At some events, such as dinners parties and weddings, an hors d'oeuvres period precedes the dinner. For these types of events today we offer 4 tips to help you put together your pre-dinner menu.
What is the main course? This should be your starting point. If you're having chicken for the main course, for example, don't include it in the pre-dinner appetizers. So, for example, if you're serving chicken for the main course, choose pork, beef, seafood, and/or vegetarian appetizers. Same with beef--if this is the main course, don't include it in the pre-dinner appetizers. On the other hand, if you're serving fish as the main course, you CAN serve another type of seafood, such as shrimp, in your pre-dinner menu as seafood is light and there are several kinds of seafood (shrimp, crab, oysters, crawfish, etc.).
Offer a vegetarian appetizer--These days there is a vegetarian in any group, and if the appetizers are interesting everyone will eat the vegetarian ones, not just the vegetarians.
Try to choose different kinds of appetizers--Select several shapes/types--and avoid too much pastry or puff pastry. There are so many wonderful hors d'oeuvres/small bites out there now--turnovers, canapés, wontons, crostini, skewers, fritters, rollups, stacks, spoons, shooters...The list is nearly endless, so choose different types to make your pre-dinner period interesting (unless it's a themed event like all skewers hors d'oeuvres).
Understand that skewers have special considerations--They're trendy now and there are many wonderful skewer recipes, but they DO generate more garbage and can be awkward taken from a passed tray. You can lay trays or platters with raised sides out and put a few empty skewers in them so people can see what they're for and put their used skewers there--it's a nicer look than just throwing into a garbage can for skewers to be laid on these trays
By following a few simple guidelines--and don't forget to write out your provisional menu and then look it over before deciding--, you can avoid having too many "dough"-based hors d'oeuvres or ones with chicken when chicken is the main course or all the same type to arrive at "just right."
Warmly,
Kristina
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com
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