When planning a party or an event, start brainstorming for the perfect date first. Party venues are usually jam packed during peak seasons such as holiday seasons, thanksgiving and summer seasons. If you are planning to throw a party during these seasons, it is best to have the venue reserved weeks or months before.
Once you have decided on a date, everything comes next. Perhaps the most crucial part when it comes to organising an event is planning the banqueting menu. Food is usually the central part of the party. Food has to be overflowing so the guests would not go home feeling deprived. Food is also a symbol of socialization so you have to make sure that you are preparing the right menu and the right amount of food.
Before anything else, recognize the numerous pitfalls in coming up with a perfectly sound banqueting menu. One of those pitfalls is the increasing sophistication and discrimination of crowd palettes today. Nearly everyone is expecting gourmet in party venues today, especially if it is a sophisticated place such as a restaurant or a convention room. The taste of the crowd should be at the top of your priority when dealing with the food part of organising an event.
For instance, not all people like eating fish in big events like this. Keep in mind that there might be people who do not eat meat on the guest list. Also consider those with certain food allergies. Allergies to nuts, sea foods and dairy products have to be considered when planning for the menu. Because of these problems, your choices of ingredients might be a bit limited.
Another pitfall is budget. If the company cannot afford expensive ingredients such as wine, cheese and seafood, steer clear from them. Consider the season as this will give you numerous choices of food ingredients that are right on the budget. If it is in season, it is usually affordable.
Labour is another pitfall you might want to avoid. Tricky and complex dishes require the expertise of a lot of people. If you are on a tight budget, coming up with a complex menu with dishes that are tedious to prepare is not a good option. You want to make sure that the dishes are simple to prepare so there is no need to hire a lot of cooks and kitchen help.
Keeping all these pitfalls in mind, you should already have a fair idea on how to plan your menu. If you are stumped, try visiting the market. Bring a pen and paper with you so you can jot down the ingredients that are abundant in the market. This will also give you ample inspiration as to what sort of dishes will be included in the menu. Do not forget to jot down the cost of the ingredients and ask the seller if there are going to be changes in price in the near future. This way, you can anticipate price changes and make your budget more flexible.
Come up with a menu that is very appropriate for the time, location and occasion. If you are planning a comfortable sit down dinner for a medium sized crowd, then more comfortable types of food are better choices. Events that will require the people to move around a lot might require food that is easy to eat. Aside from food, beverage should also be considered. Your choice of beverage should also depend on the crowd and the type of occasion. Consider all these before coming up with a menu.
Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still come up with a smashing menu that everyone will love. You cannot imagine how many creative dishes you can come up with, with just a few ingredients. Creativity is key here. Seek help from expert chefs and cook that will make your dishes look not only palatable but also taste good.
Organising an event is a lot of work but it can be a fun and an exciting task. Do not run yourself ragged when looking for party venues and coming up with a banqueting menu. Think outside the box and come up with quirky and original ideas that will make the party a smashing success.
Read more: Guidelines And Tips In Planning A Banqueting Menu
