For corporate events, catering with buffet food is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to feed your guests. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get bogged down in the same old buffet spread of rubbery chicken, dry mashed potatoes, and overcooked green beans.

Buffet food doesn’t have to be boring or poorly executed. To the contrary, you can make your next corporate function memorable and delicious with one of our buffet style catering menu themes.

Hawaiian Island Style Buffet Food

Imagine your guests’ delight when they lay eyes on a buffet spread that includes kalua pork, pineapple chicken with teriyaki glaze, Polynesian rice, and steamed veggies.

They’ll get a real island flavor with the seasonal island fruits that are included in this buffet food menu, which might include pineapple, guava, mango, papaya or watermelon, along with mango salsa and tri-colored chips.

If you’d like to up the ante on island-style flavor, we can also give you a price to add haupia, taro and other authentic Pacific Island dishes upon request.

Pasta Napoli Buffet for Lunch or Dinner

The Pasta Napoli buffet menu puts your guests in charge of their dining experience. They will have their choice of pasta – including fettuccine, spaghetti, penne, linguini, rotini and more – and sauce. Some of our most popular sauce choices include cream tomato, marinara, pesto, mushroom marsala and garlic butter.

You will enjoy fresh Caesar salad, Italian vegetables and, of course, toasted garlic bread.

For your corporate event catering buffet menu, you can choose two types of pasta and three sauces. For a heartier spread (and a nominal upcharge) you can add chicken alfredo, meat sauce, sausage, and peppers or chicken breast to your menu.

Southern Table Dinner Buffet Menu

Give your guests a taste of hospitality in the deep south with our Southern Table Dinner. This corporate event buffet food menu is a crowd-pleaser, featuring cornbread stuffed quail and grits with prosciutto, mushrooms, and shallots.

This menu raises the bar for buffet food with arugula salad, orange rosemary pan-braised carrots, cornbread and scones with honey butter. Your guests will finish their meal with a delightful apple charlotte topped with fresh whipped cream.

We can customize any of our buffet food menus at your request or, if you prefer, create a menu from scratch, to your specification.

At Brown Brothers Catering, all of our buffet menus include heated transport and delivery, setup, chafing dishes, servers, linens, trays, bowls, serving utensils and crystal plastic flatware. We also include tear down and clean up. We even include citrus water and flavored lemonade in our prices!

You can’t beat the quality and service you’ll get when you choose Brown Brothers for your next event. There’s a reason we’ve been northern Utah’s preferred caterer for more than a decade. Contact us today to learn more, or to request pricing for your next corporate event catering.

The catering tasting is an important aspect of planning a reception or large event – and one of the more enjoyable aspects of the planning process.

If you haven’t attended a tasting before, you may not know what to expect. Although every catering company has slightly different tasting policies, it’s customary to observe some basic rules of etiquette. These tips will also help ensure that you get the most out of your sampling experience, so you can make your final menu selections more easily.

Limit the Number in Your Catering Tasting Party

Don’t try to take too many people with you to your tasting appointment. This is more for your benefit than anything, but it’s also the polite thing to do for your caterer.

If you’re tasting in advance of your wedding reception, for example, the ideal party might include the happy couple, your wedding planner (if you have one) and one or two friends or family members whose opinions you trust.

If your or your fiancé’s parents or family members are footing the bill, you should probably also invite them along to make sure they are on board with your choices.

Don’t Try to Sample Too Many Dishes at Your Catering Tasting

This can be a challenge, especially if the caterer has an extensive menu, every item of which sounds delicious.

Some companies limit the number of items you can try during your catering tasting. Others allow you to sample only those items they choose to present. Either way, you can easily become confused and overwhelmed if you try to sample everything under the sun. Limiting the number of dishes you try will better allow you to make good decisions that you’ll be comfortable with.

Do take photos of each item and make notes about the flavor, texture, presentation, etc. This will give you a handy reference when you need to revisit the experience.

Plan Your Catering Tasting Well in Advance (& Be Flexible)

Catering companies have to schedule tastings around their schedule of events. This may mean that you have to be amenable to a weekday tasting. Some caterers will allow you to drop by one of their events but, in that case, you may not get to ask questions or choose any items to taste.

