Fandango Catering and Events Provides Ideas for Creating Food Stations

Food stations are popular at larger events, from corporate conferences to weddings.  Because food stations require going to different tables (stations) to taste all the food, stations tend to promote a more interactive, "social" experience for guests as they travel to the different stations and get to talk to more people on the way to and from the stations.

Pros and Cons
There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to use food stations.  Here are a caterer and event planner's viewpoints.

Pros

• Already mentioned--Stations promote a more interactive, social experience for guests
• They promote a wider variety of food as each station is generally made up of variations on a theme
• They can also provide, if the host(s) wish(es), for a wider variety of decoration as each station can be decorated differently if desired

Cons

• Food stations are more expensive whether you do them yourself or pay someone to handle them, due to increased number of trays, dishes, table linens, servers, chafing dishes, ice bowls, and all manner of necessary things to create each station and also because they are more work for the food professional (caterer, hotel, or restaurant), so if you decide to go this route expect to pay more
• They take longer to set up and break down
• The event space must be fairly large as there is much coming and going around the stations
• If the event space is not very large and open (or you don't have the food in separate rooms or on separate floors), food stations can make your event seem crowded and chaotic
• If not handled tastefully with great table designs, stations can make your event seem like a trade show

Ideas for Specific Stations
Here are some ideas for specific stations; each station should have a minimum of three variations on a theme. Your choice of foods will also depend on whether your event is more formal or informal.

• Macaroni and cheese
• Quesadilla
• Seafood
• Avocado
• Mini entrees served in custard cups (mini beef wellingtons, mini lasagnas, mini gratins)
• Crostini
• Shooters
• Sliders
• Mini desserts
• Gourmet hot dogs
• Frittatas
• Dumplings (potstickers, wontons, rangoons, etc.)
• Rollups (Asian or on tortillas)
• Fajitas
• Sangría, Margaritas, or Craft Beers
• Artisan Cheeses
• Gelato, ice creams, sorbets, ice cream sandwiches
• Kids' foods (for big and little kids)

We suggest you avoid carving stations and hot pasta bars as the food dries out terribly.

More nice ideas that can be used at any large event, not just weddings, at http://www.intimateweddings.com/ -search for "food stations"

Decoration
You can use all the same decor at each station to unify the event or vary a little on each station.  We advise against using a completely different decor at each station unless the event is in a private home or space where each station is in a different room and then the station decor complements the room decor.

Enjoy!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
http://www.fandango-catering.com/