Food trends in the hospitality industry are ever evolving, reflecting diverse preferences from high-end restaurants to local pop-ups, from corporate catering to wedding catering and beyond. Whether that’s a vegetable having its red-carpet moment (brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower – we’re looking at you) to vibrant vegan crudités platters with a variety of brightly colored hummus dip offerings to prosciutto wrapping (wrapped scallops, wrapped dates, wrapped baguettes, prosciutto & melon) to late-night snack service, the list of food trends we’ve seen and put on menus goes on and on. If you consider yourself a foodie and you’re planning an event and want the best catering in Los Angeles, this is a great list to pull inspiration from.
The biggest culinary trends we’ve noticed for 2024 include:
Trend #1 – Mushrooms Aren’t Just for Vegetarians/Vegans 🍄
You’ve probably noticed certain vegetables having a moment in the spotlight, and at this time the fungi category has entered the arena. Mushrooms are taking over menus, from appetizers to entrées to beverages, and they aren’t just for the vegans and vegetarians. From the Made by Meg Catering menu, even meat-lovers have been mushroom-centric with their menu selections, from starting with hors d’oeuvres such as the Bourbon Glazed Marinated Short Ribs Stuffed Cremini Mushrooms to entrees ranging such as Herb Butter Filet Mignon with Roasted Wild Mushroom Shallot Whiskey Sauce.
A few mushroom dishes on our menu most regularly selected for wedding food and catered meals in Los Angeles include:
- Vegetarian Hors d’oeuvre: Grilled Parmesan Polenta Squares with Wild Mushroom Ragu & Goat Cheese (Gluten Free)
- Entree From the Butcher: Hand Cut Filet Mignon with Balsamic Roasted Wild Mushrooms
- Vegetarian Side: Brown & Wild Rice Pilaf with Porcini Mushrooms & Toasted Pecans (Gluten Free)
- Vegetarian Side: Roasted Wild Mushrooms Tossed with Garlic & Fresh Herb Butter (Gluten Free)
The growing interest in foraging and wild foods has contributed to their popularity, and we’ve seen more planners requesting mushroom-centric dishes. Foodie guests are enjoying their delicate and mysterious savory umami flavor, along with a meaty texture.
Trend #2 – Less Cake, More Dessert Stations 🍪
We’ve noticed the last bite before kicking off happily ever after is changing, and wedding desserts are more creative and tempting than ever. Lots of couples are going with a small cake for cake-cutting photos only, with some doing away with the traditional cake altogether. With Made by Meg Catering, we’ve loved getting new and non-traditional requests for a couple’s favorite dessert, and recently we’ve catered a variety of sweet dessert stations including churros with a trio of dipping sauces, beignets, dessert shooters, ice cream, milk topped with cookies, and s’mores stations.
One standout trend is the Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwich Bar, which lets guests customize their treats. Dessert carts are making their own grand entrance, and we offer attendees a customizable selection of three ice creams and three cookies, plus various toppings for a nostalgic and interactive experience. Engaged couples and corporate event planners choose their three favorite ice cream flavors and cookies in advance of the event, and attendees have fun combining two different cookies and their favorite of the available ice creams. Cookie choices range from Meg’s Famous Chocolate Chip to Gluten Free Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter to White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut, and more! For the ice cream flavors, classics include Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Strawberry, Mint Chip, Cookies & Cream, and Butter Pecan. Dessert stations where guests can create their own treats are rapidly increasing in popularity, and it’s easy to taste why! This trend not only adds fun to the event but also caters to diverse tastes, making it a hit at weddings and corporate events alike.
Trend #3 – Individual Mini Cheese Boards 🧀
Grazing tables aren’t going anywhere (our 3 Hand Selected Cheese & Charcuterie Board is one of our most popular cocktail hour grazing stations) but we’ve noticed how much guests love personalized elements at all events, from corporate events to weddings, especially when cheese is involved. We’ve seen an increase in hosts bringing in individual miniature cheese boards for the perfect personal touch, as seen on Instagram. With Made by Meg Catering, we include crowd-favorites on both larger charcuterie grazing tables and our miniature cheese boards, such as dried fruits and Manchego sheep cheese, and event planners and couples can select if they have any favorite cheeses that they’ve enjoyed sharing together and want to have on their special day. Having an easily accessible quick snack is a great idea for guests who enjoy grazing, especially to have prepared and laid out immediately following a corporate training or wedding ceremony, whether that’s during a cocktail hour or pre-placed on table settings as the first course of the dinner reception.
- Rentals: One option is to rent blank wooden boards for a single use to be picked up by staff before dinner service.
- Favors: Another is to have the wood cheese board itself be the corporate gift or wedding favor as a gift to the guests, with the logo, couple’s names, initials, and/or date etched into the wood as a practical keepsake.
