From wedding receptions to corporate events, every special occasion need some delicious food. Your guests deserve nothing but the best catering, but it can be pretty challenging to please everyone, especially when you have guests with special food needs.
You might not deal with them yourself, but many folks have particular diets, food allergies, or other intolerances that require special accommodations from event caterers. But how do you handle those special needs? If you’re unsure, don’t worry, because the team at Olivia Restaurant is running through some common catering requests to help you handle special food needs at your next event.
Take a tour of Olivia Restaurant in the video below:
Vegetarian Catering
You’re bound to have at least a couple vegetarians at your special event, but thankfully vegetarian catering is pretty simple. Many vegetarian eaters base their diets around fresh vegetables and fruits while also incorporating eggs, dairy, and nuts to get a healthy dose of protein. And with those ingredients, your caterer can definitely craft some delicious dishes.
Consider offering some delicious salads with fresh vegetables for vegetarians, as well as other veggie-based dishes. And if you’re unsure of what to provide, just ask your guests ahead of time what they’d like.
Vegan Catering
Most people assume that vegans eat the same as vegetarians, but that’s definitely not true. Vegans steer clear of any animal-derived ingredients. Obviously they don’t eat meat, but unlike vegetarians, vegans also do not eat eggs, dairy, or any minor ingredients that come from animals.
That said, many common vegetarian dishes can be modified to be vegan. Just remove any animal-based ingredients and replace them with different vegetable, fruit, or nut ingredients. There are also many vegan recipe guides available online that you can use as inspiration for your catering.
For more catering and event tips, check out the blogs below:
- Questions To Ask Your Wedding Catering Service
- How To Create The Perfect Signature Wedding Cocktail
- Plan The Perfect Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Wedding Menu
Gluten-Free Catering
Gluten intolerances and allergies are fairly common, though many are unsure of what exactly they are. Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale (a cross between rye and wheat) and is commonly found in bread, pasta, baked goods, and soups among other dishes.
Though a challenge, you can construct gluten-free dishes with a sort of “back to basics” approach. Many with gluten-intolerances load their diets with hearty chicken or beef dishes as well as healthy vegetables. You’ll just have to be careful about including breads, pastas, or baked goods in the dishes. And you will definitely want to have a gluten-free alternative to the traditional wedding cake.
Special Food Allergies
You can’t anticipate every food allergy that comes your way. But it’s important that you try to accommodate more specific food allergies. Allergies to dairy, nuts, shellfish, and more are relatively common, and need to be taken to account.
An easy way to accommodate guests is by asking them if they have any food allergies or intolerances before your event. Catered events like wedding receptions or corporate galas typically ask for food orders alongside RSVPs, and adding a place for guests to make special requests on their RSVP is a great way to accommodate. But more importantly, you need to choose a flexible catering service that’s able to modify dishes on the fly and will take special care in double-checking ingredients for those with food allergies.
Catering for people with special diets, food allergies, or intolerances is quite a challenge. But with some thoughtful event planning and a great caterer, you’ll be able to meet your guests needs with ease. Thankfully, Olivia Restaurant is here to help. Our event venue offers exceptional catering services able to craft delicious dishes for any type of diner. Your guests will love our creative hors d’oeuvres and delectable entrees, and are guaranteed to be impressed by our exquisite venue. Contact Olivia Restaurant today for more information on our catering and event venue services.