Some catering companies hold periodic tasting events and invite potential clients to attend. This is an ideal scenario because the staff won’t be busy trying to make someone else’s event a success, so you will have the opportunity to interact, ask questions and chat leisurely with your group and other attendees.

In the Salt Lake City area, Brown Brothers Catering tried to offer our clients and potential clients the greatest flexibility possible for their tasting experience. We regularly host tasting events at some of northern Utah’s most sought-after reception venues, so you can see our work in action. Although you must RSVP to attend, we never charge our potential clients for these events. Contact us today to find out where and when our next catering tasting event will be held, and to put your name on the list to attend.

When choosing a caterer for a reception, corporate event or party, you can’t be too careful.

The catering company you select for your event will prepare and serve a variety of food and beverages for your guests. Although it doesn’t happen often, the careless handling of food during preparation and storage could make your guests sick. Likewise, purchasing ingredients from questionable sources can also result in substandard fare or, worse, food-borne illness.

By asking potential catering companies just a few basic questions, you can make an informed decision that will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises.

No. 1: Where Will the Caterer Prepare the Food?

Catering companies must prepare their food in a commercial kitchen facility that has been inspected and certified by the county. They cannot prep in a residential kitchen or anywhere that doubles as sleeping quarters.

This helps ensure that the company complies with all governing safety standards and regulations.

Unfortunately, there are many would-be caterers out there who operate outside the guidelines, potentially putting you and your guests at risk. As for a tour of their commercial kitchen if you suspect this may be the case.

No. 2: How Does the Company Hold Food at the Proper Temperature?

Transporting food from the prep kitchen to your event venue requires the caterer to hold the dishes at the proper temperature for safety. They must also use containers and implements certified by NSF or ANSI.

Most important, however, all food must be stored and held at the proper temperature (hot or cold) based on health department regulations. Be sure to ask any potential caterer how they will ensure your food is never subjected to potentially risky conditions.

No. 3: Does the Caterer Have a County Health Permit & Safety Certification?

The Utah Department of Health enforces food safety regulations for caterers as well as restaurants and other venues that serve food to the public.

Catering companies must have a Certified Food Protection Manager and all staff must have food safety training and a valid food handler’s card. The company must also have a county health permit for the facility in which they prepare their food.

No. 4: Does the Company Carry Catering Insurance?

No matter how competent and careful a cater may be, sometimes things happen that are beyond anyone’s control. If that occurs, you want to be sure your caterer has insurance that will cover the damages.

When you ask a potential caterer about their insurance coverage, specifically inquire about their liability and E&O (errors and omissions) policies.

Catering liability will cover injury accidents that may occur during your event and that are the catering company’s fault. This is the policy that insurance you and your guests if, for example, one of the servers drops a knife and it accidentally stabs someone in the leg.

Errors and omissions coverage is typically the policy that will apply to incidents of food contamination for which the catering company has fault.

Brown Brothers Catering has been serving clients in Utah for almost a decade, for weddings, receptions, corporate events and parties. We have established a reputation for excellence and we are licensed, bonded, insured and certified, to give you the peace of mind you deserve for your event. Contact us today to see why we are the Salt Lake City area’s preferred cater.

DIY catering – also known as self-catering – is a popular topic in bridal and wedding forums, as couples look for ways to stretch their budget.

Although you might think this is a great way to save money, it’s important that you understand all the factors involved before making this decision. Once you take an earnest look at all the cost and time requirements – not to mention the risks – you may want to reconsider the do-it-yourself wedding catering idea.

What Is DIY Wedding Catering?

Essentially, a self-catered wedding is exactly what it sounds like – the bride, groom, families and friends handle every aspect of the food.

This typically includes all of the following tasks:

• Planning the menu
• Purchasing ingredients
• Preparing the dishes
• Transporting
• Setting up
• Serving
• Tearing down
• Cleaning up

Some couples even take things a step further, including the wedding cake in their DIY catering efforts.

