Catering Tips

As restrictions have slowly eased and dinner parties have been allowed again, you may still be hesitant to host a gathering. Questions for social distancing and the kind of setup in the new normal can be intimidating, even for experienced dinner party hosts – but we’re here to help you navigate your options. Here are the best practices to enjoy a safe dinner party at home or hosting social event at any other venue.

What to Consider When Hosting a Social Gathering in the New Normal

Things have not changed, and you’ll still plan for the usual logistics, with the added safety precautions for health. This will include:

• what food menu will accommodate everyone’s taste and diet preferences
• the seating plan
• sanitation stations or sanitiser giveaways

3 Steps to Ensure that You Have a Safe Dinner Party during COVID

1. Confirm that you or any guests have no health issues before participating in an event.

Giving and receiving invitations are dependent on everyone’s health before anything else. If you or any of your intended invitees have doubts or if you have been in contact with people who have been sick, it would be better to suspend plans indefinitely.

2. Everyone practices good hygiene before entering and leaving the premises.

Sanitation stations are now a required fixture anywhere, so you will have to provide opportunities for guests to sanitise their hands as often as they can. You can have handy sanitisers available at every table or every corner of the venue, or you can have wait staff offer sanitisers to anyone who might need them.

3. Each person will have their plate and that no plate sharing is done.

Aside from distancing guests at least 1.5 meters apart, discourage any food sharing between people. Have guests enjoy their plates.

Also, during these tough and uncertain times when so many are venerable and are self-isolating, we want to do our bit to help! We deliver ready-made meals to your home in Perth. Contact us to know more!

How To Calculate Food Portions For Catering

Ask any event organiser and they will tell you their biggest challenge is how to calculate food portions for catering. If catering is not planned, you face the risk of serving too little or waste much of the food. In this guide, we provide tips to help you when calculating catering portions for a big crowd.

Get the Number

Knowing the number of attendees to an event is the most important aspect of the planning process. This gives you an opportunity to calculate portions in bulk and avoid wastage. If you are contracted to offer catering services, request this figure two to three days before the event to allow time for planning.

Decide the Menu

Catering menus and portions are determined by the type of event you are planning for. For instance, you are more likely to make dietary considerations when planning for a corporate event than for a come-together party.

Factor in the Time

Inquire from the host when the function will be taking place as this determines the amount of food served. For instance, there may be only one serving in an after-dinner party but two in an all-afternoon setting.

Work within the Budget

Make sure you discuss details of the budget during planning to avoid under-delivery or overshooting. Some hosts will want to minimise expenditure while to others money is not a problem. Discuss the expected menu and point out items that may be costly.

Serving per Person

Calculation for the actual amounts should come last after all other aspects have been factored. A good estimate is to use 1.5 pounds as the amount of food to be served to one person. Subdivide this by the number of servings, taking into consideration the main dishes and side dishes.

General Guidelines

No single formula can explain how to calculate food portions for catering but there are general rules of thumb to guide you.

• Ensure there are more of the main dishes than the side dishes.
• Multiply the number of attendees by three to get the amount of appetisers required.
• Always round up estimates and never round down
• Take care of special requests
• People tend to eat more at buffets than when servers are available
• Avoid open bars as they tend to increase the expenditure.
• Always leave an allowance to cater for last minute attendees.

These guidelines should help you understand how to calculate food portions for catering. Feel free to contact Impressions Catering if you face any difficulties. They provide catering for weddings, corporate events, in-home parties and many other types of events in Perth.

Food Trends For 2019

Food has always been a favourite topic since the options are nearly unlimited and new dishes are being created every day. Food trends for 2019 are in many ways the same as the past decades, but change is always on the horizon when it comes to food. Factors defining change are television, the price of ingredients, and the creation of new restaurants. The public loves fancy food, especially when it is not expensive.

Fast Food (Not Necessarily Unhealthy)

It seems life is becoming increasingly busy here in Perth. With that has come increased demand for food on demand. Interestingly, this doesn’t necessarily imply unhealthy food anymore. Many fast food outlets are seeing increased demand for healthy choices in their menus. The bottom line is that it’s got to be served quickly.

