a touch of class to any event.  You’ll want to have at least one experienced chef running the station so guests aren’t made to wait and everything is cooked to perfection.  Make sure your ingredients are fresh and be sure to include some exotic offerings so guests can try something new.

Lunch Boxes

It is well known that high-end dish ware can help you stand out.  A unique twist on this is to package your dishes in a lunch box.  These boxes should fit the theme of your event and include personalization such as a guest’s name and menu choice.  These can serve as great keepsakes for guests and if branded properly can provide years of free advertising.

Family Style

Family style menus are a hit in many restaurants and can be used to create a close atmosphere at catering events as well.  Be sure your meal selection contains universally liked meals and offer a variety for those that may be picky eaters.  Some simple meal ideas include spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana, roasted turkey and baked honey ham.  Make sure your side dishes are on point as these will make the meal.

Click Below For More Ways To Invest In Your Catering Business