Not only does sharing meals make people happier, but the culinary experience at an event directly impacts people’s desire to return. Food enables sensory memory, essentially making the event more memorable. 

Translation: As an event organizer, you don’t want to mess up the catering.

At Eventbrite, we support event organizers worldwide to build and promote incredibly catered events — and now we want to help you.

By choosing the right food options and drinks to complement your events, you can create unforgettable experiences (and flavors) that your guests will want to taste again and again. 

But if you’re short on foodie creations for corporate events, workshops, intimate gatherings — you name it — and want some inspiration from tried-and-tested event organizers, you won’t go hungry for ideas with us.

Browse catering options by type of event

Ideas for catering for community events

Catering ideas for events for families

Catering ideas for formal events

Catering ideas for corporate events

Ideas for catering breakfast and brunch events

Catering ideas for bar or cafe events

Catering ideas for networking events

Unique catering ideas to wow your guests

Ideas for catering for community events

For community and general events, make sure you cater to all dietary requirements and have ingredients in stock to satisfy everyone’s food preferences. The last thing you want is for someone to ask for a plant-based menu and you have no options for them. You can also plan in advance by asking guests if they have any dietary restrictions when they’re at the purchasing stage.  

The list below covers some creative catering ideas to take your community event to the next level. If you want even more inspiration, use Eventbrite to discover how other event organizers host catering events in your area.

A food truck serving event attendees
Stay Silent / Day Trill / Providence, RI

1: Food trucks

Food trucks are always a crowd-pleaser. For event organizers, they offer a hands-off approach where you leave the food to the pros and focus on running a great event. From an event budgeting perspective, food trucks offer flexibility. Depending on the ticket prices you want to set, you can include food in the ticket price or allow attendees to pay for it separately. 

Doing it well: At Summer’s HUB of Kennewick, attendees can enjoy a Food Truck Crawl. Each food truck offers a $5 food special so attendees can sample a wide variety of delicious items. 

2: Farm-to-table meal 

The local food movement is alive and kicking. Whether your event attendees are true locavores or just folks who appreciate a good meal, serving up a farm-to-table dinner can be the highlight of your event. Farm-to-table could mean hosting an event at a local farm, with food prepared on-site — or it could simply mean prioritizing local food vendors in your catering search. 

Doing it well: Arize Enterprise LLC hosted an exclusive Farm to Table Dinner at a unique urban farm just blocks from downtown Tampa, FL. At the event, attendees enjoyed freshly prepared foods featuring seasonal ingredients grown on-site. 

3: Gluten-free options 

Around 6% of Americans are gluten intolerant —  and many others try to avoid gluten in their diets for general health reasons. Fortunately, there are many more gluten-free options available today than ever before. You can either provide a gluten-free alternative (rice crackers for your cheese plate, for example) or choose a menu that’s naturally free of gluten (like quinoa bowls). 

4: Vegetarian and vegan options 

In the United States, around 5% of the population is vegetarian. However, many more are taking steps to reduce their consumption of animal products. Showcasing delicious vegetarian options that appeal to everyone, regardless of diet, will help all attendees feel welcome and seen. And as an event creator, skipping pricey meat products can help you cut costs. 

To keep guests satiated, try to include some alternative proteins on your menu. Tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, and even meat alternatives like Beyond Meat are great options.

Doing it well: The Planted Expo allows attendees to sample vegan delicacies from 200+ vendors, plus speakers and experts from the plant-based movement.

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Customers ordering at fish and chips truck

5: Pop-up restaurant 

A pop-up restaurant brings all the charm of an established eatery to an unexpected location. Staging a pop-up is a great way to give guests an experience that goes beyond the food. Offer any dish you like; a set menu often works best and helps keep with the theme of a restaurant experience. Possible locations include:

  • A long table banquet in an outdoor setting
  • A basement or warehouse transformed into a themed bar
  • Breakfast on a boat

Whatever the setting, just be sure to work with the restaurant or caterer to make sure they have what they need to meet their food quality standards. This might mean renting extra chafing dishes or opting for a venue with adequate kitchen space on-site. 

