by Tony Byrne | Nov 28, 2022 | Blog
For many people, Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends. If you work in an office, then chances are that you like to do the same. You might even be thinking about throwing a company Christmas party for your colleagues to celebrate the festive season and spend some quality time together outside of work. But how do you make sure that everyone has fun? The answer is simple—book workplace catering! Of course, you can do the catering for your christmas party yourself but finding the time to do so is not easy, especially around Christmas time. There is the time to go shopping for all the food, planning the options, making sandwiches and having the fridge space to store it all. Don’t worry Lauren’s Catering can solve this problem for you.
One of the biggest headaches when planning a buffet is what food to include, here are some of top choices…
Light finger food options
For a workplace party, there are certain rules to follow when choosing food that will go down well with your colleagues. Here are some ideas:
● Light finger food options, such as mini quiches and mini sandwiches.
● Food that can easily be eaten by hand without utensils or plates.
● Food that doesn’t require a lot of chewing, because some people may be nervous about speaking in front of their boss at this event and may not want to talk with their mouth full!
● Easy-to-digest snacks like crackers or fruit slices so no one feels too full after eating them
Delicious sandwiches
Sandwiches are a great option for Christmas parties as they can be served either hot or cold, and are perfect for serving both vegetarians and those with dietary requirements. Most sandwiches contain bread, but wraps and pitta bread are also popular alternatives. You could even serve a sandwich that uses tortillas instead of bread if you wanted! Sandwiches can be made using just about anything you can think of – meat, cheese, vegetables or fish – so there’s no limit to your creativity when creating these delicious treats. We can also provide Gluten free options if required
Savoury Snacks
● Pizza
● Kebabs
● Pasta
● Crisps
● Chicken Wings
● Salads (e.g.: potato, pasta, fish or chicken)
● Mini Indian treats
Sweet treats
Everyone loves a sweet treat at their buffet, this can include:
● cake
● cupcakes
● muffins
● pastry
● desserts
Set Menus
If you visit our website, you will find various set meus and their prices but if this doesn’t quite hit the spot for you don’t worry! We can tailor your buffet to suit your needs, including any dietary requirements you and your team may have.
Book your party catering today!
If you’re planning a Christmas party but haven’t reserved your catering yet, it may be worth considering booking this now. Christmas is a busy time of year for any catering company so to ensure we can meet your needs call us today to discuss your requirements. We wouldn’t want you to wait to late and we cannot meet your requirements!
To find out more about our catering services visit www.laurenscatering.co.uk or give us a call on 01452 382690
by Tony Byrne | Nov 15, 2021 | Blog
Working practices are constantly changing and good employers are always looking for new initiatives to keep their staff happy and productive.
Let’s face it, no business owner wants their staff to be unhealthy, miserable or unproductive – it’s not good for their employee or their business. And we all know that one negative employee can have a knock on effect on their colleagues too, bringing your entire staff to despair! Not a great place to be in if you’re wanting to get maximum output from your workforce!
So, here’s our 6 benefits of sandwich deliveries to work premises – both to staff and employers alike:
- Employees feel valued
To know that you, as their boss, have taken the time to select a reputable sandwich delivery company to come to your premises for the benefit of your staff, makes them feel really valued and part of the team.
- Healthier employees
A good sandwich delivery company will offer a range of goods, including many healthy option choices for your staff. Because of this choice, they’re more tempted to try out new items they wouldn’t necessarily try if they were to buy the ingredients themselves. And the other benefit is that peers very often stick together – if one colleague is choosing healthier options, the chances are that they will influence their workmates to do the same!
- Increased energy
When you engage with a sandwich delivery company to come to your premises, they usually pitch up at the same time every day. You may not think this is important, but if you consider the energy levels of your staff and their work schedules, they will know when they’re going to get a break in order to restore their energy levels for the work tasks of the afternoon. Equally, if they have a task to complete that day, you’ll be amazed how quickly it can get finished if they know when their food is being delivered!
- Increased productivity
Following on from point 3, the more energy your employees have, the more productive they’ll be. And if there’s a task that’s bogging them down, you’ll be surprised by how a regular, diverse and welcoming sandwich delivery can be!
- Employee retention
It’s a well-known fact, that if you’re good to your employees, have their interests at heart and offer benefits over and above the standard work contract, you’re bound to retain your staff for longer. Employing good staff is paramount to the growth of your business, but having to continually replace them because they’ve resigned, is a very costly exercise indeed! And if you’re looking after them, even a mediocre employee could surprise you!
