What is Family Style Catering? A Comprehensive Guide

 

 

Having a lot of experience in the catering industry, I have seen firsthand the importance and increased popularity of family style catering. This has become trendier over the years and is now taking the world by storm! It is seen most commonly in weddings and corporate events. In this comprehensive guide, I will give some guidelines and lessons I have learned when conducting family style catering - including its definition, benefits and considerations. 

 

Understanding Family Style Catering

 

Definition and Concept

 

What is it? Family style catering is a way of serving food where dishes are put in the centre of the table, and guests serve themselves. It is comparable with a traditional family dinner, a dinner that can foster a warm atmosphere and that also encourages conversation and a very pleasant experience for the guests. 

 

I have seen many events with family style catering and how it has transformed the dining experience. I attended a wedding recently, and family style catering was the style that the bride and groom had opted for. The wedding went off without a hitch with many guests raving about the ambiance and their enjoyment of the event. Guests who did not know each other, had a great time together - passing dishes, chatting and laughing for the whole evening. 

 

The Process of Family Style Catering

 

What is the process of family style catering? It requires careful planning. Here is a breakdown of how it works:

 

1. Tables are set up with empty plates, cutlery and glasses for each guest.
2. Platters or bowls of food are brought to each table by servers.
3. The dishes are passed around amongst guests and they serve themselves (just like at a family dinner)
4. Servers replenish dishes as needed and clear empty plates etc. between courses.

 

Family style is a unique dining experience that actually combines the best aspects of both buffet and plated service. This often works well for events where fostering a sense of community is important. 

 

The Benefits of Family Style Catering

 

Fostering Intimacy and Togetherness

 

There are many advantages to family style catering including the sense of intimacy and togetherness it fosters. Sharing food from the same platters means that interaction and conversation is encouraged. It is effective at breaking the ice or creating a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

 

A study found that sharing plates leads to increased cooperation and collaboration among diners. This research supports my observations that family style catering can enhance the social aspect of events.

 

Offering Variety and Efficiency

 

Another benefit is the variety and efficiency in family style catering. There are a large range of different dishes brought around and guests can choose from them without having to leave their seats. It is more efficient than plated service as guests can begin eating as soon as the platters of food arrive as opposed to waiting for individual plates to be served. 

 

A catering company I work with, reported a 30% increase in guest satisfaction when they implemented family style catering for corporate events. They attributed this to the increased variety of food options and the more relaxed dining atmosphere.

 

Key Considerations for Family Style Catering

 

Table Size and Layout

 

Throughout my catering experience, I have seen that table size and layout are so important for successful family style catering. Tables need to be large enough for all of the different platters and serving dishes as well as the place settings. 

 

Typically, I would recommend round tables of at least 60 inches in diameter or long rectangular tables that have a lot of space. For instance, I recently attended a corporate event that I supplied equipment for and they had round tables of 72 inches that seated 8-10 guests and there was ample room for platters. 

 

Waitstaff and Service Quality

 

You have to think about the quality and amount of waitstaff when doing family style catering as well. It requires attentive servers who should make sure that the platters are replenished promptly and tables are cleared between courses. 

 

I would recommend having one server for every two or three tables (depending on how big the event is) . I recently attended a wedding where the catering company followed this guideline and the service was fantastic. Dishes were replenished as soon as needed and empty platters also removed promptly. This all resulted in an incredibly smooth event and experience. 

 

Comparing Family Style to Other Catering Styles

 

Family Style vs. Buffet

 

There are some similarities between family style and buffet style catering. They both allow guests to choose their own food and portions. There are, however, also some differences. Firstly, guests are seated in family style catering, meaning that there tends to be more intimate conversation. Buffet style on the other hand, means that guests leave their tables to get food. Buffet can usually offer a wider variety of dishes and can be more cost-effective for larger events. 

 

Family Style vs. Plated

 

Plated services are different from family style in the sense that they offer a more formal dining experience wherein individual plates are prepared and served to each guest. This ensures portion control and a consistent presentation, but it does mean that the interactive of family style catering is missing.

 

In my view, family style is a mixture of both plated and buffet styles. It has some formality like plated service but also has the casualness of a buffet. It means that the dining experience can be more personalized whilst also maintaining sophistication. 

 

Making the Decision: Is Family Style Right for Your Event?

 

Factors to Consider

 

When deciding on family style catering, consider the following factors:

 

1. Event type and formality

2. Guest demographics and preferences

3. Venue space and table configurations

4. Budget considerations

5. Menu complexity

 

Family style catering can work very well for weddings, corporate team-building events and other events where fostering interaction is important. It might not be the best choice for very formal events or events with a lot of guests that have different dietary restrictions. 

 

Real-World Success Stories

 

I have attended many events where family style catering was very successful. For example, a wedding planning company that I worked with, reported that 80 per cent of their clients who implemented family style catering got positive feedback from their guests.

 

I remember one corporate event that I supplied catering equipment to and attended, the company chose family style catering so that they could encourage team bonding. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with many of the guests reporting back that they had a great time and fostered new connections with their colleagues. 

 

Conclusion

 

Family style catering is a blend of communal dining and personalized service. It creates a warm ambiance and encourages interaction among guests (while also providing a variety of food options). It does require careful planning but the benefits definitely outweigh the challenges.

 

Over the years, I have seen the positive impact that it has on events. It is not all about food, but about creating an experience that brings people together. Family style catering can work at a wedding, a corporate event and many other types of events. 

 

The success of your family style catering is all in the details! The right table sizes are important as well as the quality of service. With proper planning and execution, it can transform your event into a memorable, shared experience that your guests will talk about long after the event has ended. Happy catering!

 

FAQs

 

What is family style catering?

 

It is a method of serving food on large platters that are put in the centre of each table and the guests help themselves - a lot like a family dinner at home. 

 

How does family style catering work?

 

Servers bring the food on large platters. The guests then serve themselves and pass the platters around the table. Servers then replenish the platters and clear plates between courses.

 

What are the benefits of family style catering?

 

The main benefits of family style catering include:

 

1. Fostering a sense of community and encouraging interaction among guests

2. Offering a variety of food options without the need for a buffet line

3. Creating a more relaxed and intimate dining atmosphere

4. Allowing guests to control their own portions

5. Combining elements of both formal and casual dining experiences

 

How does family style catering compare to buffet and plated catering?

 

Family style catering is a mixture of buffet and plated catering with regards to formality and interaction. Guests stay seated (unlike buffets) which can promote more intimate conversation. There is more variety than plated meals but also less variety than a buffet. It is more interactive than plated service but also has some of the elements of formal dining. The choice depends on the event type, guest preferences, and desired atmosphere.