6: Composting-friendly meals

Managing waste is a big part of planning a sustainable event. A composting initiative at your event demonstrates you’re invested in sustainable practices and helps attendees feel good about their choices.

Your first step should be contacting your local city or county government to explore composting options. If your area has a high-heat composting facility, they can often accept paper plates, paper napkins, and even wood/bamboo utensils. Make sure to check what’s compostable in your area, and then work with the city officials to have composting bins on-site. 

Kids playing at a family-friendly event
Ryan Muir / City of Science / Bronx, NY

Catering ideas for events for families

For family festivals and any other child-friendly events, there are two main catering considerations:

  • A few crowd-pleaser options (children can be picky eaters!)
  • Both adult- and child-sized portions with appropriately sized dishes and utensils 

Let’s get some inspiration to get started. 

7: Popcorn bowl bar 

Reminiscent of movie nights and celebrations, popcorn gives a festive air to your event. Combine it with a variety of toppings, including:

  • Nutritional yeast
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Sesame oil
  • Kale flakes
  • Caramel

Doing it well: The HYPE Teen Center at the Detroit Public Library hosted a fun event for National Popcorn Day. Teen attendees were able to mix their own popcorn bowls from a variety of flavors and topping choices while socializing with their peers. 

8: Rolled ice cream parlor 

The rolled ice cream craze sprung out of Southeast Asia, where street vendors discovered an entertaining way to make ice cream before their customers’ eyes in seconds. Making rolled ice cream requires using a negative 30-degree cold plate and whatever toppings you can think of. Bring that novelty to your summer events and experiment with flavors, such as:

  • Nutella and Ferrero Rocher
  • Strawberry cheesecake
  • Oreo cookies and cream

Because it requires specialized equipment, you’ll likely need to work with a supplier to serve your guests. 

9: Shaved ice 

An ancient Japanese dessert that has become popular globally — shaved ice — takes the traditional snow cone and turns it into something more exotic. Spice things up with toppings such as lychee and a watermelon-strawberry-coconut mix known as “tiger’s blood.”

Doing it well: Brewer PTSA hosted a back-to-school Shaved Ice Social for middle school students, their families, and faculty. The event was free to attend, but the organizers used Eventbrite for their listing to collect RSVPs and estimate attendance. 

10: Unicorn food 

Technically speaking, unicorns aren’t real. But that doesn’t stop unicorn food from being a legit food category, defined as meals prepared with vibrant colors or fun shapes. Think fresh fruits cut into shapes like stars or sweets piled into colorful mountains. Your imagination’s the limit!

Attendees serving themselves at a buffet
VIP Nightlife / Gatsby’s Fireworks Yacht Party / NYC, NY

Catering ideas for formal events

At a formal event, attendees will often expect a higher caliber of food. While you don’t need to serve steak and lobster, you will want to step it up a notch. Opt for a plated meal service (instead of a buffet) to really elevate your attendees’ experience. 

Use these high-end catering ideas to impress guests at your next formal event. 

11: Chef’s table 

Recruit a local or celebrity chef (even better, a local celebrity chef!) to conduct hands-on demos for attendees. People love cooking shows, and a chef’s table is like a cooking show with a live audience — and a delicious sample at the end! 

Doing it well: Flag Hill Distillery & Winery hosts a monthly chef’s dinner as a recurring event series. The series uses community seating to encourage meeting new people and provides attendees with a four-course (cocktail-paired) meal at a great value. 

12: Collaborate with local restaurants 

Reaching out to local restaurants can be a great way to create connections and land food and drink partnerships. Even restaurants that don’t provide full catering may be interested in sampling one of their specialty dishes or even providing bar service. It can be helpful to reach out to newer restaurants in your area, as they can benefit most from the exposure your event could bring. 

13: Posh pasta

Italian cuisine is full of well-loved dishes that can easily be scaled to cater to larger groups. Start with staples like spaghetti carbonara or Neapolitan pizza, or try other options like:

  • Truffle tagliatelle
  • Tiramisù
  • Panzerotti
  • Arancini
  • Ossobuco alla Milanese

Step the creativity up a notch by offering more obscure Italian dishes. Sure, everyone loves pizza — but a well-prepared, unique dish will really make your event memorable. Or plan an event around Italian food itself — perhaps on February 13th, National Italian Food Day!

