by Anthony Byrne | Jul 27, 2022 | Blog
Summertime heat is well and truly here! However, no one wants that to stop us from enjoying our outdoor garden events and parties. Extra care will have to be taken in the stages of the event planning as you look to choose the right venue, catering menu, and layout. Additional care should also be taken to monitor elements of food safety in the scorching heat. With this in mind, we’re going to share our four top tips for a successful summertime outdoor event.
Having a contingency plan
The first step to take in planning any event is choosing a venue that is perfect. For outdoor venues, you can choose from options that include courtyards, rooftop decks, gardens, beaches, or even parks. All of these options can make for a beautiful backdrop to a brilliant event, but be sure to make preparations for the weather. Contingency plans should be made ahead of time to make sure that your party continues, whatever the weather brings. If the venue is on a rooftop deck or outside area, ensuring it has an indoor or covered portion is important for shade purposes.
Choosing the correct menu for catering
Choosing the right catering menu for any outdoor event during summertime is massively important. Thinking seasonal, fresh, and light is always a good idea. Everyone knows the feeling you get after eating a large meal, and no one likes it when the heat is on! Designing a cool, light summertime menu is going to be key here. It’s hard to go wrong with dishes like grilled vegetables, salads, gazpachos, or small bites.
Strategic setup of stations and venue
Carefully planning your venue’s layout prior to an event is highly recommended. Planning to setup bars and food stations in spaces that are outside of direct heat is also a good idea. Keeping drink and food stations out of the heat will ensure that guests and also staff visiting food stations remain comfortable.
It is important to plan food displays in a way that will ensure food temperatures stay where they need to be. Utilising granite and marble serving slices that can be frozen ahead of time will keep food optimally nice and chilled. Filling trays with ice to put under the buffet dishes will keep your cheese plate as fresh as possible and green salad staying crisp!
Ensuring guest comfort
Make sure that you have plenty of water ready and plan for hydration stations that guests will inevitably need in the heat. Fans are a sure-fire way to keep guests cool, and can either be hand fans or larger ones, and they are great at keeping bugs away. Taking the correct precautions here will ensure that the outdoor event your guests attend will be one they get excited to tell everyone about for weeks to come.
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your Jubilee party, look no further than Lauren’s Catering.
We are a family run firm and have been catering for the people of Gloucester for over 25 years, so you may well know us already. We are incredibly talented when it comes to cooking up a variety of tasty food. We take pride in delivering a service that leaves our customers feeling best pleased! When it comes to catering, we understand that the customer is always king. So we have included as much variety in our sandwich options as we can!
Find out more about our buffet catering services here or, discover what else we get up to here at Lauren’s Catering, and whether we can help you with your catering journey.
by Anthony Byrne | Jun 17, 2022 | Blog
It’s hard to imagine where we would be without sandwiches. This popular meal staple can be put together with just about any diversity of ingredients you can imagine, and are loved by people all over the world. It’s difficult for us to say just how long the sandwich has been around for, with some speculating that they were being eaten thousands of years ago. However, we know that they didn’t really gain popularity until at least the 18th century. Since then, it’s clear that people can’t get enough of them! But what it is that makes a couple pieces of bread with some filling so irresistible to so many people? Here are four reasons people love a good sandwich!
So convenient
The lifestyle of human’s today is far different from what it was 500 years ago, or actually 50 years ago! Rarely will you find families sitting around at a table for a meal. People now have a very tightly packed schedule and often lengthy commutes to work. This has made the desire for convenience food larger than it’s ever been, and sandwiches here represent the perfect food for convenience. This is because they don’t require special utensils or a plate. A sandwich can be eaten in the car or easily stored in a lunchbox/cooler.
Variety
One of the most central reasons for the popularity of the sandwich is that there is an entirely unlimited variety of fillings available. At Lauren’s Catering, for example, we have up to 30 different fillings for you to choose from! Think of the mind-boggling number of ingredients you can use to make a sandwich; from brie, apple, to egg, tuna, prawns, chicken and so much more.
Easily customisable
The fact you can subtract and add any ingredient you want from any sandwich also makes them one of the easiest dishes to properly customise. Some people have even come up with some bizarre combinations that are still remembered even now; Elvis Presley famously popularised the peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich! This ability to customise in such a short space of time and with whatever combination of ingredients you want makes sandwiches a certified hit.