Factors to Consider when Self-Catering a Wedding

Self-catering involves more than just preparing food – much more.

You’ll have to purchase and provide all the service items necessary for your guests to eat. This includes various sized plates, napkins, cups and flatware. You’ll also need the supplies for setting up the food, such as chafing dishes, serving bowls and plates, tongs, serving spoons and display stands.

Don’t forget serving tables, tablecloths, décor and – here’s a big one – people to staff the serving tables, replenish food and clean up spills and messes. Someone will also have to handle teardown and cleanup, along with disposing of or packing up the leftovers.

Where will the food be prepared and stored? Do you and your family and friends have the food safety knowledge necessary to ensure no one gets food poisoning? Do you have a way to transport the food to your reception venue while keeping it within a safe temperature range?

Should You Try DIY Wedding Catering?

Before you decide to try catering your own wedding, ask yourself these questions.

• Do you really want to be spending time messing with and worrying about your food the week (and day) of your wedding?
• Do you really want to put that pressure on your friends and family?
• Are you willing to take a chance that you can successfully make that much food?
• Are you willing to risk giving your guests food poisoning?
• Do you know exactly how much it will cost you cater your own wedding?

Before making a final decision, talk to a Utah catering company that specializes in weddings and receptions. Find out what items the caterer includes in their price, and ask what services are included.

You might be surprised to learn how little you’ll actually save by trying to do it all yourself. When you factor in the time and risk involved, you could even end up ahead.

Brown Brothers Catering provides an exceptional catering experience to couples throughout northern Utah, taking the stress and pressure out of their special day. Before you decide to try DIY catering for your wedding, contact our Provo office today to request a price quote and learn more about our services.

When you start shopping for caterers for weddings, you may quickly find yourself overwhelmed with choices.

In Salt Lake City and throughout northern Utah, hundreds of catering companies offer their services for weddings and receptions. So how do you possibly narrow down your options to ensure you make the right choice?

Before You Decide Which Utah Wedding Caterers to Interview

Before searching for caterers for your wedding, you must make a few critical decisions about what you want – otherwise you can’t accurately identify which caterers are a good fit. The most important choices you need to make are as follows.

• Budget – Your budget will drive literally every other decision about your wedding catering, including headcount, menu and format
• Headcount – You don’t need to know exactly how many guests you’ll have in attendance but you’ll need a range that’s accurate within 10 percent or so +/-
• Format – Consider whether you want buffet-style food, passed appetizers, a plated dinner or some combination of these

Once you identify this information, you can start identifying those caterers for weddings that can handle your event.

Creating a Shortlist of Utah Caterers for Weddings

As you identify caterers who are qualified to handle your event, look for companies that meet a minimum level of qualification, including the following factors.

• Availability – If the company isn’t available on the date of your event, cross them off as an option and move on
• Direct experience – Don’t even consider talking to companies that aren’t doing weddings and receptions regularly – even if it’s a friend or referral
• Legitimacy – Is the company a legitimate (licensed, insured) business or is someone running it from their home kitchen?
• Taste Test – Can you schedule a tasting and demo, either by attending another of the company’s events or in a private setting?

You can quickly eliminate many caterers based on these four basic standards. And that means you can start the interview process.

If your list is still too long, delve into each company’s customer reviews and testimonials. That will help you eliminate a few more names, if necessary.

What to Ask Potential Wedding Catering Companies

Set up appointments to interview the companies on your shortlist but be sure you prepare a list of standard questions or topics to cover with each one – otherwise, you might not be comparing them on an accurate basis.

You can ask whether the company has experience working with the type of food you’re interested in serving, and how they might approach setup and service for your event. But, most important, ask what is included in their pricing. Get specific answers because what appears to be budget-friendly pricing might not be, if the company will be tacking on a variety of extra charges.

In the Salt Lake City area and throughout northern Utah, Brown Brothers Catering specializes in catering for weddings and receptions. We have served clients in Provo and the surrounding communities for almost a decade and we cater hundreds of weddings every year. We are a full-service catering company with affordable and transparent pricing – no unpleasant surprises. Contact us today to see why we are northern Utah’s premier caterer for weddings and receptions.

