Often as an event planner a client feels compelled to take a safe route when choosing food for their event’s menu. Referring to travel experiences, I make alternative suggestions that can complement their theme and suit their budget. I also ask them a few questions:
- Where is one of your favorite destination?
- What did you eat?
- What did you like?
- Did you want to share it with people back home?
- Would you be open to serving it to your guests?
It is delightful to find a catering vendor with diverse menu of foods to serve diverse guests. It is even more delightful when the caterer can recreate a client’s favorite delicacy as well as provide a few safe options for the guest who is least inclined to try something new.
Albondigas (Spanish tapas meatballs) can replace Swedish meatballs, empanadas, bruschetta (with meat or cheese or tomatoes) on toasted Italian bread or a crostini covered in pesto or fruit, and hummus make great appetizers.
Entrees can include the safe meat, poultry and fish fare with a roasted jerk chicken or curried chicken served with compatible rice dishes like jollof or saffron rice. Maybe try paella that can be served family style.
These are a few examples but the point is that you can draw from your travel to create a memorable event featuring fabulous food. So on your next trip overseas or to some exotic locale, take notes, and share your findings with your event-planner.
