The Importance of Food at Networking Events
“When you walk into a room and smell something delicious, it’s something to talk about.” — Event Manager Blog
Networking events call for a specific type of snacks: ones you can easily eat while mingling on your feet. More importantly, the food you choose to serve at networking events is crucial because food is such an important starter piece for conversation. Event Manager Blog has some great tips for networking event organizers on how to strike the right balance between memorable and practical.
Street Food is on the Rise
“Every new and successful event has bred more street food fanatics, with their bellies and smartphones at the ready.” — Open Air, the Outdoor Hospitality Magazine
Street food was born of convenience: think simple tacos you grabbed on your lunch break or late-night slices of pizza. But sometime in the last decade, food trucks became a bona fide foodie fetish, and now event promoters are clamoring to take advantage of all the delicious truck options out there. Open Air published a guide for event organizers interested in featuring food trucks at their event. It includes information about finding a venue, licensing, safety, caterer management, and the market in general. This guide is mainly UK-focused, but there are some great takeaways for U.S. events — like how to seek out a location that’s already licensed for food serving.
2017 Food Trends
“Watermelon rinds being made into pickles. Making cauliflower rice using the stem. It’s about making the most of something that ordinarily would end up in the garbage.” — Eat This, Not That!
Want to be on the cutting edge of culinary trends for your event catering? Eat This, Not That! offers up its summary of what’s trending in food this year. The list of 17 food concepts includes Persian-influenced plates, purple food, and “alternative pasta” made out of healthy ingredients like zucchini and lentils. A lot of these ideas lend themselves very well to events: think dehydrated vegetable snacks, bite-sized breakfast desserts, and detox mocktails. Check it out for ideas for every type of event.
Creative Presentation Ideas
“When you’re hosting a gala…building the right menu is essential.” — Arena Americas
Great food presentation doesn’t just add to a memorable event. It tends to inspire more photos — and social sharing. After all, the more impressive your food display, the more likely your attendees are to post it on Facebook or Instagram. This year, Arena Americas predicts a few trends in food presentation, including things like build-your-own food stations and extra-small snacks. Other presentation trends include serving desserts in tiny mason jars and “action stations” that highlight food prep.
Top Food Festivals by State
“When it comes to quirky food festivals, America stands united.” — National Geographic
If you’re looking for inspiration, National Geographic has a guide to “The Best Food Festival in Every U.S. State.” From the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California to the Apple Scrapple Festival in Delaware, there is something for every foodie in this country. Every summer in Georgia, people gather together to eat the world’s largest peach cobbler, measured at 11 by 5 feet. And the persimmon pudding competition at Indiana’s Namesake Festival is definitely a one of a kind. Check it out to see which event food lovers are flocking to in your state — and get plenty of ideas for elevating yours.
For more insight on making your food event stand out in a crowded market, download the free eBook, “Food and Drink Events: A Course-by-Course Guide.”
