How To Go From Messy to Clever with Six Great Event Food Creations

Messy foods are for outback grill events, booze cruises and music festivals, right? Wrong. Event guests appreciate easy-to-eat options, and catering groups are repurposing age-old recipes to make event options more appetizing.

Crowd-favorite foods aren’t necessarily the cleanest, but they can certainly be cleaned up to make the eater’s life easier. While some guests love their hearty, sweet and classic foods, they needn’t be restricted to “finger-licking good” winds, sandwiches and BBQ options. The following event providers have remixed typical event food ideas. Check them out:

Preston Bailey Supplies Tiramisu Grab-and-Go Offers

Preston Bailey turned an entire Four Seasons New York Downtown into a catering establishment, supplying tiramisu as a grab-and-go options. Striking out the eating difficulty, it successfully celebrated its partnership with Four Seasons, all while keeping event-goers happy.

S'mores Gets Portable with Lollipops

Yes, it’s possible to eat a S’mores product without the mess. In fact, S’mores created campfire lollipops to familiarize their guests with handheld fun at the Engage!14 Wedding Summit. By reinventing an age-old theme in a new way, S’mores effectively redesigned the way guests look at desert.

Great Performances Dishes Out Fried Chicken Cones

By dishing out fried chicken stored in waffle cones, Great Performances allowed its guests to roam about the premises with self-serve options designed to circumnavigate the need for plates. Fried chicken might not be the hardest-to-handle food item, but it’s certainly deserving of a little ease-of-eating. The cones were offered at the Watermill Center in 2015, redefining the way chicken, itself, is dished out to hungry patrons.

Elegant Affairs Creates Portable Spaghetti and Meatballs

By compacting spaghetti and placing singular meatballs on top, New York’s Elegant Affairs created a clean, to-the-point version of traditional spaghetti dinners. The mess-free food item gave patrons a micro approach to an age-old macro problem associated with messy spaghetti event dinners.

Occasions Caterers Make Salad Bites

That’s right: salad bites. Alongside spaghetti, salad is a notoriously difficult event dish to serve cleanly. By creating salad bites hors d’oeuvre, Occasions Caterers gave patrons fork-served eating options capable of tidying up the dish’s regular problems.

The Washington Human Society Offers Portable Hummus and Pita

Hummus is messy. Really messy. The Washington Humane society, however, offered a selection of hors d’oeuvres hummus and pita bites, celebrating their 2014 Fashion for Paws runway event.

Sometimes, alternative food options work well. They certainly revamp many age-old ideologies surrounding proper event food options. Check out more annual food options, and stay sharp with this year’s best event creations.

How to Wow People with a Vegan Menu

If you're going to be serving food at your event, it's important to choose menu items that everyone can and will eat. This will be hard if you try to make a different menu for all of the many common dietary variations. Instead, try combining gluten-free and vegan to create dishes that almost everyone will love. One of the most important things you'll need to keep in mind is the difference between vegetarian and vegan. Vegetarian dishes may include eggs, milk, and other products that ultimately come from animals. Vegan food, on the other hand, includes none of that. Only plants and plant products are allowed.

Choosing the Menu Items

The key to wowing a mixed-preference audience with vegan dishes is to avoid the bland, diet-type fare non-vegans often associate with this type of food. Instead, make sure the meals are tasty. Hire caterers that use spices and sauces liberally to pump up the flavor volume and add delicious-looking color to the dishes. Also, make sure that your catering company is used to cooking for vegans. Such companies will have plenty of delicious recipes already developed.

If You Can Field Two Menus, Offer Both Meat and Meat-Free Options

When you're providing lunch, meat-eaters likely won't be too put out if they don't get any meat in the meal. The same cannot be said of dinner. Unless your company gets marketing points from going all-vegan, offer a meat-included menu for this meal along with the vegan one. Note, however, that some vegans insist that their food be cooked in different areas than those used to cook meat! Fortunately, there are some caterers out there that will actually cater to even this demand.

Always Remember the Possibility of Allergies

The days when you could just serve a mystery sauce or meal are over. For reasons that are not quite understood, the incidence of life-threatening food allergies is higher than it was just 30 or 40 years ago. Therefore, you should always list potential food allergens. It's also important to know for certain exactly what is in everything, vegan or not.

This isn't to say that it's dangerous to serve meals. You simply need to know what is in all of the food so you and your staff can give accurate answers to those who ask about the ingredients.

With these things in mind, you'll be able to serve anything from a snack to a feast and have it be both safe and impressive. The final thing you'll need is a venue. If your event is in Miami, try our event and exhibition area here at Soho Studios. We offer up to 70,000 square feet that can be configured to meet all of your event needs.