- Social interaction and team building
Probably one of the biggest benefits to contracting a sandwich delivery company is the fact that it provides an opportunity for your staff to socially interact with each other and form great working bonds. Team building is particularly important in business, because at the end of the day, if your employees are not all singing from the same hymn sheet, so to speak, they’ll be implications for your customers.
Also, if you’ve got a project that involves different departments that need to work together, they’ll have the opportunity to get to know one another personally over lunch. And this will develop into better cohesion when working through projects together.
A win-win situation for both employees and business owners! We are Laurens Catering – professional catering services in Gloucestershire, with over 25 years’ experience in sandwich deliveries and specialist buffets. If you want some more information, please visit our website www.laurenscatering.co.uk or give us a call on 01452 382 690. We’d be happy to help!
by Tony Byrne | Sep 22, 2021 | Blog
Planning your Christmas party should be an incredibly exciting thing to do! Although, there is quite a lot that you will need to get done.
Whether it is your first time planning a Christmas party or you are a well-seasoned expert at it, it is always important to plan and have a focused view when planning it. Not only does this guarantee that you will have a lovely time but, it will also guarantee that all of your guests will have a great time too!
We cater for a variety of events but, we absolutely cannot deny just how excited we get when it comes to Christmas catering events! Nothing quite beats the magic of Christmas… that is why we wanted to share with you a brilliant guide to help you get your Christmas party planned ahead of time!
Here is our take on how to plan a successful Christmas Party…
1. Find and book the ideal venue.
The venue can really make or break a Christmas party. Ensure that the venue you choose can not only meet the capacity but, also provides the right facilities and is located somewhere that is either close to the majority or has good transport links nearby.
2. Provide a variety of entertainment for your Christmas party guests.
Entertainment is crucial for keeping your guests happy and occupied throughout the party. Anything from stand-up comedians, light shows, circus acts or even live artists can be the perfect addition to a successful Christmas party.
3. Choose a theme for your Christmas Party.
Themes are a brilliant way to get your guests excited and engaged with your party. You will also be surprised to see just how creative your guests can be – especially when it comes to DIY costume making! Plus, there are so many themes to choose from, you are bound to find one that works best for you!
4. Decorate the venue.
Add the finishing touches to your venue by expertly decorating it with delightful décor! You don’t have to necessarily blow the budget on décor, as you could easily DIY it or source it from cheap/second-hand places. Don’t forget to put up a Christmas tree, after all… it is Christmas!
5. Hire a reputable caterer to deliver tasty food for your Christmas party.
Ensure that you hire a trusted and reputable catering company such as us at Laurens Catering to deliver exceptional food for your party. Don’t forget to factor in all of your guests’ dietary requirements (read how to do so here) and let the caterers know in advance!
6. Organise any travel or overnight stays for your Christmas party guests.
For those guests who are visiting from afar, why not help them find a place to stay overnight? That way they can fully enjoy the party and know that they don’t have to leave early due to travel. Don’t forget those who wish to drink may prefer to spend the night in a hotel too, or they may need a prearranged taxi. Provide all the details to your guests to ensure that they get to enjoy the party fully!
Hopefully, this has helped give you some direction as to how to plan a successful Christmas party. If you are looking for a great caterer that you can rely on, you now know who to come to!
We would absolutely love to play a part in your Christmas party this year, so why not get in touch and find out how we can help.
Until then, we wish you all the best and a very merry (and rather early) Christmas.
by Tony Byrne | Aug 13, 2021 | Blog
Planning an event can feel rather overwhelming. There is of course, plenty of excitement to be had when picking a venue, theme and decoration. Despite this, many people struggle when it comes to picking the right buffet caterer and accommodating their guest’s dietary requirements.
As a trusted and experienced caterer, we understand how important it is that you find the right buffet caterer for you who can also meet those specific dietary requirements.
That is why we have put together this informative helpful guide that will cover everything you need to know on how to accommodate your guest’s dietary requirements!
How can I accommodate my guest’s dietary requirements?
The first step starts with you!
As this is your event, you get to pick and choose who you would like to make your guest/s. Whether you ask them via a card, email, message or call – make sure you ask them if they have any specific dietary requirements.
There are a few reasons why your guest may have a certain dietary requirement, it could be because of:
Them having an allergy – It is common to have a friend or family member that has an allergy, in fact, it has been estimated that 2 million people have a diagnosed food allergy in the UK. This may mean that they are allergic to nuts, soy, eggs, shellfish, fish or something else more specific.
