The catering industry in the USA, being a developed and diverse country, is one of the rich and burgeoning sectors. Every year, new corporate catering service firms spring up with something trendy and innovative.
With Christmas and New Year around the corner, caterers have buckled up to improve the experience of employees and guests. This write-up guides you with the latest and most essential catering trends to help your next business event be a grand success.
Corporate Party Catering Service Trends: What’s Hot In The Menu?
Gone are the days when business events were just boring meetings that lasted for hours, perhaps offering a few sandwiches, tea, or coffee. These days, companies represent themselves with more than just ordinary food; they want their employees and guests to remember them. One of the most interesting and trendy ways to do that is by introducing a wide variety of Indian core cuisines that add rich texture and flavor to the food.
With a wide array of dishes, Indian food brings culture, spices, and diversity to corporate functions. Now, let’s focus on what types of menu corporate party catering services can bring to your company’s next event.
1. Soup and Salad: A Perfect Start
The days of tasteless soups and salads are long gone. The modern-day generation is looking for something exciting when it comes to food served at corporate parties. If incorporating global influences with an Indian twist, think of spicy lentil soup, tomato shorba, sweet corn soup, and cucumber and mint salad served with something delicious like tamarind sauce or yogurt.
2. Vegetarian Appetizers
Once, vegetarian starters were on the sidelines. But today, they’re in the spotlight! The cheese tikka, veggie samosas, and green kebabs are a must-try from the menu. For something new, try stuffed mushrooms or aalo-papdi chaat to liven things up a little. You can never go wrong with tasty and filling appetizers for the guests.
3. Non-Vegetarian Appetizers
Non-vegetarian appetizers are elevated classics for meat lovers, and the trend is shifting toward small, hearty snacks. Chicken malai tikka, fish pakoras, and lamb seekh kebabs are combinations rich and full of taste and aroma. Many leading party catering services are opting for more extravagant presentations and garnishes, such as drowning the appetizers in mint chutney foam or combining them with spicy aioli.
4. Vegetarian Entrees
Vegetarian starters are very popular due to their versatility. Indian corporate party cuisines are now dominated by old favorites such as paneer tikka masala, bhindi masala, vegetable vindaloo, and dal makhani. Modern varieties that grab the most attention include baingan bharta, saag paneer, or spinach Kofta in cashew nut curry. Such dishes demonstrate that vegetarian food can always be filling, tasteful, and enjoyable.
5. Vegan Entrees
Because people are more aware of their dietary preferences, catering to vegan food during corporate functions is essential. However, vegan guests can still satisfy their hunger by indulging in dishes such as aloo baingan, aloo gobi, bhindi, saag, and yellow dal with vegetables in coconut milk. This aspect shows how Indian food is versatile and can accommodate different dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste.
6. Chicken Entrees
There is no doubt that chicken is the most preferred meat of all time, as it can take many forms. Everyone has something to relish, from savory chili chicken and butter chicken to fiery Chettinad chicken curry. On business meetings, grilled choices like chicken tikka or tandoori chicken can be enjoyed with naan or parathas to make a complete meal.
7. Goat and Lamb Entrees
In this category falls Indian cuisines, from the classics like goat meat curry, lamb keema, Punjabi goat curry, and lamb rogan josh. Typically, these dishes are consumed in large quantities because their flavor profiles are traditionally rich, and thus, they are likely to wow your clients and coworkers.
8. Seafood Entrees
Coastal Indian seafood delicacies can also be considered on the menu, including Goan shrimp curry, fish moilee, shrimp vindaloo, and goan salmon curry. All the above are light and tasty dishes that attract guests searching for something different. The focus is on fresh, responsibly farmed seafood that provides both quality food and concern for the environment.
9. Tandoori Grill Entrees
There’s something about food cooked in a tandoor that elevates the human senses. Tandoori paneer, chicken, picked mushrooms, and tandoori prawns! These grilled cuisines are a class apart for corporate events. The popularity of live tandoor stations, where expert chefs from corporate catering service companies prepare food on-site, adds a new dimension to the occasion.
10. Indian Bread
These freshly cooked and hot breads are the finishing touches of the meal. Bread filled with stuffing, like paneer naan and onion kulcha, serves as an alternative, whereas gluten-free options also serve those with such dietary restrictions.
11. Rice
Rice is usually a plain dish; however, it can be accompanied with dal makhani or chicken curry for added taste. It can also be garnished with jeera rice, benarasi rice, peas pulao, or Kashmiri pulao, which adds richness and texture, or saffron rice to enhance the elegance of the meal.
12. Biryani
Biryanis are India’s Trademark meal and the heart and soul of any Indian occasion! Whether Hyderabadi biryani with chicken, lamb, shrimp, or vegetable biryani, everyone enjoys this delicious meal. Biryani is served along with cooling raita and is a perfect celebratory meal that remains a center of attraction for corporate events.
13. Beverages
Beverages occupy a prime spot on the menu, from old favorites like masala chai and mango lassi to new ones like fresh lime soda, lassi, and mocktails made with Indian spices. These drinks are not only a way of refreshing oneself but also support the overall theme of cuisine.
14. Dessert: Sweet Endings
Meals at your business event can not be concluded without popular Indian desserts such as gulab jamun, kheer, ras malai, gajar halwa, or jalebi. There is a growing trend for modern or contemporary desserts such as rose ice-cream meltdowns or chocolate samosas. A lot of effort is put into creating such desserts that are aesthetically appealing and tasty.
Final Words
As the Corporate Catering Service industries are continuously evolving, keeping up with the latest trends in catering will not only let a company stand out among competitors but also add some value to its employees’ and clients’ ever-changing expectations. Accepting diversity, bold flavors, innovative approaches, and expert party catering services all together play a great role in enhancing your guest’s experience.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
