Best Tips for Outdoor Catering for Family Gatherings

May 11, 2022
Outdoor Catering

If you’re going to be hosting an outdoor event with family and friends in the GTA, Pickering or Ajax area, here are some tips you can use to make sure that everything goes according to plan. You’ll want to ensure that you host a flawless event that will be memorable for everyone that attends. Here are some of our best tips for outdoor catering for family gatherings that you can keep in mind when a family event is scheduled to take place soon.

Finger Food Are Always a Hit One of the best ways to welcome guests to your outdoor event is to provide them with delicious finger foods right from the get-go. Usually you will be inviting them as they arrive and encouraging them to mingle and spread out. They’ll find a spot where they will feel comfortable and start talking to others. Now is not the time to serve a big meal but rather a time to communicate and to get caught up with others.

When you offer finger food for outdoor catering for family gatherings your guests are able to remain mobile and aren’t restrained to a sitting position in one area. They can choose the type of food they want to enjoy and it will take the edge off their hunger if they have arrived hungry and ready to eat. You’ll have options as to how you present the finger food as well. You can lay it out on a table where it is spread out or you can have someone walking around with platters so that people can choose their finger food while talking to other family members or friends.

You’ll have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to finger foods. If you need help with the selection we are available to make recommendations based on the foods that have been popular at past events that we’ve catered. Outdoor catering for family gatherings is one of our specialties and we understand that everyone arrives with different likes and dislikes of food. That is why we offer such a wide selection. Our goal is to satisfy the food requirements of every guest that arrives at your family gathering.

An Outdoor Buffet for Catering Ajax

An outdoor buffet is always an option for catering Ajax but there are a few things that you’ll want to take into account. The first one is the amount of flies and other insects that you could expect in the immediate area on that day. If you are going to serve food outside without an enclosed area, this can become quite a problem. If you are setting up a buffet at a time of year when insects won’t be an issue then a buffet style of catering Ajax may be fine. If, on the other hand, there are plenty of flies, mosquitoes and other bugs around, you’ll need to have the buffet displayed inside a covered area or in the home or building nearby and there should be somebody around to monitor the insect activity as the food is being served. Generally speaking, buffets usually work best for indoor gatherings or when guests will be gathering outside and then eating inside later on..

Live Food Stations for Catering Pickering

When it comes time to present the meal with stations you’ll also have a lot of choice. You can set up a live food station with various foods available. When you would prefer not to set up a buffet type of meal plan, live food stations are always a good choice. Your guests will feel like they are being provided with the options they want and being served by others always makes a guest feel great. You can learn more about life food stations for catering Pickering by giving us a call today.

Consider the Time of Day for Your Event If you’re going to be having your family gathering in the spring you may want to schedule it for the afternoon when it’s warmer outside and the sun will be shining down. If, on the other hand, you plan on having the event in the summer, you may want to consider having breakfast or brunch events for catering Ajax in order to completely avoid the hot midday sun. Many people enjoy going out to brunch on the weekends and there is a wide variety of food types that can be offered. Think of regular breakfast foods such as bacon and eggs, croissants, fruits etc. along with light lunch items such as soups and sandwiches. Brunch is always a popular meal and your guests may appreciate not being exposed to the scorching afternoon heat.

Incorporate a Drinks Station No matter what type of catering for family gatherings you choose, it’s always a good idea to incorporate a drinks station into the plan. When your guests are going to be enjoying themselves outside, it’s a guarantee that the open air will make them thirsty. Be sure to consider the drinks you will be serving since it is an important element of catering for family gatherings both inside and out. Lemonade is always popular during the summer as is iced tea. Coffee should always be on offer as well as soft drinks. Place some fresh fruit around the drinks station for an added special touch.

Prepare in Advance for Unexpected Weather It’s always best to prepare for the unexpected especially when it comes to hosting outdoor events for catering Pickering. What will you do if the sunny skies that are expected are quickly replaced by threatening clouds? Figure out a backup plan so that you can save the day should something occur out of the blue. Be prepared for rain, wind or a blast of cold so that everything continues to run smoothly no matter what the weather brings.

If you’re going to be hosting an outdoor gathering that begins during the day and extends until the evening hours, you’ll be expecting the temperature to dip when the sun goes down. It’s always a good idea to have extra sweaters or light jackets on hand to offer to people that didn’t think of bringing one along. You could also have some warm blankets available for those that are feeling a chill. Overall, your thoughtfulness will be appreciated by your visitors.

If you’re planning an event in the upcoming future and need catering for family gatherings, we provide catering Pickering, catering Ajax and catering services GTA. Visit our website at www.bigcitycatering.ca and give us a call or send us an email for further details.