A good catering company can elevate your corporate team building event from ordinary to extraordinary without stretching your budget beyond its limits.

Using a caterer to provide meals and snacks for your attendees frees you to focus on the important things and keeps your guests sated and comfortable. Adding a theme to your food can add even more texture and dimension to the experience.

Wherever your event takes you, you can always take along catering services from Brown Brothers.

Catering Makes Your Team Building Event a Success

No one can focus on anything – let alone team building – when they’re hungry. And, depending on how many attendees you have, you can expect that people will get hungry at different times. If your event will last most or all of the day, your catering company can come to the rescue.

Whether you envision serving a themed buffet, a plated, sit-down dinner, snacks, appetizers or dessert – or some combination of these – having an event catering company to handle the food will free you up to focus on your event.

And, with plenty of tasty, nutritious snacks on-hand, you can keep your attendees focused and on-point throughout the day.

Bringing the Catering to Your Corporate Team Building Venue

Whether you plan to hold your corporate team building event at a resort, event venue or a destination location (e.g., a mountaintop, rock climbing gym, dude ranch), you can almost always find a way to fit catering into the picture.

Otherwise, you’ll have no choice but to prepare and package up your food and schlep it along with you to the event. You’ll have to find a way to hold the food at a safe temperature and heat it for serving when the time comes.

You can make arrangements with your catering company to bring your food at the appointed time and location, so you don’t have to give it another thought.

Themed Catering Menus to Fit Your Team Building Event

If your event has a theme, work with your catering company to develop a menu based on that concept. Or create a theme for your food that will delight and inspire your attendees. Food is the universal ice-breaker, so take advantage of the synergy that develops with people share a meal.

Consider an ice cream social, a taco Tuesday buffet or a wild, wild West barbecue. Go regional with an Italian menu or a Parisian-inspired fruit and cheese station. If you’re stuck for a memorable theme for your event, let the experts at Brown Brothers Catering help inspire you.

The Brown Brothers team knows exactly how to make your corporate event as stress-free as possible. A locally owned and operated business, we are committed to providing exceptional food and service at a surprisingly affordable price. Whether you plan to hold your event in Provo, Salt Lake City or anywhere in northern Utah, why not let us put the depth of our experience to work for you? Contact us today to learn more about catering for your next corporate event.

You can keep your reception catering budget-friendly by sticking with a variety of creative – and delicious – hors d’oeuvres.

The literal French meaning of hors d’oeuvres is “outside the body of work,” interpreted loosely to mean “not the main course.” With a little creativity and careful planning, you can serve a dazzling variety of delicious small bites that your reception guests will love as much as your budget will.

An appetizers-only menu is as appropriate for a corporate event as it is for a wedding reception, and the sky’s the limit for your hors d’oeuvres reception catering menu options.

Why Hors d’Oeuvres Are Perfect for a Budget-Conscious Reception

As an alternative to a traditional buffet or plated meal, you can ensure your guests are delightfully sated by serving a series of one-bite appetizers.

Depending on the arrangement of your event, you can set up a single hors d’oeuvres station, multiple stations throughout the venue or have servers circulate through the room with trays.

Passed appetizers are ideal if you prefer to keep your guests fairly stationary, rather than have a constant flow of traffic throughout the venue. If you’d prefer to keep your guests moving and interacting, set up multiple stations throughout the space.

Cold Hors d’Oeuvres for Reception Catering Menus

Cold appetizers and small bites are ideal for passing as well as for inclusion on your hors d’oeuvres stations.

Consider starting with one of these delightful cold or room-temperature options.

• Three tomato salad with Drake goat cheese
• Hummus and pomegranate puree on a pita chip
• Avocado crostini with cream cheese and sweet chili peppers
• Grapefruit and scallop ceviche skewer
• Shrimp cocktail

Top off your reception catering mini menu with an assortment of mini desserts and a custom candy station.