- Custom Seating Chart: These can also be used as a practical personalized gift to use as the seating chart, with each guest’s name either pre-etched into the board (or printed on a mini flag then skewered into a piece of cheese for a more cost-effective option) and placed at their seat according to your seating chart.
Cheese boards are a safe choice and beloved for both summer weddings and fall weddings, as well as a variety of corporate events and special occasion celebrations, as guests may be craving an immediate bite while wanting to avoid either cold items or hot items depending on the current weather. Modern cheese and charcuterie boards are evolving with creative and diverse offerings, an easy solution to bring in rich color palettes to match the event theme.
Trend #4 – Live Action Cooking & Live Action Grilling 🔥
After noticing a trend in guests wanting an interactive cooking element, with the desire to see their food being cooked in front of them without having to do any of the cooking themselves, we expanded upon our existing Stations and launched our new Yakitori Live Action Grill with Made by Meg Catering at select venues only, bringing two charcoal grills to event venues that allow for open air cooking. We love seeing guests filming the chefs flipping the skewers on the grill, then panning off to the finished product. To accommodate different dietary restrictions, we have three different gluten-free offerings for planners and hosts to order, including Grilled Yuzu Jalapeño Beef Short Rib Skewers, Grilled Garlic Ginger Chicken Thigh Skewers, and Grilled Vegetable Skewer with Asparagus, Onion, Lemon, Ginger, Cremini & Shiitake Mushrooms.
One of our most popular Live Action Cooking Stations is the Tuscan Pasta Station, where guests get to choose their pasta (raviolo, penne, or tortellini), sauce (brown butter sage, garlic alfredo, spicy marinara), and topping (chili flakes, shaved parm, fresh basil) combinations and watch their pasta be cooked right in front of their eyes. Efficiency is key, with the pastas noodles and tortellini constantly being prepared by our chefs so that they’re readily available for guests, and the sauces are held warm in large vats and then added directly to the personal skillet.
Watching the Chef prepare globally inspired dishes adds an exciting element to your cuisine offerings at events, adding both buzz and deliciousness to your menu. “Guests love that they can watch the Chef make their food,” explains Chef Meg Walker. “They know it’s fresh and just for them.”
Trend #5 – Snacks as Favors 🎁
Sweet and salty snacks as corporate favors and wedding favors are the gifts that we’ve noticed get taken home the most (we’re sorry, mini personalized bubbles). Goodnight to-go snacks are perfect for the car ride home, and some of our most requested quick and ready-to-go sweet treats are macaroons in custom to-go boxes and Meg’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies individually wrapped, sometimes even with a sticker with the names of the wedding couple or brand logos with QR codes from corporate events. Although checking in and receiving luggage tags as seat assignments are practical and aesthetically pleasing, we regularly see them left behind by guests.
Trend #6 – Gluten-free Catering Requirement 🍽️
With an increase in gluten-free among guests, chefs and servers need to be able to cater to this audience on a larger scale than ever before, with designated equipment and trained staff. Whether the guests have celiac or a gluten allergy or have chosen to be gluten-free as a preference or as a part of an anti-inflammatory diet, caterers need to be able to adjust accordingly. To accommodate for gluten-free within our kitchen at Made by Meg Catering in Torrance, we start with separate storage items and equipment clearly labeled Gluten-Free, from the separate bins containing gluten-free flour to designated Pitco double basket deep fryers that are only used for gluten free recipes to avoid any cross contamination, and they are covered when not in use. Being able to provide this extra level of safety allows gluten-free guests to be able to relax and enjoy both their meal and the event stress-free. We also have labeled everything that is gluten-free with a GF in our updated Catering Menu.
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Guests want the food served to make them feel special, whether that’s with pre-made customized items, interactive experiences, dishes made to order just for them based on their preferences, or the extra level of thoughtfulness going into accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions.
If you’re looking to incorporate fun and delicious trends into your next event, Made by Meg Catering has a variety of menu offerings and service styles for any upcoming parties and events across Los Angeles and Orange County. With the focus being guest experience and the highest quality cuisine possible, we offer a variety of packages to best meet the needs of your upcoming event.
The Full List of Top 10 Food Trends at Events in 2024
- Mushrooms Aren’t Just For Vegetarians/Vegans 🍄
- Less Cake, More Dessert Stations 🍪
- Individual Mini Cheese Boards 🧀
- Interactive Food Stations: Live Action Cooking & Live Action Grilling 🔥
- Snacks as Favors 🎁
- Gluten-free & Health-Conscious Options 🍽️
- Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins (hello, cauliflower steaks) 🌿
- Comfort Foods with a Twist (mac n’ cheese with lobster & truffle) 🦞
- Elevated Street Foods (gourmet hot dogs with shishito peppers on brioche) 🌭
- Gourmet Sliders & Sandwiches with unique, premium flavor combinations 🍔
