How to Choose the Perfect Seasonal Menu for Your Event
The menu is a critical consideration when planning or hosting an event. Keep reading to learn how to choose the perfect seasonal menu for any event.
What Menu Suits My Event and Guests?
Choose a menu based on your guests’ preferences and the style of the event.
Think about what works well with your event and the expectations of your guests. For example, wedding guests often anticipate multi-course plated meals. Sharing boards and grazing tables are more commonplace at corporate events.
At Hey Pesto, we offer menu consultation to match the service style and food offerings to your specific event. This includes providing vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options to cover a wide variety of dietary requirements.
Why Choose Seasonal Ingredients in Your Catering?
Seasonal ingredients tend to taste better. They also cost less and help create a more distinct menu. Here are some great examples:
- Spring – Lamb and asparagus, and other vegetables
- Summer – Berries, tomatoes, and fresh herbs
- Autumn – Root vegetables and game
- Winter – Squash and hearty stews
At Hey Pesto, we help ensure your menu includes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, from summery berry desserts to root-vegetable-based spreads in the autumn. We adapt menus monthly.
How Do I Balance Courses and Service Style?
Pick a service format that matches your event. This may include plated meals for structured events, such as weddings, and buffets for more casual events.
Plated meals are often chosen for formal events, such as weddings. They tend to work well for events that follow a specific timeline, so that your guests are fed at the right interval.
Buffets provide a flexible option for events with mixed groups or a loose structure. Grazing tables are also great for less structured events. They encourage social interaction and work well with relaxed gatherings.
Hey Pesto offers solutions to suit your event, including full-service buffets and chef-led plated dinners. We’ll work with you to help select the right format.
What Dietary Needs Should Be Planned For?
Provide your guests with inclusive options. Make sure that those with allergies or specific dietary preferences have menu items that they can enjoy.
To accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements, think about including some of the following ingredients or dishes:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
- Halal
- Gluten-free
We can prepare separate vegetarian and vegan dishes on request. Our team labels allergen items and adjusts recipes to avoid cross-contamination, allowing all guests to enjoy a flavourful meal.
How Many Dishes or Varieties Should I Include?
Offer several main dishes and sides to give your seasonal catering menu more flavours and styles. You can give your guests a variety of meals to choose from without overwhelming the caterers.
Here are a couple of recommendations:
- For a wedding buffet – consider 3 main dishes, 2 sides, and 2 desserts
- For a grazing table – offer a mix of savoury, sweet dips and bites.
At Hey Pesto, we provide a bespoke menu planning service. You can rely on us for a balanced spread and scalable solutions based on your guest count and the length of your event.
When Should I Finalise the Menu with the Caterer?
Finalise the menu with your catering team at least two to four weeks before the date of your event.
Preparing a menu for a large event involves multiple steps, beginning with a consultation. We then create a sample menu and may offer a tasting. The final numbers and dietary requirements are then reviewed before finalising the menu. We prefer receiving guest numbers and dietary info 14 days ahead to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Final Summary
Choosing the right seasonal menu requires you to consider the event’s style and the preferences of your guests. Adding seasonal ingredients can save money and create a more distinct menu. Choose between plated meals, buffets, or grazing tables.
Include a variety of dishes, including providing alternatives for those with special dietary needs, such as dairy-free, nut-free, or vegetarian dishes. Don’t forget to finalise the menu two to four weeks ahead of time.
If you need help with your event menu planning, don’t hesitate to contact us at Hey Pesto. Our expertise in menu design, dietary requirements, and flexibility ensures a tailored approach for meeting your exact needs.