Fresh Fruit Grazing Tables

Fresh, delicious fruit has always been popular. Most people love quality fruit and we also feel great when we eat it. What’s on trend at the moment is the way it is presented. Grazing tables can present this specular, delicious array of fruit, berries, seeds and nuts. It’s a feast for the eyes and draws people in with all those rich, vibrant colours.

Avocados

A lot of research has gone into the neuro benefits of Avocados. They provide us with a source of healthy Cholesterol and Omega 3s, which help us feel good emotionally. As a society, we are looking to combat issues of mental health which Avocados can help with. As a result, they have become extremely popular as we look to integrate them more into our diet.

Super Foods

There is an increased interest in niche health products such as water lily seed. It is edible and is sold by some companies as a puffed snack. Its consumption outside of India has increased by a factor of three. Another trend is oat milk, which is a new substitute for milk that is becoming popular in coffee shops. If soy and almond milk were not enough, now there is a new contender and major companies are putting packaged products on the shelf.

Modern Catering

If you are looking to host guests and want to wow them with modern delicious cuisine, talk to Impressions Catering today. We can help you with a range of dietary requirements and create delicious, healthy food your guests will love.

Types Of Catering Equipment

It can be a challenge to plan and host an event, whether for your coworkers, or something smaller for friends and family. One thing you will need to know is the different types of catering equipment and what you might need.

Planning

Keep it simple and manageable; your guests probably aren’t expecting a perfectly planned and executed event, especially if you are doing it all by yourself. One way to ensure a smooth process is to have everything you think you will need in place on the big day, and this checklist can help you determine what catering equipment you will need:

Pots and Pans

The number of guests and the menu you have planned will determine what you need in the way of pots and pans. Also, consider how practical it is to wash everything afterwards and the capacity of your stove, range or other cooking equipment.

Range

You may need a heavy duty range which is welded together for extra strength and can handle heavier and larger pots. If you need to cook several dishes at the same time, look for a stovetop on top of an oven. Extra features such as a prep area and griddle can be found on larger ranges, although these extras can push up the price of hiring the equipment.

Refrigeration

A commercial cool room or basic refrigerator will probably be needed, to ensure your cold food is as fresh and as safe as possible, and is stored at no more than 5 degrees Celsius.

Dishwasher

You will need to wash all those dishes, and the size and capacity of dishwasher will depend on the size of your event and number of guests. Keep in mind the amount of space required for a dishwasher to ensure adequate ventilation; you will also need to know the amount of water pressure produced, the maximum temperature the water can reach, and the length of the wash time.

Grill

Grilled food just tastes better and most people appreciate the taste. Consider a salamander grill which allows your meats to retain their moisture, and won’t take up a lot of your valuable kitchen space.

Microwave

Your regular kitchen microwave won’t have a large capacity, so a commercial grade microwave is the solution, allowing you to easily and quickly heat or reheat a large volume of food.

Other different types of catering equipment you may want to consider based on your needs include a beverage dispenser and ice machine. And of course, don’t overlook plates, cutlery and glasses, enough for all your guests.

The Display

The presentation of your food is almost as important as its preparation and taste. You can ensure an attractive and eye catching display with the use of creative lighting, serving dishes, food warmers and risers.

Food Preparation Tools

Your menu will determine what you will need, which may include the following – a food processor, several spatulas and whisks, and a cutting board or two. Make a list of what you will need once you have your menu planned.

Impressions Catering have all you need to make your next catered event a success, regardless of size. Take the stress out of planning your next event by giving them a call for all your catering and event needs.

The Types of Catering Services Popular in Perth

Situated in Western Australia, Perth is an extremely cosmopolitan city. As a result, Perth caterers are often booked to service a wide variety of different events. At Impressions Catering, we have handled countless events in the past, however, our standard services are the ones that keep our company, and other companies in Perth’s catering sector, in business.

Below we will give a quick overview of the most common services we offer, which are appreciated by customers in Perth and the surrounding region.

