Putting a meeting on the calendar is one thing but planning an ideal menu for a group is another. After you have chosen the perfect venue to accommodate your guests, serve them appetizers, entrees, snacks, and beverages to make them feel right at home.

To start, we share a few meal ideas to get you thinking, and then we interview an expert about the art of menu planning.

10 Ideal Menus for Business Meetings

1.     Breakfast: A Variety of Yogurts & Toppings, Made-to-Order Smoothies, Fresh Fruit Platters, Warm Muffins, Croissants & Vegan Scones. Offer Coffee, Espresso Drinks, Tea, and Bottled Water.

2.     Brunch Meeting: Chicken & Waffles, Silver Dollar Pancakes, French Toast Sticks, Fruit Salad & Pure Maple Syrup. Offer Coffee & Cream, Tea, & Water.

3.     Appetizers: Charcuterie Board with Cured Meats, Cheese, Crackers, Nuts, Fruits, Vegetables & Dipping Sauces. Offer Bruschetta, Calamari, Cucumber & Tomato Skewers, Pita Chips & Hummus. Offer Water, Soda, Juice, & Sweet Tea.  

4.     Lunch Buffet: A Variety of Soups & Toppings, fresh-baked bread, Garden Salad, & Grilled Chicken. Offer Soda, Water, and Fresh-Baked Brownies.

5.     Happy Hour Gathering: Individually Plated Nachos with a Topping Bar, Street Tacos with Pineapple & Mango Salsa, and Vegetarian Empanadas.

6.     Dinner Meeting: Hot Turkey Sandwiches, Vegetarian Pizza, Chicken Parmigiana, Mozzarella Sticks, Grilled Portabella Mushroom Calzones, & Garden Salad. Offer Ice Cream, Cheesecake, Cannoli, or Tiramisu for Dessert. Offer Water, Soda, Beer & Wine.

7.     BBQ Dinner Menu: Puller Pork Sliders with NC BBQ Sauce, Traditional Chicken Wings, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Garlic Grilled Shrimp n Grits, & Vegetarian Pasta Salad. Offer Root Beer Served in the Glass Bottle and Locally Brewed Beer.

8.     Tropical Small Plate Menu: Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders, Watermelon on Skewers, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze. Offer Fresh Lemonade, Sparkling Water, and Bottled Water.

9.     Dessert Reception: Ice Cream Sundae Bar & Candy Toppings, Fresh-Baked Cookies, & Brownies. Offer Water, Milk, Tea, and Regular & Decaf Coffee.

10.  After-Dinner Menu: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Vegan Cake Donuts, Mini Cheesecake Bites, & Affogatos. Offer Regular & Decaf Coffee, Tea, Pellegrino, & Water.

Now that we brainstormed our menu ideas, we sought out a tried-and-true expert in menu planning, Bouk Catering’s Director of Catering and Events, Tara Creedon. Tara shares her tips and a few sample menus with us from executive meetings held at The Venues at Langtree.

 Q: How do you start planning the perfect menu for a business meeting?

A: When crafting a menu for an executive gathering, it is essential to create custom menus based on the time of day, meeting style, and guest preferences. Sometimes it helps to have an event planner or the point of contact at the company help when designing a fitting menu.

Q: Why is it important to have food at a meeting?

A: Consider menu items the same way you prepare the meeting agenda and set objectives. Food forms the tone for your meetings, and attendees always appreciate food and beverage options, especially at an all-day meeting or retreat.

Q: How can companies incorporate their values into their meeting and retreats?

A: Hospitality is a way to communicate company culture, inclusivity, and personality to meeting attendees. Sometimes the best way to express company values is to add them to the details of the day, from the entrance to departure. Also, hospitality can be complicated as you recognize cultural differences, food allergies, and appetites.

Q: What are the favorite menu items for destination guests and locals in the Charlotte Metro and Lake Norman regions?

A: We serve local dipping sauces, and our North Carolina BBQ Sauce is a hit. When a company books a space with us for their meeting, we are sure to ask for meeting themes and meal preferences, and we suggest a few ideas for cuisine. Ultimately the event planner or executive assistant will decide on the final menu choices, but we love to add southern charm to the experience.

Thanks so much for meeting with us, Tara. We truly appreciate you giving us a glimpse into the world of catering.

Book your next executive meeting, corporate retreat, or board meeting at The Venues at Langtree, where we offer multiple venues on one amazing property just minutes from everywhere.