Hot Hors d’Oeuvres for Reception Catering Menus

Although cold or room-temperature options are the most practical option for most reception catering menus, consider offering two or three hot hors d’oeuvres as a focal point. Hot options tend to be the more substantial, protein-heavy options

Because hot appetizers will cool quickly on trays, you may prefer to limit your warm options to appetizer stations.

Some excellent options to consider are:

• Sake-marinated chicken satay with tamarind glaze
• Mini crab cakes with lemon aioli
• Seared scallops with a wonton crisp
• Meatball and pecorino soup sip

For your vegetarian guests, consider herb-stuffed mushrooms and mini chive pancakes with crème fraiche and red onion confit.

Brown Brothers Catering offers a variety of delicious, high-quality catering hors d’oeuvres that look as good as they taste. We can also work with you to customize an appetizer menu to fit your budget and your event’s theme. We provide professional catering services in Provo and throughout northern Utah. Contact us today to learn more about our reception catering services, designed to make your event stress-free.

Did you know you can use a wedding catering company even if you’re planning an at-home reception?

Today, many couples are choosing destination weddings and holding a reception for their local friends and family members once they return home. Other financially savvy couples are paring down the cost of their big day by holding the ceremony and reception at their home or the home of a family member.

Whatever your reason you’re choosing to hold your reception at home, it doesn’t mean you can’t feed your guests well. It also doesn’t mean that you have to prepare and serve the food and clean up afterward.

Catering Logistics for an At-Home Reception

Before you work out your wedding catering menu for a home reception, consider the space to determine the logistics of feeding your guests.

Many couples set the food up on tables in the backyard, as this provides a large, open space for your guests together – and it helps keep food off your carpet and furniture. If you plan to set your reception up this way, be sure you have an alternative in the event of inclement weather.

You can also consider setting up the food in different parts of the house. Consider setting up finger foods and a beverage station near your home’s entryway. That way your guests can grab a few noshes and a beverage when they arrive. You could also consider having passed appetizers, circulated by servers. Then set up the main meal as a buffet in the kitchen or dining room.

Or, you could choose a more formal route and have a plated dinner.

Wedding Catering Menu Ideas for a Home Reception

Design your wedding catering menu based on how you choose to set up the food.

If you’re planning a buffet-style set-up, consider using a theme. A backyard barbecue, for example, or a Hawaiian luau. Or consider having chefs’ stations in various locations around the property, each serving a different delicacy.

To ensure that your at-home wedding reception food is everything you’ve dreamed of, develop the menu in conjunction with your catering company. They can make recommendations based on your budget and the logistics of your venue.

Choose Your Wedding Catering Company Early

If you’re planning an at-home reception, get your wedding caterer lined up as early as possible in the process. If you choose Brown Brothers Catering, we can help you coordinate many of the tasks associated with planning a wedding reception.

We are committed to making your wedding reception stress-free, no matter what venue you choose. And, because we handle more than 500 weddings every year, you can rest assured we know exactly how to do that.

If you’re planning an event in Provo or anywhere in the greater Salt Lake City area, we would love to craft the perfect menu for you and your guests to enjoy. Our prices are affordable, and we are known for the quality of our food. Contact us today to attend a tasting, request a quote or to learn more about wedding catering for your upcoming reception.

Have you considered using an event catering company for your most important family celebrations?

We all have busy lives, allowing us little time and energy to spend with friends and family, or relaxing with activities we enjoy. When it’s time to celebrate a milestone family occasion – such as a birthday or anniversary – why should you tax yourself even further by trying to put together the food and beverages?

An event catering company can handle every aspect of your event, freeing you to relax and enjoy the celebration with the rest of your guests.

Event Catering for Birthday Parties

Birthdays are a reason for celebration, with family and friends gathered to honor this auspicious occasion. Whether you choose a venue for your party or if you or another family member hosts the event in your home, event catering takes all the stress and worry out of feeding your guests.

When you choose the right Utah catering company – like Brown Brothers Catering – you won’t have to worry about buying ingredients, prepping or cooking. In fact, you don’t have to do anything but provide a location for us to set up.

We will bring all the serving containers and implements as well as plates, cups, utensils and anything else your event needs. We will serve your guests and, when the meal is done, we will clean everything up and take it away – except any leftovers, which we will leave with you.

