Efficiently setting up your catering equipment is all about planning. If you’re going for something a little fancier than a cold buffet spread, you’ll want to categorise and make it all make sense. You wouldn’t put the soup spoon with the charcuterie board and you wouldn’t put the knives with the dips. So how should you organise the table?
Designate a Single Space for the Food
Whether you’re setting up in a different room or putting the table next to the dance floor, make sure it is in clear view or signposted. By doing this, you’ll avoid confusion, congestion and keep the line moving.
If you’d like to separate the savoury and the sweet foods, make sure the tables are close together so nobody has to go too far.
- Consider Whether You’ll Need Plug Sockets
If you need warmers or coolers, make sure your table is set up close to a plug socket. If you’ve already booked your venue, go back to scope out the area for plugs and make adjustments depending on where they are if you need them.
Start From Cold and Work up to Hot
Your starter isn’t supposed to fill you up. It’s intended as the light prologue to the main course. So, when setting out your buffet table, make sure you start with the finger foods and small portions. This makes sure that your guests don’t lose their appetites and visit the entire table, rather than jumping straight to the mains.
Position your plates visibly at the end of the table and place the cutlery beside each platter they might be required for. Finger foods aren’t likely to need knives or forks but we recommend putting some there just in case.
By placing your cutlery across the table, you reduce the need for your guests to backtrack and hold up the line by trying to go back for it.
- Decide Whether Temperature Control is Necessary
We already touched on plug sockets, food warmers and coolers, but to save money where possible, you might not think that certain pieces of equipment are necessary. If you really want to impress your guests, you’ll need to keep your spread fresh.
If you’re serving salads, we recommend hiring refrigerated containers to prevent vegetables from wilting. Similarly, if some foods taste best hot, keep them in a food warmer throughout the event.
Be Mindful of Your Decorations
You’ll probably want decor across your buffet table to keep the theming and make the food look even more appetising. But make sure that your decorations are well out of the way of the food. This will prevent accidents, ensure there are no obstructions and guarantee that nothing will fall in the food once the guests gather.
Separate the Food by Dietary Restriction
We’ve already discussed the order of hot and cold foods and sweet treats, but what can you do for those with dietary restrictions?
Whether personal preference or genuine health risk, your guests with dietary restrictions can’t afford to take risks with certain foods. So if you’re making accommodations with the food, ensure that there’s an entirely separate table that is clearly labelled.
Putting these foods on a different table will prevent confusion as well as potentially dangerous cross-contamination. There will be different food, different equipment and clear signposting to make your guests feel safe and accommodated for.
Make Adjustments
If you notice your guests struggling or see a slow moving queue forming, switch things up. Just because you laid the table in a certain way before the event starts doesn’t mean you have to keep it that way if it’s not working.
Maybe it’s the order of the food? Perhaps a ladle has gone awry? Possibly there’s a spillage that nobody wants to own up to?
Don’t spend your entire event worrying over the state of the buffet table, but keep an eye on it throughout the night to make sure everything’s still running smoothly.
Source all Your Equipment From One Place
Efficiently setting up your catering equipment starts with an efficient supplier. Avoid liaising with multiple catering equipment hire companies and possibly lose out on something you need and get it all from one place.
At Top Table, we’ve got everything you need to seamlessly equip your party and feed your guests. From glasses and soup spoons to china sauce boats and even the table itself, we supply catering equipment throughout Cardiff and the surrounding areas.
So, get in touch with us to start planning your party buffet and throw your best event yet.