6 Questions to Help You Create the Perfect Finger Food Menu
If you’ve made the decision to serve a primarily finger food menu for your next event, then let us begin by telling you that you’ve made one excellent decision!
Now, the bigger concern is what to do next. Surely, you’d want to create a menu that will make everyone happy, but how exactly do you go about doing that?
That’s what we’re here to help you with. In this article, we’ll outline several questions you have to ask yourself to provide you with a basis on which to make the best decision.
1. How many people are coming to the party?
The number of people attending your party will obviously inform you of the amount of food you will need, and it will also let you know how much variety you should offer. Ideally, you should have no less than two kinds of finger food for any party, but introduce another option for every 50 people you expect to arrive.
2. What time of day is the event?
Is your party happening during mealtime or sometime between? If the answer is the former, then you will need to design a menu that’s appropriate for the time of day. A party that during lunchtime, for instance, will benefit the most from a menu that is both substantial and suitable for the meal itself. An after-hours cocktail event, on the other hand, can be lighter and with a heavy focus on desserts.
3. Are there any special requests?
If you want to be sure to make your guests happy, then ask them what they want. There’s no harm in taking a survey of what kind of finger food people want to have available, so don’t hesitate to do so. You can easily include this as part of the invitation, and it could be a great way to raise your guests’ excitement.
4. Are there any dietary restrictions?
Conversely, you also want to be considerate of the foods that people don’t or can’t eat. Some might be allergic to certain ingredients, while others may have food restrictions for other reasons. Regardless, remember to get this information as well so that you can ensure everyone has something to enjoy.
5. Does the event have a particular theme?
Finger foods allow great freedom in terms of how dishes can be prepared and presented, which means that any theme you decide to go with could easily be matched by the food you serve. Doing so can make for a more memorable experience for everyone involved.
6. Do you have the right types of food storage?
One aspect you might overlook is that of proper food storage. Some types of finger food need to be kept at a certain temperature for it to remain at its best, which means you can’t just let them sit on a table unattended. If you don’t have the right coolers or heaters to keep these dishes stored properly, then you’ll want to stick to a menu that can hold well in such conditions.
Conclusion
Finally, ask yourself whether or not you are willing to do all the work involved in serving a finger food menu. If the answer is no, then you should definitely consider hiring a caterer instead! You would still need to ask these questions nonetheless, but most of the heavy lifting will be taken on by more capable hands.
We are a gourmet catering company in Roseville and we specialize in gourmet finger foods to suit any type of occasion. Get in touch with us today if you need our services.