Comfort
When it really comes down to it, one of the most important reasons why people love sandwiches is that they are firmly associated with comfort catering and food. Since comfort food is usually nostalgic, and most people often grow up eating sandwiches and taking them to school, sandwiches firmly fall into the category of comfort food. Comfort food can be a satisfying and rich meal such as a homemade spaghetti bolognaise or beef stew, or it can be something as simple as a sandwich. Although someone’s tastes may have evolved beyond the basic peanut butter and jam or ham and cheese since childhood, people often still associate the sandwich with fond memories from childhood.
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your Jubilee party, look no further than Lauren’s Catering.
We are a family run firm and have been catering for the people of Gloucester for over 25 years, so you may well know us already. We are incredibly talented when it comes to cooking up a variety of tasty food. We take pride in delivering a service that leaves our customers feeling best pleased! When it comes to catering, we understand that the customer is always king. So we have included as much variety in our sandwich options as we can!
Find out more about our buffet catering services here or, discover what else we get up to here at Lauren’s Catering.
by Anthony Byrne | May 13, 2022 | Blog
Eating fresh produce has a multitude of health benefits that few people are truly aware of, and if they are, even fewer properly take advantage of it. Eating fresh usually involves including nutrient-dense, healthful foods in your diet from all the major food groups, with whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats all being included. Replacing foods that contain added salt, trans fats or sugar is also recommended. Read on to find out more about the unrivalled benefits of eating fresh produce!
Helping your heart
Heart and circulatory diseases are becoming an increasingly worrisome issue for the country, causing a whopping quarter of all deaths in the UK! With the growing high blood pressure problem in this country too, it’s vitally important we make efforts to protect our heart health.
The dietary approach to preventing hypertension and heart disease of this kind is through eating some fantastically healthy foods, such as:
- Eating plenty of fruits, veg, and healthy whole grains
- Choosing low fat or fat free dairy products, poultry, fish, vegetable oils, nuts, beans
- Limiting trans and saturated fat intake, including full fat dairy produce and fatty meat
- Limiting sugary foods and drinks
- Restricting your sodium intake drastically by less than 2,300mg a day and increasing consumption of magnesium, potassium, and calcium
Fighting cancer
Antioxidant rich food can massively reduce the risk for a person in developing certain cancers by protecting the cells in a person’s body from developing damage. Free radical presence in the body can drastically increase the risk of someone developing cancer, but antioxidants can help remove these free radicals and lower the risk of the disease developing.
Fresh produce high in antioxidants include berries (raspberries, blueberries), dark leafy greens, carrots, pumpkins, seeds, and nuts.
Boosting mood
We know now that there is an inextricable relationship between mood and diet. Studies have shown that diets with a high glycaemic load (such as highly processed foods and sugary drinks) may trigger an increase in symptoms of fatigue and depression. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains have a much lower glycaemic load.
Restoring gut health
The colon is full of the kind of naturally occurring bacteria which effectively regulates digestion and metabolism. A diet that is too low in fibre and higher in fat and sugar can drastically alter the microbiome of the gut, increasing inflammation. However, a diet that is rich in fresh produce such as fruits, veg, whole grains and legumes provide a combination of probiotics and prebiotics that can help good bacteria develop in this part of the body.
Winning over weight loss
Much of the fresh produce we have come to associate with a balanced diet (including beans, fruit, and veg) present lower calories options than the plethora of processed foods that permeates the modern diet. Dietary fibre is particularly important for the management of weight, and plant-based, fresh produce can provide us with plenty of this.
Stronger teeth and bones
A diet rich in magnesium and calcium is vital for strong teeth and bones. Fresh produce rich in calcium includes food such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, tofu and legumes.
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your Jubilee party, look no further than Lauren’s Catering.
We are a family run firm and have been catering for the people of Gloucester for over 25 years, so you may well know us already. We are incredibly talented when it comes to cooking up a variety of tasty food. We take pride in delivering a service that leaves our customers feeling best pleased!
Find out more about our buffet catering services here or, discover what else we get up to here at Lauren’s Catering.
by Anthony Byrne | Apr 14, 2022 | Blog
At Lauren’s Catering we understand the importance of a good buffet, and so we offer buffet catering for a range of different functions that include birthdays, children’s parties, christenings, corporate events, funerals, family gatherings and weddings. Buffets are usually a popular option amongst the British public, but what really are the benefits to buffet catering? We thought it would be worth giving you an insight into why we think buffets are such a great catering option!
Variety
First and foremost, buffets offer a fantastic possibility for true variety. While plated meals can limit guests to a couple of pre-selected menu options, a buffet allows guests to access a wide spread of deliciously different dishes, prepared by a professional catering service capable of offering high-quality snackable foods. Since the food can be supplied garnished on platters and delivered by refrigerated vehicles, you won’t lose the quality you have come to expect from pre-selected meals.
