04/01/2017
TOP CATERING TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2017
1. ADVENTUROUS TASTES
Clients are becoming a lot more adventurous, particularly when it comes to food. We as a company have responded to this by engaging our audience’s senses; utilising animal sounds, wind machines, visual triggers, soft or textured serving vessels and specially created scents to add to the experience.
So it may be that guests are asked to forage in autumn leaves for delicacies whilst listening to the sound of snorting pigs on headphones or to retrieve their food from a fish and chip station complete with salt & vinegar vapour and seaside sounds. Delicious and, above all, fun.
We are always on the lookout for exciting ingredients. For example one of our current favourites is a small, yellow Brazilian flower bud known as an ‘electric button’ which, when eaten, creates a strong tingling sensation in the mouth. When combined with other ingredients, it intensifies and highlights flavours, adding another dimension to the dish
Other ingredients our chefs are working a lot with at the moment include roasted meat, super-crunched chicken,King Crabs,Edible Flowers
2. HEALTHY EATING
I can’t believe I am saying this - it fills me with horror - but it seems the fight against healthy eating is futile.
People are even thinking about their waistlines when they want to party. It makes no sense to me, but apparently the time for butter and cream is behind us, and kale and carrot tops are the future. God help us all.
3. LUXURY CHOICES
Special events are becoming more special. This reflects the confidence being shown in the economy, stability of the Government and a desire by private and corporate clients to enjoy themselves in the best way they can.
We have been asked a lot more this season for upgraded wines, prime cuts of meat, tranches of great fish and pristine, delicious shellfish. Are we seeing a resurgence of the laissez-faire, ‘bring it on’ culture leading to excess or a considered reflection of the feeling of confidence and moving on from austerity? In my view, it is the latter. Apart from notable exceptions of excess at some small private corporate events, (a DJ paid 1m Naira to play for 65 minutes for 260 guests for example), our clients at Smart are looking for imagination, experience and perfection – whatever the budget.
We will still see less expensive cuts requested but these will also be accompanied by prime choice cuts – slow cooked sticky shoulder of lamb with herb crusted cannon will still be a winner.