Entertaining is an important part of life for most people. It’s a chance to socialize, to catch up with the latest news, and build friendships.
But, entertaining means preparing food and this can be time-consuming. It’s also increasingly difficult as they are so many different allergens and personal tastes to be aware of. The more diverse your group is the more likely it is that buffet food is the best answer. It’s an important question when planning weddings as well!
But, how do you ensure you have the best buffet food possible?
Get The Professionals In
Everyone wants to be able to say that they prepared the magnificent feats. But the truth is most people don’t have the time or the culinary skills to pull off a feat like this. You need to accept that it’s okay to get the professionals in. They’ll let you sample the food before you choose your menu and will take care of everything for you.
Not only will you be guaranteed great buffet food, but you’ll also save yourself the stress.
Choose The Right Equipment
If you’re a commercial chef looking to supply buffet food to households and other events then you invest in the best industrial food machine on the market. This ensures the preparation is done properly and all the equipment can be easily and thoroughly cleaned.
When considering equipment you need to ensure you have the required serving platters and the associated utensils. Every dish in a buffet should have at least one serving utensil. The key is to avoid cross-contaminating the foods.
Consider The Crowd
You need to think about what sort of food your guests will be expecting. Family birthday parties are very different from a promotional business event.
Selecting the food according to your desks will make it more likely that all the guests are happy. Of course, this also means considering what allergies people have or may have.
The best approach, if you’re not sure about allergies, is to have several dishes prepared that are allergy-free. Make sure they are labeled and kept together at one end of your buffet table. This reduces the likelihood of them being contaminated by other dishes.
Temperature
One thing that is often overlooked is the correct temperature for food. This is especially true when you have items that should be kept chilled, they are often simply put out at room temperature. The food will then warm and increase the risk of bacteria which can cause food poisoning. That’s not how you want your buffet remembered.
Make sure all food is kept within the designated temperature ranges, if cooled food is left to sit at room temperature then throw it away after 2 hours, you can always bring out more!
The Food
One of the most difficult decisions at any buffet is what food to serve. The best approach is to go with the things you like, factoring in the allergies that you’re aware of. This will ensure you enjoy the food and you’ll be able to confirm everything tastes great.
It’s likely that your guests will have similar food tastes and be happy with your buffet.