Doing it well: Boston Winery hosts a wide variety of Italian cuisine-inspired events, including a popular Pasta and Wine pairing event. The organizer used Eventbrite to sell tickets to more than 4,600 attendees for these intimate events. 

Catering ideas for corporate events

Corporate events are often busy affairs. When planning a corporate event, consider ways that you can save time for your attendees. Pre-packaged foods can save a lot of time, as can drop-off catering (where the catering company stops by at a specific time to set up buffet tables, then returns later for clean-up). 

Use these corporate event catering ideas for some ways to keep busy guests satisfied at your next professional event. 

14: Shakshuka shake-up 

This Middle Eastern delicacy can be served in one large dish, leaving your guests at liberty to enjoy as much or as little as they want. This makes it perfect for brunch catering, where you’ll accommodate a range of appetites.

At a seated meal, you could also have one large dish of shakshuka at each table. Serve it with fresh crusty bread or Mediterranean flatbread for a balanced meal.

15: French cheese board 

Fruit and cheese platters go just as well for lunch as they do for dinner. Plus, finger foods like cheese and crackers enable guests to mingle while they snack. Follow the French tradition by providing a luxurious, long-lunch experience filled with artisanal cheeses and gourmet delicacies.

Doing it well: Greenwich Cheese Company hosted the Regional Focus: French Cheese and Wine event, where attendees sampled Roquefort, Comte, and Epoisses — along with cleverly paired French wines. 

16: Corporate buffet lunch 

Set up a buffet to cater to various tastes. This means your corporate guests can spend more time networking and less time worrying about what to order. You can work with a local catering company to provide drop-off catering or self-cater by picking up premade charcuterie boards or sandwich platters from a local vendor. 

17: Creative bento boxes

The bento box is a traditional Japanese meal that packs a variety of tasty bites into a convenient, compartmentalized package. They offer a variety of flavors, and attendees will appreciate the novel touch. Potential ingredients include:

  • Sesame noodles
  • Rice balls
  • Edamame
  • Quinoa or couscous salad
  • Carrot sticks

Bento boxes are a creative twist on the classic boxed lunch and are sure to please at your next corporate event.

18: Novelty box lunches 

Pack a surprise theme or novelty twist into your guests’ box lunches, a bit like an adult Happy Meal. Take advantage of the easier setup and delivery this menu offers by hosting your event in a more relaxed location, like a park.

6 food ideas for catering a brunch event

Ideas for catering breakfast and brunch events

Breakfast can be anything from a quick grab-and-go snack to a luxurious weekend brunch meal. It really depends on the event type! If you’re hosting a multi-day conference, for instance, your attendees will likely want to grab something quick before heading to their next session. But if you’re hosting a boozy brunch for Mother’s Day, opt for a luxurious-coursed brunch affair. 

In any case, use these breakfast and brunch catering ideas for some inspiration. 

19: Artisanal donuts 

It started with the cronut, the unbelievably delicious croissant-doughnut hybrid popularized by NYC pastry chef Dominique Ansel. Now, specialty donut shops are popping up everywhere, and your event could be another showcasing opportunity. A donut or two is an excellent addition to a breakfast box catering package.

Doing it well: RI Food Fights has made an entire event series focused around fancy donuts. Their annual Best Donuts RI event helps attendees find the very best donuts in Rhode Island. Each ticket comes with 17 coupons for free donuts at various donut shops around the state, which can be redeemed all month long. This creative dispersed event is so popular that it’s sold out eight years in a row! 

20: Coffee bar

Coffee is a mainstay for corporate event catering — and a must at any morning event. Elevate standard offerings with some creativity and a diverse coffee bar that has it all: pour-overs, cold brew, nitro coffee, and all kinds of plant-based milk. Not sure how to pull this off? Enlist your local coffee shop as an event vendor.

