#eventprofs #boomset

Every single person who has ever needed to work with a chef or caterer to create a menu wants to develop a unique experience for their guests. By the age of 25, I figure most people have been to more than a few weddings, parties, galas or formal dinners and the need for something ‘new’ and ‘unique’ is even more important. 

Some questions one might ask are:

• How do you develop a delicious, flavorful menu of items people have not had before? 

• Why not just give people a meal you know they will like?

• How does cost affect the decision for the type of food I order?

It is important to work with a vendor who 1) has industry experience 2) has cooked various types of cuisine 3) can work with any budget and still supply a delicious meal. Many chefs come up with their own creations, but some of them also spend time researching recipes or reading cookbooks for inspiration. And while I’m sure they can come up with something great, I think it is also the responsibility of the client to have an idea of what they want. Going to a caterer and saying, “do whatever you want, we give you creative freedom, just make sure it tastes good” is like standing at a fork in the road and not knowing which way to go. It is your job to to communicate some amount of the idea of what style you’d like, your cost and expectations. 

If you want something unique, don’t always rely on a chef to know what your dream food is. Take it into your own hands. Find pictures, recipes, Pinterest boards, blogs dedicated to what you like. Pick a color, flavor or wine to be the theme of your event. Have something for your caterer to work with. By looking at photos and blogs (plus all of the food you’ve already seen at said events) you will also be able to determine what you do NOT want. This is equally important in deciding what you do want.

To conclude: any event you organize should be as unique as your clients. People generally don’t remember food after an evening, so create something people will talk about for week, months, years! Find a caterer or chef you can trust, and is open to being creative and try new things with you, and go for it!

              

Jenn Glucklich, B.S. Event Management

Ever have a creative menu that made your event really stand out? Tell us about it!