Socialisation
More than anything, a buffet encourages greater socialisation and the development of personal connections, since people tend to stay seated at their tables when plated meals are served. When there is a buffet around, people get up and move through the line, giving them an opportunity to interact with other guests, mingle and socialise. They might meet someone new or stop at a friend’s table on the way back from the buffet line.
Appetite considerations
Because plated meals are served in typically standard portions, they don’t take into consideration the different appetites that guests might have. Someone who has been too preoccupied to eat might find portions insufficient, while someone who doesn’t have much of an appetite might have food left on their plate. With a buffet, guests are able to take what they like dependent on their appetite, so the personalisation improves the quality of the buffet.
Budget
Buffets are typically less expensive than plated meal options. Because meals of this kind can be made in bulk and don’t have to be presented in separate portions, buffet caterers can eliminate the cost required by employing extra serving staff. At Lauren’s Catering, all of our tasty menu options come in at under £8, so you don’t have to worry about cost when you choose us!
Dietary restrictions
On a set menu of plated food, there may not be certain options that cater for specific dietary requirements. Buffet caterers can work around any dietary restrictions you might have to produce a selection of food that matches with your specific needs, whatever they might be.
Focal point
A beautifully put-together buffet provides a natural décor for the venue space that you have chosen to provide catering at. The buffet itself serves as a focal point within the room and makes it far easier for you to plan the layout and crowd movement. Guests that prefer to not socialise as much can refrain from going near the buffet, while those who enjoy getting stuck in and mingling can go right ahead! In this way the buffet acts as a social focal point for the venue and improves the overall experience of the guests.
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your Jubilee party, look no further than Lauren’s Catering.
We are a family run firm and have been catering for the people of Gloucester for over 25 years, so you may well know us already. We are incredibly talented when it comes to cooking up a variety of tasty food. We take pride in delivering a service that leaves our customers feeling best pleased!
Find out more about our buffet catering services here or, discover what else we get up to here at Lauren’s Catering.
by Anthony Byrne | Mar 23, 2022 | Blog
With The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee just around the corner – beginning on June 2nd and continuing until June 5th – now is the perfect time to get planning for what is set to be a monumental celebration up and down the country. The event marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, with a four-day bank holiday to follow. Here we give you everything you need to know when it comes to planning your Jubilee street party.
Organising
Anyone who wants to hold a street party for the Jubilee can do so during the bank holiday weekend. You can plan one yourself, but uniting the road as a group is ideal if you want to really build a sense of community spirit and togetherness! Government advice suggests it might be a good idea to begin planning six weeks in advance – guidance on how to begin doing that can found here.
The earlier you start, the earlier temporary traffic regulations can be put in place to close your road so that you might take advantage of having the whole street at your disposal. A risk assessment may need to be carried out, the forms to which can be found on the aforementioned link.
Should you decide to sell alcohol, or require the playing of loud, amplified music, then you will be needing a Temporary Events Notice. Making sure you’re fully up to date on everything your local council will require for the party to go ahead safely and responsibly is always a good idea.
After receiving approval from your local council, you can begin the all-important job of promoting your party to the neighbours through handwritten leaflets, letters, or WhatsApp groups.
Catering
Here at Lauren’s Catering we can provide you with all the catering advice and needs you require! Should you go about the daunting challenge of catering for the whole street, however, there’s some important things you should know. Asking everyone to bring their own drink and dish is a good way to ease the amount of work you have to carry out yourself.
You could either provide plates and cutlery yourself or ask everyone to bring their own – the choice is yours! Also consider ways that you might reduce the amount of waste created by everyone there; having a number of bin liners ready to collect rubbish is always a good idea.
Think about whether you’ll be eating the food standing or sitting; finger food and cold bites are a good idea should you have very little sitting. The Big Lunch has loads of classic British recipes for you to choose from should you need a little inspiration – and remember, if all else fails, you can’t go wrong with cheese and crackers!
Decoration
Embracing the Jubilee party tradition and transforming the aesthetic of your street is never a bad idea. Union Jack bunting is never a bad idea, and hanging it between houses can create a sense of unity within the community. Flags are also a popular choice, and can be hung from the front of houses or used as tablecloths. String, lace, and ribbons can be hung from the backs of chairs or table legs to give them a Great British Jubilee makeover!
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your Jubilee party, look no further than Lauren’s Catering.
We are incredibly talented when it comes to cooking up a variety of tasty food. We take pride in delivering a service that leaves our customers feeling best pleased!
Find out more about our buffet catering services here or, discover what else we get up to here at Lauren’s Catering.