21: Smoothie bowl bar 

Smoothie bowls are a fun, light breakfast option that inspires attendees’ creativity as they mix and match different toppings to adorn their bowls of deliciousness. While you can prep toppings ahead of time, you’ll need at least one helper on hand to blend fresh smoothies. 

Doing it well: Fabletics Southlake hosted the Ever Bowl Southlake Pop-Up event, where shoppers received samples of smoothie bowls from a local juice bar. 

22: Breakfast bowl bonanza

Beautiful breakfast bowls typically contain fruit, oats, yogurt, and superfoods like acai, chia, and hemp — a perfect choice if you want to offer a healthy menu. Serve them in compostable bowls so the planet benefits, too.

To elevate your attendees’ morning, consider pairing a nutritious breakfast with a breakout session, like a brief guided meditation.

23: Themed fruit and cheese platters 

Everyone loves a good fruit and cheese platter — but we’ve all seen them a lot at events. To elevate your offering, consider sourcing cheese from a certain region or offering expert information on each ingredient’s origin and production to keep things interesting. 

24: On-the-go grain bowls 

Low-GI, super-healthy grains are increasingly prominent in many peoples’ diets. From a fruity muesli mix to more exotic varieties like forbidden rice, grain bowls are a versatile option for your event’s catering. Consider experimenting with:

  • Black farro risotto with mushroom and kale
  • Mexican sweet potato rice bowl
  • Rainbow couscous
  • Barley breakfast bowl with halloumi, avocado, and egg
  • Autumn harvest salad with pomegranates

As an added benefit, many popular grain bowls are naturally vegan and gluten-free. Plus, they’re easy to prep ahead of time and can typically be served at room temperature. Opt for a high-protein variety like quinoa to keep guests satiated. 

Doing it well: The Davis Food Co-Op capitalized on the rice bowl trend by hosting a fun cooking class to teach Thai-Inspired Grain Bowl recipes.

Catering ideas for bar or cafe events

At bars and cafes, the focus may shift from food items to beverages. And these days, it’s not just alcohol that’s on the menu: Guests will appreciate a variety of both alcoholic and N/A drinks.

Use these creative catering ideas to keep your next bar event boring-free. 

Cocktail and mocktail vendor at an event
CUESA / First Bloom: Spring Cocktails at the Farmer’s Market / San Francisco, CA

25: Zero-proof cocktails

A whopping 41% of Americans are trying to drink less alcohol in 2024. But these days, soft drinks and water just won’t cut it for a memorable experience. Providing non-alcoholic cocktail options with a fun twist is something every catering event organizer should consider. Guests will appreciate alternatives.

Mocktails can also help you cut catering costs. If you want to still offer guests alcohol, you can add the option for guests to pay to upgrade their mocktail to a traditional cocktail.

Doing it well: Artifact Events hosted an Alcohol-Free Cocktail Competition & Tasting Event for the sober-curious in Chicago. The event provided a platform for mixologists to compete and attendees to sample a wide variety of tasty drinks (with no hangover!)

26: Unique treats from around the world

For this catering idea, take a traditionally loved food (like pancakes), and add an international twist. For example, fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes are sure to be a hit! These cloud-like pancakes can be accompanied by whatever toppings you can dream up, making them a great option to cater to diverse tastes.

27: Beverage tastings for all palates

Everyone loves a good beverage tasting. You can adapt this idea to fit just about any event type — from a craft beer tasting at a local brewery to an apple cider tasting at a family-friendly event. 

Ideally, source multiple varieties of each beverage so guests can compare. This could also be an opportunity for in-kind sponsorship, where companies donate their beverages in exchange for exposure at your event. 

Doing it well: The California Craft Brewers Association hosted the Celebration of Craft Beer Festival, with 35 guest brewers on-site to treat guests to the latest microbrews. 

28: Tea party

Coffee reigns supreme here in the US, but did you know that the world population consumes around three cups of tea for every one cup of coffee? Celebrate the prevalence of tea with a themed tea party at your next event. 

Serve a selection of tea varieties, from Indian Darjeeling to Japanese Matcha. The vibrant green hue of matcha tea makes it super-photogenic — perfect for social media posts!

