Order this package if you have already ordered a CHEFIN dining experience and would like to add paired drinks to complement your menu. You can add this package to any one of our products for an extra element of sophistication and excitement to your catering. 

Why is food paired with wine? 

How can wine improve the quality of your meal? Great question! To put it simply: wine enhances the experience of eating. Wine and food have a synergetic connection that combines to create a completely different gastronomic experience. The idea is to select wines that complement the food so that each one benefits – the food tastes better and the wine tastes richer, but without dominating the food. In many cultures, it is rare to dine without a glass of wine, and both winemaking and culinary arts have combined together and merged over the years.

History of wine pairing. 

Pairing food with wine didn’t just pop up at the same time as high-end restaurants and fine dining. Wine has been a staple for thousands of years, seen in many different cultures and cuisines around the world. People have been pairing wine and food since the origins of mankind when wine was considered safer to drink than water as it was unpolluted. In those days, people just drank wine with little thought as to how it complements or detracts from the food they are eating. 

Eventually, wine came to grow and merge with a region’s local cuisine, coming to complement it. Winemakers started to specifically craft wines that worked well with the cuisine of the local area, marking the beginnings of wine pairing as we know it today. A good example of the synergy between wine and local cuisine is Bordeaux, a city known for its lamb as well as its wines. These two have evolved together so that Bordeaux wines are always excellently paired with lamb dishes. 

As nations began to trade and share their foods and drinks, people became more aware of how the flavours in wine and food combined and worked together differently. Today, most upscale restaurants have an in-house sommelier who recommends wines to match the menu. 

What makes a buffet breakfast a better option than table service? Here’s why people choose buffet breakfast catering for their events:

• More food options. Some of us are health nuts who want muesli and yoghurt for breakfast, while others prefer sausages and eggs. The best thing about a buffet breakfast is that it allows guests to pick and choose what foods they want and what they don’t want. This provides options and variety that makes the meal more enjoyable for guests with different preferences. It also means less wastage as guests aren’t served foods they don’t want to eat. 
• Less expensive. It sounds counterintuitive, but buffet breakfasts are actually more affordable than traditional table service breakfasts. That’s because there’s no need to pay for servers or waitstaff. Guests can help themselves to food and voila! 
• Bigger portions. Or smaller portions if that’s your preference. The great thing about buffets is that they allow each guest to eat to their heart’s content while discouraging food waste. Since guests can serve themselves, those with a smaller appetite can serve smaller portions while those with a big appetite can satisfy themselves. This is another way to reduce food wastage at an event.  
• More social. Buffet breakfasts encourage guests to get up from their tables and help themselves for food. This means that guests at different tables have the opportunity to socialise and interact in ways that wouldn’t have been possible with traditional table service catering.

When should I order a buffet breakfast?

• Order buffet breakfasts if you want your guests to mix and mingle at your event and not spend the entire time seated, 
• Order buffet breakfast if you want to reduce food wastage at your event, 
• If you want to impress your guests with a variety of foods, a buffet breakfast is the way to go, 
• Order a buffet breakfast if you want to forego lunch and keep your guests/clients full for a longer time. 

Buffet breakfasts are fantastic at functions, seminars, workshops, graduations, training days, and any event that requires a substantial meal!

Wondering why you should choose a buffet over other catering options? Here are some of the most popular reasons why people go for a buffet at their event: 

• More food options. The most appealing aspect of a buffet is the fact that guests can pick and choose which meals they want to eat and which foods they don’t want. This way, people have a variety of foods to pick from and can focus on consuming the dishes they want to eat. The result is less food wastage – another added bonus. 
• More affordable. Without the need for table service, a buffet meal is actually more affordable than a traditional sit-down meal with servers and waiters. Since the food is placed on the table ready to serve and eat, guests can help themselves without the need for extra staff. 
• Bigger portions. Or more accurately, portions that reflect the appetite of the eater. Instead of serving dishes with the same portions, buffets mean that those with a smaller appetite can serve themselves smaller dishes, while those with larger appetites can satisfy themselves with a more substantial meal. Again, this means less food wastage. 
• Less time. With buffets, the appetisers and entrees can be served at the same time as the main dishes. This means that the act of eating a buffet meal takes up less time than traditional table service, where courses are brought out one after the other. This can be a useful advantage if your event is a wedding, conference, or gala dinner and you want to spend less time eating and more time doing other stuff. 
• More social. Since buffets invite guests to get up and help themselves at the table, you may find that guests are intermingling and socialising with people on other tables. This provides an added opportunity to socialise that wouldn’t be available with traditional table service. 

When should I order buffet catering?

If you want your guests to be mixing and mingling at your event, then buffet catering is the way to do it. Unlike a traditional table service meal, buffet catering encourages guests to get up from their seats, move around the room, and interact with one another. A buffet meal is also a fantastic way to cater for guests with different tastes and dietary requirements. Instead of serving just one meal or two dishes, guests have a few different meals that they can pick and choose from.  

