Breakfast Catering Checklist
Planning an office breakfast catering?
Here’s an easy Breakfast Catering checklist to help make your catering a success.
What time will the guests arrive?
Catering should be scheduled for delivery and set up to be complete 15-30 mintues prior to guests’ arrival.
Is this a VIP guest list?
NO
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- Use company provided disposable plates, cups and utensils.
- Use your own caterer’ basic disposable place settings
- Buy your own disposable place settings
YES
Options
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- Use higher quality disposable place settings. Ours are sturdy acrylic plates, cups and coffee mugs, silver colored disposable utensils and a high-quality paper napkin.
- Use china, flatware, glassware and cloth napkins
- Tips
- Set up will take longer as will clean up and you’ll need to have more than your head count. You should have about 5-10% more place settings than your guest count should someone drop a napkin, not wish reuse a glass or want a second fork.
- Place settings – plan for more than your headcount. You should have about 5-10% more place settings than your guest count should someone not wish to reuse a glass, or want a second fork.
- Glasses – you should plan on about 1.25-1.5 glasses per person along with the same for coffee cups/saucers or mugs. Some people won’t reuse these so depending on the duration of your meeting, these are a must for beverage refills.
- Tips
What breakfast menu should you serve?
Did they stay at a hotel the night before and does that hotel offer a free continental breakfast?
Yes
Your breakfast menu should be on the lighter side and more of a meet and greet menu like a simple pastry assortment, some fruit or yogurt. Coffee, bottled water and juices would be appropriate to have available too.
No
If your guests had no access to some sort of breakfast prior to your meeting then a more substantial breakfast should be offered and include:
Main entrée – eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage or a breakfast casseroles like quiche, frittatas and/or oatmeal
Breads – pastry, bagels and cream cheeses, coffee cake and muffins
Fruit – either a fruit tray, fresh bananas, berries or fruit cup should be included not only to round out the meal, but for those who prefer not to eat sweets or need a gluten-free option. Yogurt along with granola or cubed fruit is a great alternative addition.
Beverages – Coffees, assorted juices and bottled water are must haves for your menu. Though people will have had coffee more than likely prior to arriving, it’s always a good idea to have some available for the meeting.
Bottled water – plan on at least one bottle of water per person as a minimum. The longer the meeting, the more you’ll need.
Other beverages – if your meeting is a bit longer and will last up until a lunch break, adding iced teas, soft drinks and more juices would be wise
Ice – you will need plenty of ice not only to chill the drinks but also to put in the glasses used for tea and soft drinks. Some people will have juice on ice so plan on providing plenty of ice. If you only have access to a small ice machine, ask your caterer to provide more.