Event attendees networking
Eventbrite / LA Creator Roundtable / Los Angeles, CA

Catering ideas for networking events

At a networking event, offering small plates with non-messy foods is best. It’s also a good idea to provide standing-height small tables throughout the event space so guests can set down their plates and drinks.

29: Skewer variety packs

Grilled meat or vegetables on skewers are a classic for a good reason. Their bite-sized portions are great for when you want guests to be able to do more than just eat. Adapt them to cater to diverse food preferences. Potential skewer ingredients include:

  • Spicy chicken
  • Lamb
  • Pork
  • Grilled vegetables
  • Bacon-wrapped asparagus
  • Chili prawns
  • Fruits
  • Tofu

To elevate your catering from standard meat-on-a-stick, serve a wide variety of foods and skewer types to suit all tastes.

30: Worldwide tapas

Originating from Spain but popular worldwide, tapas are delicious, small plates of food. There are many varieties, meaning you can cater to all your guests’ dietary preferences.

Mouth-watering tapas include:

  • Pomegranate pistachio crostini
  • Crab crescent triangles
  • Candied bacon-wrapped figs
  • Heirloom tomato galette with pecorino
  • Steak and blue cheese bruschetta with onion and roasted tomato jam

Traditional Spanish tapas are a safe bet for any event — but don’t be afraid to get creative here with cuisines from all around the world. 

Doing it well: The Mint of Killeen hosted a Tequila & Tapas event with both traditional Mexican cuisine and creative fusion flavors. Event-goers were also treated to a wide variety of tequila samples and tequila-infused cocktails. 

31: Bespoke toast bar

Toast isn’t just for breakfast anymore. Dressed-up bread with combinations of toppings, from smashed avocado to chèvre cheese, is a wholesome spin on the old bagel bar. 

Looking for food catering suggestions that are both trendy and budget-friendly? Spread a little flavor on toast, and watch your guests’ faces light up. You could even set up a dedicated “toast bar” where guests could select their own toppings. 

Four unique ideas for event catering foods

Unique food ideas to wow your guests

For any event, these unique ideas can add that extra “wow” factor! Use these outside-the-box ideas in your event marketing to attract more attendees. 

32: Miniature foods 

Miniature food is the art of reducing traditional meals down to snackable portions. This way, you can deliver guest favorites while keeping your offerings light. One option is the mini-burger, shrinking down your standard burger into something you can eat with two fingers. Other options include:

  • Mini pies – savory or sweet
  • Mini sausage frittatas
  • Mini pizzas
  • Mini tacos
  • Mini pancakes

Mini snacks can also be an affordable catering idea for event creators on a tight budget. 

33: Bánh mì 

Vietnamese for “bread” or “baguette”, bánh mì is a sandwich that includes traditional Vietnamese ingredients like pickled daikon, coriander, and spicy chili. Typically a casual street food, bánh mì sandwiches are a perfect stand-and-eat choice for a busy event.

Bánh mì is quick to assemble, so you could easily add customization options with a variety of proteins (pork, tofu, etc.) for guests to choose from.

34: Fermented foods

Kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut – in centuries past, fermented foods were a smart way to preserve food for longer. These foods will give attendees a probiotic boost that’s also delicious — and trendy! 

Some fermented foods can be a hard sell for those unfamiliar (yes, kimchi has an aggressive smell!) To elevate your catering setup, include brief descriptions of each food item and highlight the gut-boosting benefits of fermented foods. 

35: Spicy fried chicken 

Bring the flavor of the Deep South with this spiced-up version of fried chicken. Cowboy hats not included. Serve fried chicken alongside traditional sides like grits and cornbread, or make fried chicken sandwiches on biscuits. 

Ready to start cooking up your next event? 

Whether you’re self-catering or using an external vendor, getting creative with your refreshments and meals can really pay off. The food you serve can have a big impact on your attendees’ experience — so make sure to focus on serving up something unique and tasty!

When you’re ready to start planning, get equipped with the right tools. Eventbrite is the leading event management software for event organizers. Our tools can help you plan better events, sell more tickets, and simplify your business.