Order buffet catering for weddings, functions, seminars, graduation parties, bar & bat mitzvahs, anniversary parties, training days, and any event that requires a substantial meal! 

Is a buffet the same as all-you-can-eat?

As much as we’d love to provide an all-you-can-eat experience for you and your guests, a buffet is not quite the same thing. While both involve food being presented on a table for self-service, a buffet is a defined set number of meals and side dishes. This means that you will receive a definite number of food, e.g. two main dishes and two salads. On the other hand, an all-you-can-eat food experience means that the food is essentially bottomless: once it has been eaten it will be replenished.

The word sounds French, but buffet-style meals originated in the Scandinavian regions. In the 1700s, Swedes and Fins would serve a number of schnapps and hor d’oeuvres before eating the main meal. These ‘smorgasbord’ or ‘brannvinsbord’ would be spread on small buffet tables, and were usually consumed by members of the upper class at the time. Eventually, the smorgasbords came to encompass more than just appetisers but the main meal itself, providing a number of options for people to pick and choose from as they eat. 

This form of dining became increasingly trendy and slowly spread throughout the world. The label ‘buffet’ was given to define this form of dining, referring to the type of French sideboard furniture that the meals were typically served on. In the 1900s, the upper classes of France and England began to favour buffet-style breakfasts over table service, as they felt it offered them more privacy than being waited on hand and foot. Later that century, the popularity of buffet meals spread to lunches that were consumed while standing up. 

During the Great Depression, buffets became more focused on quantity than quality, allowing restaurants to feed larger numbers of food without the need for wait staff. Today, buffets are enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, more as an informal style of dining than a formal one for the upper echelons. They are associated with luxury, flexibility, and relaxed dining that comes with delicious food that caters for all tastes and fancies.

The half-day delegate meeting package is the best catering option for meetings, functions, seminars, conferences, and training days. It’s also a great option for workshops, expos, classes, and lectures. 

Choose the half-day meeting package when hosting a meeting or event that will fall during traditional mealtime. Instead of letting guests go hungry, a half-day meeting package ensures there’s always food around to snack on during your event. 

What are the best foods to cater for a meeting?

Food & beverages are a must-have at any conference, meeting, or seminar. It shows your guests that they are valued and appreciated while also providing some sustenance to give them brain power during your event. But not all foods will farewell at a meeting! They need to be easy-to-eat, nourishing, simple, and not too overpowering in scent. Here are the best foods to serve at your meeting: 

• Fresh fruit. Ideally, fresh fruit would be served alongside some more substantial snacks, but either way, fruit is essential to meeting food. Simple and nutritious, fruit provides a good dose of energy to keep people fuelled at meetings. It’s also an easy win – everybody eats fruit and when you have a good variety there’s something for everyone to snack on. 
• Baked foods. Pies, quiches, tartlets… baked goods are prized meeting foods thanks to their ease of eating. They’re easy to eat with the hands during a meeting and make minimal noise while chewing – perfect! Baked foods are also popular as they can be eaten during the morning, afternoon, or evening. 
• Sweet treats. Every meeting needs a good dose of sugar to keep spirits high, and sweet pastries or treats are one way to do it. Not everyone can reach for another cup of coffee! Make sure your guests have the chance to munch on something sugary and delicious to keep them alert and interested. 

5 food & beverage trends for your meeting

Want to impress your clients or guests with on-trend food? Here are the top five trends in food & beverages for meetings:

• Eat local. Or hyperlocal where possible. Australian products are great, but if you can find food that has been grown or harvested in your local area then even better. The same goes for seafood and meat – if you can source these products from local farms or co-ops then do so. So many people are growing more conscious of their carbon footprint and looking for foods that have been grown in their local environment. Eating locally shows guests that you support your community, are eco-conscious, and proud of your local area. 
• Drink from small breweries & wineries. Craft beers and wines are experiencing an enormous upward trend as more people stray from mainstream brands and look for small-batch experiences. They want to try new and different flavours, unique brewing methods, and alcohol that features more personality. Having local wines and beers at your event is another great way to support your local community and provides a fun experience when hosting clients from abroad. 
• Different ingredients. People want food to look familiar but feel different. Especially at meetings, you want grab & go food that’s easy to eat, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Spice up a tart with exotic ingredients or go for a fusion meal that’s refreshing and different. 
• Eco & sustainable. In line with the upward trend in eating local is eating sustainably. People are more interested in eco-friendly foods that are friendly for the environment and ethically produced. Source fair trade ingredients where possible and avoid processed foods where you can. Always choose foods with recyclable packaging. 

