Lunch – sit down, buffet or take away? What works best when?
Food forms an integral component of most events, however, the way it is presented and served can vary according to the occasion and the audience. Let us have a look at some typical lunch options:
The sit down lunch:
Positive – comfortable for the diners; allows for a lunch time speaker; can be quite formal.
Negative – often the more expensive option; takes a long time to eat; networking is restricted to those on your table.
The buffet:
Positive – fits in well with day conferences, easier to manage with a large group and good for networking (plus you get to choose what you put on your plate).
Negative – generally more informal, can take place standing up so diners need to balance their crockery, cutlery and glasses, allows for self service.
The take away also known as the lunch box is gaining in popularity as we have come across quite a few events that are taking this option up.
Positive – quick to hand out, allows diners to pick up their lunch and go and eat it anywhere they please which is great when the weather is sunny outside, does not require a large seating area.
Negative – you really get one per person so there is no sharing of portions, could look tacky in the wrong environment, limited choice on what to eat.
Getting creative with your lunch could be a perfect opportunity to offer your audience something new and different. Try brainstorming for some great ideas.