Catering at Weddings

All caterers regard weddings as their bread and butter. Our company has a proven track record in this area, and can, therefore, offer a degree of expertise and knowledge that lots of less proven caterers cannot match.

The day of your wedding should be unforgettable, but everyone has their own ideas about how their catering and reception should be. Our seasoned experts work hard to ensure that everything we offer for you is ideal.

The key to a perfect wedding is customization! In other words, the day of your wedding should reflect your character and the values shared by you and your lover. We enjoy creating a customized menu for your day, preparing tasty food that is satisfying and sumptuous.

Perhaps you would like to feature a meal you ate together for the first time? Or maybe a traditional meal from when you were a child? Regardless of your needs, we can fulfil them!

Catering at Barbecues

Unsurprisingly, given the wonderful Perth climate, catering at barbecues is a common occurrence for Perth caterers. Venue selection and food selection are the two most vital parts of delivering fantastic barbecue catering. A mistake many catering companies make, when catering at barbecues, is to confine themselves to conventional foods like sausages and burgers. Impressions Catering offers barbecue menus featuring a variety of delicious and creative accompaniments.

Catering at Corporate Events

As far as catering at business events goes, it is crucial to make your guests feel content and ready to concentrate on their networking, training or meeting. For this reason, Impressions Catering prides itself on a quality service that prioritizes the main business at hand.

However, business always progresses better after a good meal, so great catering leaves your clients and colleagues feeling satisfied and positive. Corporate catering can also include daily services, such as boardroom catering and breakfast.

Related: Different Types of Catering Equipment

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein that is found in certain grains such as barley, wheat, rye, and triticale, which is a combination of wheat and rye. Gluten-free diets are necessary for anyone who suffers from coeliac disease and other medical conditions that are exacerbated by gluten.

There are some people who are on a gluten-free diet for reasons other than medical ones. A gluten-free diet can improve your health, it can promote weight loss, and it can boost your energy. Also, if you remove gluten from your diet, it can change the way that your body uses fibers, vitamins, and other nutrients.

Regardless of the reasons that you have decided to go gluten-free, you should understand how the diet can affect your nutritional needs.

Catering Gluten-Free

If you are catering to someone with a coeliac disease, you should remember that this is a serious disease and they must follow their gluten-free diet to the letter. When the food is being prepared, you need to watch out for cross-contamination.

As little as 50mg of gluten, which is the equivalent of 1/100th of a slice of white bread, can cause damage to the small intestine of a person with a coeliac disease. You need to make sure that all of the ingredients in your dishes including the garnishes, sauces, and dressings are all gluten-free.

If you are going to be catering to friends or family members who have a coeliac disease, you should follow the tips listed below.

• Talk to the person who has coeliac disease about their favorite gluten-free dishes. You can also ask them to give you a few recipes to choose from.

• When you are shopping for your ingredients, you should only buy foods that are marked, “gluten-free.” You can also look for products with the Coeliac Australia Endorsement logo on them.

• While cooking, save the packaging from the foods that you bought in the store so that your friend can confirm that the food is gluten-free.

• If possible, make the entire meal gluten-free so that there is no risk of cross-contamination. If you must make dishes with gluten, make sure that you take the necessary steps to avoid cross-contamination.

• Look for traditional meals that are gluten-free such as meat, vegetables and salads for a main dish. Panna cotta or crème caramel are great dessert options.

• You could plan a barbecue for the dinner. There are plenty of gluten-free beef patties and sausages to choose from. You can also make a gluten-free salad with gluten-free salad dressings.

• Roasts are a good option for a gluten-free dinner. Just be sure that any sauces, coatings, glazes, and stuffing you use are also gluten-free.

• If you are planning to serve a dip platter, you should avoid using chips and biscuits. If you serve just vegetables on the tray, you won’t need to worry about the crumbs from the chips or biscuits ending up in the dip.

• If you are planning to bake, you should make it easy by using a gluten-free cake mix. If you are using flour to coat the pan, make sure it is gluten-free. Also, make sure that you use gluten-free icing.

• If you are planning to dine out, call the restaurant first and make sure that they have gluten-free items on the menu.