Want to serve your guests food that’s of the moment? Here are the five hottest trends in event food & beverages: 

• Eating local. We’re not just talking Australia-made, but food is specifically grown in your state or city where possible. Locally caught fish, meat sourced from a nearby farm, produce purchased from the farmer’s markets, and artisanal condiments made by local foodies. More and more people are interested in decreasing their carbon footprint and eating local food where possible, so keep your guests proud and satisfied with locally sourced ingredients where possible!
• Small batch beer & wine. Off the back of eating local is a new trend in sourcing beverages that are locally distilled or brewed. People are less interested in the big names we all know, and more intrigued by craft beers and wines that feature more personality and pizzazz. Ordering local beers & wines is also a great experience when hosting clients from abroad or interstate. 
• Grab & go food that’s different.  Food that’s easy to eat is essential for meetings, but that doesn’t mean it has to be drab and simple. Skip the usual finger foods and go for light meals that are extraordinary and flavoursome but still easy to manage and hold in your hands. 
• Eco, sustainable, healthy. Sustainability is a big buzzword, and in the food world just as much as anywhere else. Not only do some people look out for foods that are eco-friendly and sustainable, it also shows that your business is concerned for the environment and the future. Be sure to source sustainable seafood and fair trade ingredients where possible. At the same time, show your clients & guests that you value them by avoiding processed foods and serving healthy dishes where possible. Say no to packaged cookies! 

Hosting a meeting and unsure or unable to collect everyone’s dietary requirements beforehand? We can help you organise meeting food that meets all different diets and requirements, from halal to vegan to gluten-free. 

• Ask your guests. You should always ensure to ask your guests or clients prior to the meeting whether they have any dietary requirements or special needs. It’s important that you give them the opportunity to share their diets with you beforehand so that food can be specially prepared. This helps to create an inclusive atmosphere for your meeting and ensures nobody feels left out. 
• Understand different diets. Some people’s dietary requirements will be more stringent than others. Some will suffer from severe food allergies, such as those to peanuts, while others may only experience mild reactions. Others will be following religious diets. Make sure you have communicated with your guests and understood the strictness of your diet so that we can do our best to accommodate these needs.
• Communicate with us. When you know the requirements and preferences of your guests, we can get to work crafting a menu that’s suitable for all or most of your guests. Our chefs will always work to provide an appetising alternative to any foods that cannot be consumed by a guest. That way, nobody ends up disappointed at the table.

These bite-sized morsels are a type of finger food that’s often prepared over a small piece of bread, pastry, or cracker. Canapés are a type of hors d’oeuvre or appetiser that is designed to be eaten quickly, neatly, and in one bite. For that reason, they’re often served to guests who are standing or mingling around a room or venue. 

Traditionally, canapés are composed of a base (made of bread, crackers, pastry, or pancake), a spread, a main item, and a garnish. They can be made in both sweet or savoury flavours and come in endless varieties, with various toppings, spreads, and bases used to provide different results. Our chefs create gourmet canapés that showcase their own signature cooking styles and favourite flavours and ingredients. 

When should I order canapés?

A more appropriate question would be, when shouldn’t you order canapés? Canapés make every event a success, whether it’s a cocktail party, book club, workshop, meeting, casual get-together, dinner party, or seminar. Order canapés when you want a small but gourmet snack that will entice your guests and keep hunger at bay at your event. 

Why should I order canapés for my event? 

Wondering why you should get catered canapés? Here are some ways that canapés will be a hit at your event: 

• They provide entertainment. Canapés provide a form of entertainment for your taste buds. When an event starts to feel a little too long, or a guest has spent too much time standing on their own, canapés provide a welcome distraction in a tasty little morsel. 
• They’re great for socialising. Canapés allow people to mix and mingle and socialise at an event while still enjoying a little nibble on some food. They also provide a talking point for guests who don’t know one another. This is why they’re especially handy during stand-up receptions, gatherings, and events. And because they’re designed to be eaten while standing up, with the fingers, they’re not messy or awkward to eat at fancy events. 
• They’re great to pair with alcohol. Canapés are a great companion when sipping on alcohol and allow people to consume a few drinks without worrying about drinking on an empty stomach. 
• They’re sophisticated. Let’s be honest, canapés do exude a certain air of luxury and sophistication. Canapés show your guests that you’ve considered their appetite and provided small snacks to keep them satisfied throughout your event.

The term canapé is French for ‘sofa’, referring to the toppings which are draped over the finger food as one drapes themselves on a sofa. They became popular in the late 1900s, first-served to make use of stale bread that was thinly sliced and toasted before topping with ingredients. Over time, the word canapé came to refer to any small bite-sized finger food, regardless of the base used. 

During the American prohibition era, secret bars called speakeasies began to pop up in place of the pubs being shut down around the country. Most speakeasies were located in people’s homes and basements, and as they were highly illegal, people had to be sure to leave the venue without looking inebriated. To stop speakeasies from drawing too much attention, guests were served canapés alongside their alcohol to ensure they maintained a level of sobriety. These canapés were easy-to-eat and could be consumed with one hand while the other handheld a drink of alcohol. 

Around the same time, private cocktail parties were gaining in popularity and often were accompanied by a range of canapés for the same reason. While prohibition has come and gone, canapés remained a staple of events where people mixed and socialised. Today, they live on as a delicacy served at events, celebrations, and receptions all over the world.