An intolerance – You may find a guest has specified that they are intolerant. They may say they are gluten, lactose, salicylate or caffeine intolerant (to name a few!) and they could even be intolerant to multiple things.
Their religion – If you have friends or family that are religious, it is worth asking them what their dietary requirements are or if they are currently celebrating a religious festival. There are certain foods of which cannot be eaten by individuals who are of that religion.
A health issue – A guest could be diabetic, or have high/low blood sugar levels or may even be on a restricted diet.
Their lifestyle – Of course, some friends and family may have a more personal dietary requirement that they have chosen. This could be that they are vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian. They may also be following a specific diet such as Keto or Paleo.
It is incredibly important to supply all dietary requirements to your buffet caterer prior to the event. This will give the caterer time to safely prepare food in advance. Failure to do so could lead you to have lots of food waste and on the more serious side, could put your guest/s in danger of feeling unwell or suffering from anaphylaxis.
How will my caterer accommodate my guest’s dietary requirements?
Once you have supplied your buffet caterer with adequate information regarding the dietary requirements of your guests, you can ask the following:
How will you cater to all of my guest’s dietary requirements?
What can I do to ensure that the food is served safely and is kept separate from other foods whilst at my event?
Is there any more information you need me to provide?
You can also expect an expert catering company such as Lauren’s Catering to:
Follow all regulations – We ensure that whilst preparing, delivering and laying out your food, you can count on us to actively follow all key regulations. Both you and your guest/s safety are our utmost priority. We go above and beyond to ensure that all staff practice safe food and hygiene standards.
Provide delicious food – We often hear about those with dietary restrictions being left out when it comes to food. Whether they can’t eat anything that is served, food has been cross-contaminated or the food that they are given is subpar, we understand how frustrating this can be. That is why we will do our very best to accommodate all dietary requirements but, will also provide adventurous and delicious food for them to enjoy!
If you are looking for a reliable buffet caterer to provide you with delicious and exciting food for your event, 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.
by Tony Byrne | Jul 2, 2021 | Blog
One of the biggest food trends on social media at the moment is the charcuterie board.
Charcuterie boards are a stunning display of meat and cheese, often accompanied by crackers, fruit, nuts and various dips.
They are perfect for any party or event as they can be as big or as small as you like! Plus, you can easily accommodate any dietary requirements of your guests. Here’s our advice to creating the perfect charcuterie board!
Choosing the Right Board
Think about the amount of people you need to serve and select the size of the board accordingly. You can also use multiple boards, which would also work well if there were different dietary requirements such as vegetarians or vegans.
Charcuterie boards are usually wooden but can be of any shape – just check it is safe for food use! You could also use a marble board, depending on the look you would like to achieve. Bear in mind that the overall look of the charcuterie board is to look full so, try to remain modest on the size.
Ingredients
Cheese
One of the main ingredients for a charcuterie board is of course cheese! We suggest choosing a minimum of 3 cheeses for a smaller board, mixing it up between hard and soft cheeses.
Meat
The second ingredient will be the meat (providing you’re not serving vegetarians of course!). Thinly sliced, cured meats are perfect as they can be displayed in a variety of ways and are perfect for guests to nibble on. Another great choice is a spreadable meat like pate.
Crackers
To complement your meats and cheese you will want to add a selection of crackers, breadsticks and breads. We would recommend a couple of options for your board.
Fruit, Nuts & Sides
Fruit such as grapes and strawberries can be a delightful addition to your board, they also add a beautiful display of colour. Nuts are also an ideal way to fill small gaps and sides such as olives are always popular with cheese.
Dips
Depending on the other ingredients you have selected, it may work well to add a dip. For example, a hummus, honey, chilli or even an extra virgin olive oil for breads.
Putting your Charcuterie Board Together
Start with the larger elements like your cheese and any dishes for dips. Spread these around the board making sure to slice up the cheeses for a grazing-friendly experience.
Then add your crackers/ breads and grapes, followed by your meats. You can roll up the cured meats into easy to grab parcels (and they look great!). Fill any gaps with your remaining fruit and nuts.
The final step is to add your garnish such as a sprig of herbs.
Serving
Charcuterie boards are best served at room temperature, but food shouldn’t be left out for more than two hours. Ensure you have a small selection of pre-prepared items in the fridge ready to restock your board when you need to.
