Designing a catering menu is no easy task. You need to account for a wide range of preferences and dietary requirements—all while ensuring dishes stay on theme. It’s a precise craft that requires a lot of consideration to get right. It’s also one of the hallmarks of successful event planning.
At Vivaldi Venues, we’re best known for our banquet halls in Glendale. But we also offer premium catering services for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, quinceañeras, and more.
In this guide, we’ll help you create a custom catering menu for your next event.
Things to Consider When Creating a Custom Catering Menu
Let’s start with the basics. A catering menu is very different from a restaurant menu.
Restaurant menus are typically rigid, complicated, and slow down a kitchen. A catering menu, on the other hand, must be significantly more flexible. It should include dishes that can easily be made to scale, while still accounting for each guest’s individual needs.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re hosting a small meeting or over 100 guests at a venue in Glendale; here are some things to consider when creating a custom catering menu:
Food Allergies
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that food allergies have increased by 50% since 1990. It’s highly likely that a few of your guests will have certain intolerances. Not taking account of this can be disastrous.
To cover all bases, make sure you first gather information about all guest allergies before deciding what to include in a custom catering menu.
The most common dietary restrictions include dairy, wheat, nuts, and shellfish. But your guests could be intolerant to eggs, soy, or a host of other ingredients.
Personal Preferences
Los Angeles was recently crowned the best city for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. But at the same time, a majority still swear by meat. These preferences can make menu customization for catering tricky, to say the least.
Once again, your best course of action is to study the guest list carefully—send out a questionnaire if you have to!
Service Style
The food is always the star of the show. But don’t sleep on the importance of how it’s served. When researching options for catering in Los Angeles, you’ll likely come across two main types of service: full-service and traditional.
- Full-service catering includes setup, staffing, table service, cleanup, and sometimes even décor. It’s ideal for weddings, galas, or any event where the experience matters as much as the menu.
- Traditional catering typically involves food delivery and possibly setup—but service is limited. It’s more budget-friendly and great for casual or corporate events where guests serve themselves.
Each service style has its own advantages, and the right choice depends on your event’s tone, venue layout, and budget. Not sure which one is right for you? Check out our breakdown of full-service vs. traditional catering to make a more educated decision.
Guest List
The guest list is more than just the number of people you have to feed. It also holds several clues that can guide your custom food menu for events.
For example, the average age range. Sophisticated older guests may look for more elevated dishes, while younger crowds tend to be less experimental. Similarly, guests of certain cultural backgrounds may prefer a certain cuisine, while in some cases the setting can influence what to include in a custom catering menu.
Group dynamics say a lot, too. Are you hosting wellness enthusiasts on a retreat? Birthday revellers looking to binge? A group of teenagers who prefer to eat on the go? Factor the answer into your custom event menu planning.
Best Practices For Creating a Custom Menu
While the choice of how to choose dishes for a personalized catering menu eventually rests with you, there are a few best practices that can help make your decision easier.
Make It Diverse (But Not Overwhelming)
A personalized catering menu offers something for everyone. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have 15 options, but that you should aim for balance. Include proteins, grains, vegetables, and dietary-friendly alternatives.
Also have at least one vegetarian or vegan option, a gluten-free dish, and a mix of light and heavy meals. The goal is to make every guest feel like they’re important, without alienating anyone.
Lean Into the Crowd Favorites
There’s no harm in being creative, but classics are classics for a reason. Some cuisines are naturally a better fit for custom event menu planning than others. For example, Mediterranean cuisine is full of fresh and healthy options that appeal to a wide range of guests. This could range from grilled meats to premium seafood to rich pastas. Mexican cuisine is another crowd-pleaser, especially at more active events.
Prioritize Presentation
In catering, presentation is just as important as taste. Small touches like colorful garnishes, edible flowers, or elaborate plating elevate the visual appeal of your menu and can turn even simple dishes into something special.
It’s also worth considering how the food will be consumed.
Bite-sized portions and finger foods are more photogenic and easier to manage at cocktail-style events. For sit-down dinners, you can include more elaborate dishes in your custom catering menu.
Work Closely With Your Caterer
It may be tempting to do it alone, but working with a professional will always be more fruitful. A seasoned caterer will know what ingredients are in season and cost-effective, how to accommodate dietary restrictions, as well as how to calculate catering portions perfectly. Based on conversations with your caterer, you may also be able to leverage the benefits of full-service catering, or opt for a more budget-friendly solution.
The Bottom Line
At Vivaldi Venues, we take catering very seriously.
Our team has years of experience putting together personalized catering menus for our Glendale venues. When you work with us, you can choose from more than 20 different seafood and appetizer dishes, made from the freshest ingredients.
Our staff is especially trained to cater events and provide guests with impeccable and unforgettable service. Plus, we’ll even pack up all leftovers for you to tuck into after the event has ended. All you need to do is give us a call and we’ll help create a custom catering menu for your next big event.