Event Catering for Anniversary Parties

Anniversaries are a time to honor and celebrate a timeless love story. These celebrations are perfect for event catering, as you can customize the food to fit the occasion.

If you prefer a lunch, brunch or reception, or if a formal sit-down dinner is better suited to the party, we will help ensure a perfect experience for the honorees and your guests. We also offer live-action chef stations, for even more fun and excitement. Imagine treating your guests to a flaming donut bar or cotton candy station. Or maybe a chocolate fountain would be the perfect touch to end the evening.

Choosing a Utah Event Catering Company

When it comes to choosing the perfect Utah caterer to handle your birthday or anniversary celebration, look for a company that has plenty of experience handling events like yours. You can peruse customer reviews, to see how well they have performed for other clients.

Of course, price is important but choosing the lowest bid could lead to some unpleasant surprises. When you obtain price quotes, be sure to pin each company down on exactly what their estimate includes. Some catering companies provide low cost estimates but exclude service items (cups, plates, etc). Others will simply deliver the food and leave the rest – including cleanup – on your shoulders.

At Brown Brothers Catering, we pride ourselves on providing affordable event catering without cutting corners. We are locally owned and operated, with years of experience making family celebrations perfect for our clients. We provide catering services in Provo and throughout the Salt Lake City area. Contact us today to learn how we can make your birthday or anniversary party perfect with our delicious and affordable event catering services.

This year, let a corporate event caterer take the stress out of planning your annual fundraiser, national sales meeting or company party.

Hosting a corporate event takes an enormous amount of organizing and planning. The list of things to take care of can become overwhelming and take the fun out of what should be an enjoyable experience.

If you think a corporate catering company just does food, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. In fact, your caterer can handle many of the most stressful and time-consuming tasks related to planning and executing your event.

In Utah, Brown Brothers Catering can assist you in planning everything from invitations and decorations to cuisine and libations, and even help with the always-stressful menu planning endeavors. In fact, with our highly personalized approach to customer service, we can provide virtually anything you need to make your event a success.

Corporate Event Venue Selection

Selecting the right venue for your event can take weeks (or even months) of research and legwork.

First you much search extensively to even find appropriate locations before contacting the venue to check schedules, request pricing and figure out what the location will and will not allow you to do. Next comes the endless parade of site visits and venue tours. By the time you make your selection, your desired date is inevitably booked.

What if you didn’t have to deal with that?

When you choose Brown Brothers as your corporate event caterer, we can handle all of that for you, freeing you up to tend to more important business tasks.

Corporate Event Menu Planning

If you can’t stomach the thought of planning the food selections for your event, why not let your catering company handle this for you?

Hiring a professional catering company for your corporate event takes the guesswork out of the menu planning phase, which will save you time, hassle and money. Your caterer will help you plan the menu, based on your chosen theme and established cost guidelines.

The experts at Brown Brothers know exactly how to choose a menu lineup that’s sure to be a hit with your guests. Simply tell us whether you want a buffet style event, a sit-down, plated meal, passed appetizers or even live-action chef stations – or a combination of these – and we’ll take it from there.

We can plan an exceptional menu to fit any cost guidelines too, so you’ll never have to worry about busting the budget.

Let Your Corporate Event Caterer Sweat the Small Details

What else do you need to make your event a success? Because, chances are, the Brown Brothers team can handle them for you.

We are prepared to facilitate any rental needs, like tables, chairs, AV equipment, etc. Do you need bartender services, emcees, entertainers or decorations? We can arrange it all so you don’t have to worry.

Logistics are our specialty – along with preparing and serving fresh, delicious food, of course – and we know exactly how to bring your event together without a hitch, whether it’s for 50 guests or 5,000.

Brown Brothers Catering would like to invite you to try a sampling of our delicious menu items. You can attend one of our monthly tastings or, if you prefer, we can schedule a private tasting, which will allow you to sample items from your desired menu. Contact us today to learn more about our corporate event caterer services, or to request your free consultation and price quote for your next event.