Unique & Unexpected Menu Ideas To Thrill Your Guests

Every exciting event needs an equally exciting menu. Whether it’s a backyard get-together, product launch party, or just a weekly team meeting, treating your guests to a few (or more!) delicious bites is an essential step to turn a good event into a great one. As experienced caterers, we’ve seen and done it all. From bao bars to travel-inspired buffets, we’re always working along clients to create unique menu ideas to wow the guests and keep them coming back for seconds. —Donna Wadsworth

drop-off grab-and-go boxes. If your event is far too packed with programming to allow for a long lunch break, look to entrée or snack boxes! Grab and go boxes are ideal for full-day events, like conferences or networking events, or quick office lunches, where attendees need to be able to efficiently pick up their meal before heading off to the next event. Pack together a protein option, simple salad, and sweet treat (make sure to have a couple options on hand for all dietary restrictions or collect your guests’ preferences ahead of time). We also love to customize snack boxes with a variety of bite-sized canapés, charcuterie or pastries for a unique grazing option that will keep your guests satisfied all day.

morning diy smoothie bowl bar. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and a good breakfast catering option can really set the tone for the rest of the workday. A DIY smoothie bowl bar is a health-conscious, nutritious, and completely customizable option to inject a little energy into your early morning event. Set-up a table full of fresh berries, tropical fruits, and other seasonal produce, alongside pitchers of a few types of pre-blended smoothies—açai, strawberry-banana and a green option are always good bets! Include a few toppings in bowls on the table, like pomegranate arils, coconut flakes and chia seeds to really bring it up a notch, and give your guests all the tools they need to showcase their creativity.

sweet treats for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a casual backyard party or formal bridal shower, we love a table decked out with afternoon tea treats because they can be dressed up or down to perfectly match your event. It’s almost like finger sandwiches, mini scones with mascarpone, and petit fours were made for moments like these! Add a simple charcuterie board and grilled crudité platter, and we guarantee your guests will be enjoying every little bite from start to finish.

delight with a waffle bar. There’s no denying the amount of deliciousness that resides in a stack of waffles. Consider surprising your guests at the end of the night with a Belgian waffle bar. Waffles are quick, delicious, and can be easily customized to your guests’ liking. Setup a station with a waffle iron, along with an assortment of chocolate and caramel sauces, fresh fruit, whipped cream, and icing sugar. It’s sure to be a crowd favourite!

don’t forget plant-based options. When designing your event menu, you’ll also want to make sure you have options for everyone. Check in with your guests ahead of time to make sure you’ve accounted for all dietary restrictions and allergies. No one wants to be eating a simple salad all night, so work with your caterer to get creative with plant-based options your guests will actually enjoy. Cucumber Cups with Hummus or Vegetable Pakora are delicious vegetarian-friendly canapés to pass around. And for entrées, try our new Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash with Risotto or Zucchini Halloumi Fritters with Green Goddess Dip! We’re always coming up with new menu ideas to keep our vegetarian and vegan guests smiling.

feature cocktails. Now that you’ve got the food covered, having a unique, feature cocktail that represents the essence of your event is the final touch to making it an unforgettable celebration. Mix your favourite spirits with unique seasonal flavours and fresh herbs, or put your own spin on a classic cocktail.

While catering trends come and go, tailoring your menu to your audience with fresh, seasonal ingredients will never go out of style.

Savoury City Catering owner Donna Wadsworth has seen it all in her decades of experience running catering companies and working as a chef across Canada and internationally. To create perfectly orchestrated events, Donna lives by the motto “fail to prepare then prepare to fail,” paired with a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to perfectly envision the flow of an event from beginning to end.