When a catered event is a meeting or training it is most important to keep the food simple because timing is so important. At these types of events there will be fewer choices than at a party. At some of these events there may be only one choice. The purpose of serving lunch ,(  it usually is lunch) is because at these types of meetings it is very important  to keep everyone close by and is also a reward for having to attend a mandatory meeting in the first place. Experience has proven that getting everyone back together in a timely manner after a break can be very difficult.  Providing food to the attendees is the best way to keep the momentum flowing. This is important, especially at a training session where it is vitally important to stick to a schedule.

If before the meeting is to begin you want to have a continental breakfast available it is sometimes a good idea as there are many employees who never give themselves enough time for a good breakfast. , which could prove to be a distraction .Having bagels, rolls, danish and such, along with hot and cold beverages will suffice at any event.

These types of events are handled in a much different way than corporate parties. There will always be a schedule to follow and you don’t want food to interrupt the flow but to be a part of the flow. So being prompt is important and a cold lunch would be the best way to accomplish this. Food can be prepared in advance and ready to serve for hours.  Provide platters of cold items for employees to serve themselves. Cold cuts and salads would be a great choice. Have hot and cold beverages available throughout the day.

If a hot item is preferred, again keep it simple.As mentioned before in previous blogs Serving a chicken dish with a side dish or two will be the most pleasing to the most people if hot food is being served. A vegetable and a starch item will also provide an alternative to people who either don’t like or won’t eat chicken or a second dish could be available, hot or cold but remember to keep it simple.

his is a business meeting not a party. You will want your employees to be fed well enough so that they are not hungry and distracted but avoid making the food itself a distraction.  If handled well you will find it is a lot easier to conduct a meeting if some of the employees basic needs are met, allowing them to concentrate more on business than on anything else. Stick to a schedule and keep it simple. Timing is always important. You want to ensure that all of the work can be accomplished in the time allotted.

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Justin Cook stirs up his recipes concerning corporate catering, event planning and other dining related topics on his Just Corporate Catering blog. Please feel free to add comments to his posts and contact Justin with questions or other communication at justin.cook@justcorporatecatering.com