How your Catering Menu Will Make or Break Your Event

Your event is much more than a cool display collection. In the business world, successful events are experiences. The food you serve, whether it’s at a corporate meeting, a tech expo or a major industry extravaganza, will give your consumers a specific feeling towards you as a provider. Keep in mind: Your catering menu is important. It can make, or break, an event—and we’re here to tell you why.

Reason One: Time

Time is of the essence. Before we get to the attendee’s mindset, we need to talk about the clock. If you hire a catering company, make sure the prepared menu is simple, delightful and memorable. Make sure you don’t need a ton of time to plan, cook, serve and pick up the dishes. You’d be surprised how much can go wrong if an event’s menu is overcomplicated.

Reason Two: Versatility

Second, versatility should be considered. A versatile menu—one with detailed options—can inspire creativity from the get-go. A rigid menu, however, may turn your attendees off, food-wise. Make sure you’re offering at least three main courses, and sprinkle a little creativity atop the side items and appetizers. Remember: It’s an event. Your attendees will be hungry, but they’re more likely to indulge in savory apps than a full-course mean.

Reason Three: Dietary Needs

The biggest way to kill event dining interest is to lack specialty options. No, not diverse options—specialty options. We’re talking diet food versions, vegan options, soy-free food and vegetarian dishes. You shouldn’t assume your eventgoers are a diet-free crowd. Offer dietary accommodations, and set yourself apart from leading competitors.

Reason Four: Spice Diversity

Oddly enough, spices tend to be “make or break” topics for event-goers. Offer dish variety with spices. From side items to meats, a lot of cuisines can be changed based upon their included spices. Italian, Indian and Mexican cuisines, in particular, are highly susceptible to various spices.

Reason Five: Complimentary Items

No one likes a stingy event provider. A catering menu can shatter interest if it doesn’t offer a few free side items. No, you don’t need to ditch the RSVP, but you should be flexible when guests ask for more bread, soda or similar inexpensive items. If your event has dips, consider implanting a buffet bar for pre-entrée experiences.

Your event isn’t defined by its catering menu, but it can certainly benefit from a good one. At the same time, a poorly constructed, restrictive or otherwise uncreative catering menu can destroy an event’s legitimacy. Food can define a brand’s quality, attention to detail and willingness to include attendees. Make sure you do it right, and contact Soho Studios today. Our in-house Starr Catering Group is here to help, and it's fully packed with exclusive kitchen amenities, time-tested-and-true recipes and today's latest, greatest menu options.

Jackson Health Foundation Hosts its 25th Birthday Celebration at Soho Studios Miami

We at Soho Studios in Miami are proud to announce the upcoming Jackson Health Foundation's Golden Angels 25^th Birthday Bash on January 21, 2017! It celebrates 25 years of the Foundation's giving, which supports a variety of health-related causes within the Jackson Health System. This event starts at 7 P.M. and is being presented by the Golden Angels, a group dedicated to fundraising for the Jackson Health Foundation. This event is also known as the Golden Angels Gala. The gala is a fundraiser as well as a festive party, dinner, and evening of entertainment. Suggested ticket prices start at $1,000, which gives the donor a Benefactor Seat. Individual tickets go up to $60,000, which gives a seat at the Golden Angel Pledge/Gala Tables. Tables for 10 are also available for larger donations. The Jackson Health Foundation also has a web page for those who wish to give smaller gifts toward specific Birthday Bash goals without attending the gala.

For those who attend, there is an exciting array of activities that will go on. Dancing is on the agenda, along with dinner and choice of drinks. Every year's event has a different theme to surprise attendees, and you can count on excellent entertainment and multiple bars. One of the highlights is always the recognition of the Foundation's largest donors, who will appear in their finest fashions. This makes this event one of the biggest in the area's social scene.

Every year, there is a different form of memorable entertainment offered. There have been variety shows, carnival acts, and other exciting performances. This year's theme is Miracles Made Daily, but the Foundation is keeping mum about the specifics of the accompanying performances and sets that will be present. You'll just have to attend and see what they've set up for you!

About the Jackson Health Foundation

The Jackson Health Foundation, or JHF, works to raise funds to cover shortfalls in the Jackson Health System's budget left after taxpayer funding and grants have been exhausted. This allows the System to continue to provide its top-notch medical care along with the extras that make patients more comfortable here than they otherwise would be.

About Soho Studios

Our venue is one of the finest in Miami for galas, expos, and other experiential events. We can provide up to 70,000 square feet for your extravaganza, but we can also configure the venue for far smaller events. This makes Soho Studios one of the most versatile choices for your engagement.

To purchase a ticket or to make a donation to the event click here. 

Furniture for Events

One of the important factors valuable to the success of a planning an event is furniture rentals. It plays a significant role in the assurance of a hospitable environment for your event. Select event furniture that is fitting and appropriate to the event landscape.

