There’s no denying how the catering industry has changed a lot throughout recent years, and this coincides with many changes that have occurred throughout the food industry since the COVID pandemic.
Catering companies have shifted, just like the rest of the business world. This has led to many changes in how people eat during live events, and it’s a big reason why boxed lunch catering has recently become more popular than traditional buffets. Caterers have also become very creative when it comes to presentations and menu options, because providing a top-quality dining experience in an event setting is often a lot easier said than done.
We’ve teamed up with the boxed lunch catering Springfield OH experts at Rudy’s Smokehouse to develop this list of four tips oriented around serving boxed lunches at live events, so check out the below sections to see what you should keep in mind while you’re preparing your next event’s catering options!
Careful Menu Selection Is A Top Priority For A Well-Received Boxed Lunch Catering Meal
Every event in the Springfield OH is different, which means that you’ll need to keep unique factors like temperature and packing restrictions in mind while preparing your boxed lunch catering menu.
This is one big reason why you should look into restaurants and caterers that provide high-quality boxes with multiple compartments, because these boxes are very different than boxes with no compartments.
You’ll also want to avoid overly greasy food that might soak through weak packaging, and the same thing goes for heavily breaded foods that might get soggy when enclosed within a steamy box.
And when it comes to your menu selection, you’ll want to choose foods that can be enjoyed at room temperature or slightly chilled. This can include things like thin slices of beef or pork loin, as well as combo salads. Charcuterie and hummus are also crowd favorites that are easy to serve at large events.
It’s also often a good idea for event organizers to think of their boxed lunch catering menu as picnic style, because you’ll likely be better off choosing fully cooked items that won’t lose quality over time while thetheevent takes place.
And once you’ve finalized your event’s menu, you’ll also need to consider any subtle adjustments that could assist you in extending the food’s quality for as long as possible.
Event Communication Is Essential For Addressing Your Attendees’ Dietary Needs
If your event doesn’t include a buffet or on-site kitchen, it can potentially be difficult for your event’s attendees to select menu options that coincide with their dietary needs. This is why event planners need to pay extra close attention to communication while preparing a boxed lunch catering menu.
This essentially means that you’ll need to ask each individual attendee to order their boxed lunch on their own, or at least request dietary information prior to choosing your menu options.
Sometimes all you’ll need to do is properly label each food item, but it’s also important to inform event staff and volunteers to help make sure that meals don’t end up in the wrong hands.
Boxed Lunch Catering Presentation Definitely Still Matters
Although catering teams and event planners don’t have the luxury of making a presentation statement when offering a boxed lunch catering menu, there are still ways to wow attendees when offering boxed lunches.
This is why food presentation should be a top priority for all event teams, and even subtle touches within a boxed lunch can go a long way to make people feel like they’re getting a special dining experience.
This means that all five senses should be taken into account with boxed lunch catering presentation, and not just the boxed meal’s appearance.
Timing Is Truly Everything
An entire event staff needs to work together to guarantee that boxed lunches are delivered as close to mealtime as possible, because this goes a long way to ensure that the event meals are safe and enjoyable.
So instead of simply doing one largepickup area for your event, consider several meal stations around the event venue where attendees can pick up their box. This cuts down on lines and prevents one space having a ton of bulky boxes everywhere.
It’s also a good idea to consider staggered mealtimes for your attendees based upon your event’s schedule and segmentation. This can reduce your food storage and ensure fresher meals based upon different delivery times. Your catering teams can always provide multiple deliveries throughout the course of a day, which goes a long way for large groups to receive boxed lunches close to their different mealtimes.
If your event has enough space, consider asking your caterers to assemble boxes on-site. This makes it possible for the food to remain in warmers until it’s ready to be eaten, which can be awesome for your event’s overall catering experience!
Contact Rudy’s Smokehouse When You Need Boxed Lunch Catering For Events In Springfield OH!
There’s no denying how planning boxed lunch catering for hundreds, if not thousands, of event guests requires a ton of creativity and logistics.
By keeping the above planning tips in mind, event teams and caterers can work together to build boxed lunches that attendees will ultimately remember for all sorts of positive reasons.
One of the top boxed lunch catering options in the Springfield OH area is Rudy’s Smokehouse, which is a renowned BBQ restaurant that’s known for being one of the top-rated restaurants in all of Ohio.
If you’re interested in hiring Rudy’s for your next event in Springfield, you can speak directly with their team by clicking on the link to their website that’s located at the top of this article!