Catering Menu Template

Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling visual design for your catering menu:

• Colours can influence mood and evoke memories, so choose wisely depending on what type of catering service you’re offering.
• Visual elements like headings, subheadings and images should contrast to be easily recognisable as part of the menu.
• The font combination and typeface of your text will help give your menu a certain feel, so pick one that best suits the atmosphere you’re trying to create.
• Images can capture people’s attention, so it’s worth adding them to your menu if you have any visuals to work with.

When it comes to catering, some dishes are simply more popular than others, partly due to the relative ease of preparing them.

Here’s our selection of those top three catering dishes that are both versatile and can be tailored to fit any event or occasion:

1. Charcuterie Boards

A charcuterie board is a platter of cured meats (usually prosciutto, salami, etc.), cheeses, crackers, fruits, and other accompaniments. It’s typically prepared by arranging the meats and cheeses on a board or platter and adding crackers, fruits, and other accompaniments around them. The meats and cheeses can be sliced or left whole, and the accompaniments can be arranged decoratively or functionally. The goal is to create a visually appealing and delicious selection of flavours and textures.

2. Hog Roast

Hog roast is a traditional method of cooking a whole pig over an open fire or spit. The pig is seasoned and then slowly cooked for several hours until it’s tender and juicy. The pig is first cleaned and seasoned with various herbs and spices to prepare. It’s then placed on a spit and cooked over an open fire or in a roasting pit. The cooking process is slow and requires constant attention to ensure the pig is cooked evenly and thoroughly.

3. Chicken Skewers

This dish is made by marinating chunks of chicken in various seasonings and herbs, then threading them onto skewers and grilling or broiling them until cooked. To prepare, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or overnight, thread the chicken onto skewers, grill or broil to cook, and serve with a side of your choice.

There’s no particular authentic dish(es) among catering meal options. Rather, if you create a catering menu, your overall goal should include a mix of appetisers, desserts, and entrees, as well as sides, salads, and soups.

Let’s examine three of those dishes that have proven to be consistent across catering menus:

1. Sandwich Platters

You can make sandwich platters with various meat, cheeses, fresh vegetables, and spreads. To prepare sandwich platters, start by selecting a variety of bread, such as white, wheat, sourdough and rye. Next, choose a variety of meats, cheeses, and vegetables to fill the sandwiches. Spread condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard on the bread before adding the fillings. Arrange the sandwiches on a platter and garnish them with lettuce or other greens for presentation.

2. Arancini

Arancini are made with a classic risotto recipe, which can be filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables. To prepare this dish, start by cooking arborio rice in a mixture of chicken or vegetable broth and white wine. Once cooked, add grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley; allow the mixture to cool. Form the mixture into balls and then coat them in breadcrumbs. Finally, deep fry the balls until they’re golden brown.

3. Smoothie Bowl Bar

A smoothie bowl bar—comprising various fresh fruits and vegetables—is a perfect catering menu inclusion for health-conscious guests. To prepare one, gather various fruits and toppings such as berries, bananas, nuts, seeds, and granola and blend to create the base of the smoothie bowls. Set the toppings in separate bowls for guests and let them create their own desired smoothie bowls based on their preferences.

Here’s a short list of some of the flavours that you can find in catering menu options, alongside examples of foods that contain them:

• Sweet: Desserts such as cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies.
• Savoury: Entrees such as roast beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
• Spicy: Dishes containing curries, chilli, and Mexican or Thai cuisine.
• Sour: Foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, and many fruits.
• Umami: Savoury and hearty dishes like grilled meats, mushrooms, fermented foods, etc.
• Herby: Dishes containing fresh or dried herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, basil, and parsley.

Aside from the six discussed above, matcha tea is another typical recipe on most catering menu ideas. This traditional Japanese green tea is made by grinding whole tea leaves into a fine powder. It’s typically served as a hot tea but can also be used in cooking and baking.

As a catering dish, it’s often served in small cups or bowls, with a tea whisk and a small container of hot water for guests to prepare their tea. Matcha tea is known for its unique flavour and bright green colour and is often served as a refreshing beverage or a complement to sushi or other traditional Japanese dishes.

Designing a befitting menu layout can be daunting, but you can achieve professional-looking results with these catering menu design ideas and tips.

Here are our top tips for designing the perfect layout from any custom catering menu after you choose a template:

• Use an easy-to-read font and ensure it’s large enough to read easily.
• Consider adding images of your dishes to make the menu look more attractive.
• Use colour to create a visual hierarchy when laying out your menu design.
• Incorporate white space to break up the menu and draw the reader’s eye towards critical sections.
• Ensure all essential information is included, like allergens, names and descriptions of dishes, and any necessary disclaimers or pricing structures.