Events are a great way to bring people together for some fun, socializing, and of course, food!
But event planning can be a bit tough; you need to create your guest list, send out invitations, and pick out a good venue.
One of the hardest parts of event planning is catering. You might consider ordering simply anything from a local caterer but the food needs to match the event and you need a caterer who can give you just what you wanted.
Brunch catering packages are a popular choice for events, so let’s explore what you should look for in these menus.
How to pick great brunch catering packages for your event
Here are a few things you need to consider when choosing a good brunch catering menu and package:
1. Variety of Food and Quality
61% of diners say that they’re more likely to eat at a healthy restaurant than they would have two years ago. This fact can also apply to your guests as many people are more health conscious today than ever before.
Consider choosing brunch catering packages that offer healthy dishes. Also, check if the menu includes vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free options for guests who have specific dietary restrictions.
2. Visual Appeal
Food shouldn’t just be good to eat but must be easy on the eyes too. Many of your guests are likely to share what they eat on social media, so it would be a good idea to choose brunch catering menus with visually appealing food.
When guests share pictures of the food on social media in a positive light, this can be good for your reputation and it can be a small win for your event. If you’re a professional event planner, this may help boost your brand.
3. Convenience
Brunch catering menus include, as the name suggests, both breakfast and lunch food items. This makes for a very versatile menu package and you’ll also have a diverse range of dishes to choose from, including seasonal dishes.
With a brunch menu, your guests will never be too late for breakfast or too early for lunch—it’s the best of both worlds!
4. Customized Budget and Pricing
Well-reputed catering services will allow you to customize the menu so that it fits your budget. Also, they may have special offers during certain times of the year, like the holiday season, when you can get brunch menu packages for a low price.
Which events are brunch catering good for?
1. Sunday Brunch Gatherings
40% of people prefer to have brunch away from home—this makes Sunday brunch gatherings very popular. Sunday brunch gatherings normally include a small group of people like family and friends
2. Baby Showers
Baby showers usually take place at noon, making a brunch menu the right choice. Also, since brunch menus have small finger foods, guests can have a light snack while they mingle
3. Weddings
Weddings, especially those that expect a large guest list can benefit from a brunch catering menu because of the large variety of food. The menu can be a nice mix of sweet and savory dishes
What are the signs of bad brunch catering?
Sometimes, you may come across some bad brunch catering menus and packages. Here are a few red flags to look out for:
1. The Menu is Too Ambitious
Brunch menus tend to be extensive but if the menu covers too many brunch items, this could mean that the menu isn’t of the best quality. Also, when a caterer offers too many menu items, chances are that they can’t excel in cooking any of them resulting in bland-tasting food.
2. The Combinations are Bad
Some caterers may come up with unusual brunch menu combinations. While this may seem interesting, it doesn’t always work in terms of taste. Also, strange food combinations won’t work for everyone’s palates so hiring such caterers won’t bode well for you and won’t be worth the money.
3. The Menu Has Too Many Trendy Items
Some caterers may include trending foods in their menus purely for Instagrammability. They create these dishes to gain a following and get more customers. But when there are too many trendy food items, the menus may be unreasonably pricey and the food might not even be as good as advertised.
4. The Food Items are Limited
A brunch menu should be diverse, especially if you’re hosting a large crowd. So if you notice only a few food items, the menu likely won’t be worth it.
5. The Menu Lacks Transparency
If the catering menu doesn’t give an interesting description for each of their food items, this could be a sign that they’re not taking pride in the food they make. Also, this could lead to a subpar menu.
In addition, if the menu doesn’t give you an idea of what ingredients were used in the food, they may be trying to hide something. For example, they may be using substitutes for certain ingredients and not authentic goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some commonly asked questions about brunch catering:
1. Will catering companies allow tastings for brunch catering menus?
Yes, some caterers may allow you to come for a tasting. But they will charge you for it and the price may increase based on how many people you’ll be inviting for the tasting.
2. Will making changes to the brunch menu cost me?
In most cases, catering companies may charge you an additional fee for making changes to their menus.
3. Do catering companies charge cancellation fees?
Yes, they usually do. Their cancellation policies may vary depending on the circumstances so make sure to ask them about this before booking them.
Be on the lookout for good brunch catering packages
Food is a big part of any event, and brunch catering menus are one of the best menus for all kinds of events. When you’re on the lookout for a good brunch menu, make sure to get in touch with a reputable catering company in Pittsburgh!
