Planning a corporate lunch isn’t exactly as stressful as something like a wedding reception, but there are definitely some tips you can use to make the most out of planning the catering menu with a New York deli in Dallas.
During the Early Planning Stages
Some corporate lunches are last-minute affairs where everyone made time in their schedule to accommodate a meeting just a few days after hearing about it. However, most corporate meetings do provide enough lead time to finish planning for breakfast, lunch, and dinner arrangements.
Here are the items you’ll need to put on your “to-do” list before your corporate event day arrives.
1. Get an accurate head count.
2. Find a space for the meal.
3. Choose a catering company.
4. Create an appropriate menu.
With planning, the food served at your business meeting will impress clients, satisfy employees, and ensure your organization operates in a professional manner. The presentations and speeches are important, but you’d be surprised how good food can influence a group’s overall experience during a business function.
Basic Things to Remember for Your Corporate Lunch
In many cases, corporate lunches are surrounded by lengthy meetings that can get a little tiring after hours of reading from PowerPoint presentations or listening to speakers. Even if the subject matter is fascinating and exciting, everyone needs a break to get refreshed for the next segment.
With that in mind, here are some simple things to consider as you plan your catering menu.
Plan a space for lunch.
Avoid serving food inside the room where you’re meeting. If space allows, dedicate a different room or area for the catering tables or sit-down lunch. Changing your environment is one of the best ways to jog the mind between meetings where you have to concentrate.
Don’t skimp on food.
Even though it’s easier to plan meals for a smallish meeting, that doesn’t mean you can get away with a smallish amount of food. If you’re hosting a group of ten guests for the day and need to provide lunch, give your catering company an accurate headcount. They’ll know how much food to bring.
Cindi’s NY Deli in Dallas makes planning a business luncheon easy. Contact us now to discuss menu options!
Dress things up with utensils and linens.
Create a minor event out of breakfast or lunch by using table linens and actual silverware and plates for the meal. The gathering will feel planned and professional, and it won’t feel like a continental breakfast at a motel or a rushed lunch. Give everyone a refreshing change of pace with a well-thought out meal.
Get a little of everything.
Unless you’re taking specific orders for a sit-down meal or dinner, make sure you cater to a variety of tastes. While it might sound delicious to provide everyone with loads of delicious pies, cakes, and cookies, you don’t want your participants to fall asleep in food comas after lunch is served! A variety of dishes also helps you accommodate food allergies.
Don’t forget the extras.
Don’t forget to order things like drinks, appetizers, and desserts for your meal. Even if it’s just a quick brunch or lunch, your business guests will appreciate ending the meal with a delicious dessert from a Dallas bakery, as well as having enough to drink during the lunch.
How Do You Choose a Business Lunch Menu?
You’ve probably been to business functions before that offered your usual coffee and donuts in the morning and graduated to sodas and vegetable platters in the afternoon. However, you can make even the most casual business meals a memorable and pleasant experience for your guests.
One of the most important decisions you’ll make is what food to serve. If you’ve worked with Dallas delis before to serve a sliced meat & cheese tray along with some fresh vegetables and fruit, you’ve probably got the basics down for a casual snack or break.
However, if you’re hosting an all-day meeting, you’ll want to consider something with a little more substance and organization to it. For example, if you want to stay in that same vein of the sliced meat and cheese tray, you might graduate to a sandwich tray with sides like coleslaw and potato salad.
Likewise, if you want your guests to feel mentally alert throughout the day and meetings begin early, you might try a mid-morning breakfast spread that goes further than coffee and donuts. Try a variety of baked goods as well as some delicious fruit.
Try This: If you expect to host the same general group more than once, send out a short questionnaire that will ask for people’s allergies, dietary needs, and other likes and dislikes. Over time, you’ll remember the preferences of your guests and planning for your upcoming meetings will get easier.
Here are some things to think about for your menu:
• Include vegetarian, gluten-free, and kosher items
• Feature at least one healthy option that’s not sugary or high in fat
• Consider adding labels to foods that include allergens like peanuts
• Offer a variety of drinks beyond soda and coffee
Don’t Be Afraid of Change
Have you gotten into a groove with the catering for your business meetings? Have you found what you believe to be the best Dallas bakery for providing meals and break food for your employees and guests?
For your next meeting, don’t be afraid to change things around and go in a totally different direction for your catering. If you’re used to the subtle array of basic foods in the meeting room’s side table, try choosing a completely different menu for your next meeting. If you usually serve meat and cheese trays, surprise everyone with a fun cake that celebrates a company milestone.
The name of the game in business catering is “change.” Your guests just got through listening to a two-hour presentation on budget estimates for next year. Give them a relaxed and delicious break with delicious catered food. Impress corporate guests and employees alike by having your food professionally catered whether you’re hosting a dozen people or a hundred guests.