Catering For Food Allergies and Intolerences
As we move through the festive season, we are treading on the edges of prime time engagement season. With so many engagements occurring during this special time that family and friends are gathered together with one another for, it’s no wonder so many wedding shows occur in the first part of the New Year. And with those exciting wedding shows comes on the responsibility of planning a very special day of celebration.
Of course, no party is complete without refreshments. That goes without saying. But these days it’s increasingly difficult to come up with a menu that can truly satisfy each and every guest. In the first place, people have become much more health conscious. However, more so than that, there’s an increasingly large number of people suffering from allergies and food intolerances these days, and as a good host you’ll want to think about their needs as well. All in all, it can make the idea of menu planning difficult, but if you work with an experienced and professional caterer, such as ourselves, we try to streamline and simplify one of the most fun elements of wedding planning: designing a menu.
As a great host you’ll want all of your guests to enjoy themselves, so it’s worth taking a little time to understand these dietary restrictions so you can accommodate them with your party menu. Each of our menus (lunch, dinner, etc.) can accommodate special diets. If you browse our menus and have a concern for dietary measure, speak with an event specialist to get more information!
Vegetarian
More and more American are choosing a vegetarian lifestyle. For most, this means totally avoiding meat (there are some vegetarian who make exceptions for certain types of seafoods, but that’s an argument for another time).
Vegetarian options on event menus have become fairly common by now, and it is always good form to have a couples of menu items designed to accommodate the non-meat eaters in your midst. Of course, that means more than simply having a few vegetable crudities and fruit platters dotted about the room. There are many exciting, nutritious and even festive vegetarian alternatives.
Consider these vegetarian options:
Eggplant timbale with smoked tomato chutney
Ratatouille roulade with pesto
Grilled vegetable napoleon with roasted red peppers and red pepper coulis
Vegan
Any experienced caterer should be able to create sumptuous dishes to satisfy any guests, and are always happy to provide suggestions so we can get you started on the right culinary footing. Like vegetarians, vegans are also non-meat eaters. However, in addition to avoiding meat they also avoid any product made from animals including eggs, milk, butter and cheese.
Consider these vegan options:
Thai chili cucumber roll
Mediterranean bean cake with sweet tomato chutney
Lentil napa cabbage rolls on top of grilled vegetables
Gluten Free
Gluten free diets are becoming increasingly prominent. Unfortunately, since gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, it is a component in most common menu items. Now, some people have a relatively moderate intolerance for gluten, something akin to an allergic reaction. But, people suffering from Celiac’s Disease can have a violent reaction when exposed to gluten in their diet, and they must be particularly careful with what they eat.
Consider these gluten free options:
Cider marinated chicken breast with chipolte demi-glace
Loaded potato or sweet potato souffle
Mushroom Risotto
Herb marinated salmon with caper cream
Food Allergies and Intolerances
When it comes to allergies and intolerances, it may be difficult to make distinct menu alterations ‘on the fly’ at the time of your event. However, there are steps that you can take as a great host to make your event inclusive to all guests from the moment planning commences.
The best way to prepare for dietary needs in advance of your event is to ask guests through their RSVP to respond with any dietary restrictions or special diets they have. Once you receive that information and communicate it to your caterer, together you can select specially prepared and plated items exclusively for them. If you are not offering a plated meal service and are opting for a buffet, food labels will be made available noting dietary information so your guests can make their own informed decisions. At that point your guests will be responsible for the management of their particular dietary restrictions.
Most people know what they are allergic to and will avoid those foods. However, it is up to the catering staff to ensure that all menu items are prepared properly and that there are no instances of cross contamination, as well as properly labeled. Again, your guests with food intolerances or special diets will know what to avoid, but you can make things easier for them by communicating with your caterer the needs of various guests so they are as prepared as possible.
Your event should be fun for all of your guests and everyone should be able to find something on your menu that will not only appeal to their taste buds but will also satisfy their health concerns. At first, a party menu that caterers to a wider range of dietary restrictions may seem daunting, but it gives both you and your caterer the opportunity to be creative and deliver a wide range of tasty delights to tall your guests.