Recently there was a private event in Miami that included furniture and a DJ booth that levitated above the bar. Guests were surrounded by many different types of event furniture, decor and catering.

First impressions they say always last, and in every event, the first thing that guest see when they walk into your event sets the tone for the gathering. It may seem that furniture and overall staging for events are insignificant but in reality, they crucial to the overall experience of your event.

Benefits of Furniture Rental for Events

It is important that furniture placement be in alignment with your event landscape. Whether the event is a wedding, a concert, a business meeting, or a launch party, a well thought out furniture arrangement can cause a lasting impact. Furniture rental companies can help you to accomplish the furniture and staging for events that is consistent with the overall look and feel of your event.

There is a variety of furniture for events available that can reflect what it is that you want to convey with your attendees. Appropriate event furniture leaves a lasting impression and event planners will ensure that they reflect the needs of the guests at your event.

Uniformity is one form of attraction on furniture rentals.  Depending on the occasion, it is eye-catching to see that chairs and tables are of the same design and color, making it more appealing for guests to just sit down and enjoy the event, or to have an appropriate place to set down a drink. Opt for a furniture rental company who is experienced with a variety of different event conditions.

Furniture rentals for events may also include catering equipment. Many events serve hors d'oeuvres and almost all events serve drinks. In order to save time and effort, furniture rentals can be very much in handy for catering equipment as well. Catering equipment may also include linen, cutlery and utensils. Be sure to check with your catering service to see what event furniture you will need to source on your own.

When renting furniture for events, do what you can to return the furniture in the same condition as you rented it. Before accepting the furniture for events from the vendor it is the duty of the host to double-check the condition of the furniture. Also, make sure that you understand thoroughly what is in each clause in a rental agreement. See to it that you pay the amount commensurate to the quality of the furniture rentals. Always make it a point to ask all the doubts that you have to ensure a good negotiation. Be smart enough to have clear answers to all your questions to avoid misunderstandings in the future.

Furniture rentals for events are, no doubt, always a part of any successful organized event. The desired appearance makes it possible through furniture and event staging, and truly is a reflection of the event as a whole.

Event Catering

Catering is the professional preparation and serving of food and beverages. Event planners find it a convenient method of advancing their guest’s hospitality needs. The business is booming – and why not – the hospitality industry has upped its game. But what does event catering entail? What are the expected industry minimum standards? Well, like all businesses, it requires professionalism and meticulous planning. Without a good team, event catering will be a bad experience for the person organizing it.

A great example of an event where you can find a wide variety of catering for events in Miami is The South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The Wine and Food Festival is four day culinary extravaganza that features wine and cuisine from all over the planet.

Below are the various stages of an event catering process.

Cooking and Delivery

To be successful at event catering, caterers need to be adept at food preparation and cooking. To be a professional cook or chef, you need to have under gone at least 3 years training in a food and hospitality college. Hygiene when cooking food cannot be gainsaid. The most successful event catering business is the one that observes personal hygiene almost to the level of eccentricity. You need to have the necessary cooking utensils such as cooking pots, cooking pans, cooking sticks etc. Good cooking is one thing, delivering the food in a hygienic and professional manner is another. Food delivery is a nightmare if you do not have the right equipment. You need to have automobiles that are sanitized, good packaging utensils and crockery, and refrigerated vans for perishable vegetables and drinks. You need to be able to deliver the food in time, serve in time and clear out the event venue in time. Event catering is a time conscious business.

Staffing Logistics

Event catering should be an organized affair. You will need to have the kitchen staff, the transportation staff, the waiting staff, managers, suppliers of food materials to the kitchen, event decorators as well as cleaning staff. As an owner of an event catering business, you will be expected to handle this staffing logistics with ease. Before taking up an event catering job, this entire staff must be in place. Failure to have the necessary staff is planning to fail.

Event Venue Preparation and Serving

Most companies that outsource event catering services expect the catering firm to decorate and arrange the venue as well as serve the guests. From event themes and colors to table arrangement and fixing a temporary bar and kitchen, a manager at a catering firm is expected to have the event venue ready. Note that event catering is not a business for the faint hearted or the disorganized. It is a business for people with excellent planning capabilities. To handle the large number of people and logistics, you need to have management skills and high emotional quotient. You will need to be able to balance competing egos with your business agenda. From arrival times of the various event guests to meal times and beverages servings, a caterer will have his hands full. Always remember to ask what kind of guests will be attending the event. You do not want to be caught off guard by having guests that are vegetarians, teetotalers, or those that are restricted by their religions from taking certain foods. Event catering is a highly complex and demanding business, yet being involved in it is both exhilarating and involving.