Virtual events can offer a multitude of amenities: comfortable seating arrangements, easy transportation, and a lax dress code. But, there's one thing, among many, we all miss about live events: elaborate, mouthwatering food displays. While F&B at events is bound to look different post-COVID-19 (a bittersweet goodbye to buffets!), the feast—or catering, if you will—for the eyes doesn't have to go with it. Tip: Grab a snack before you keep scrolling—this roundup will give you the munchies!
Individual Lightbulb-Shaped Drinks
When electric-utility company ComEd opened a training center in Chicago with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception, catering firm Entertaining Company provided snacks and drinks for the 600 guests—including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel—and put a thematic spin on the beverages. The firm's operations manager, Tom Sierra, wanted to add visual appeal to the weekday corporate event and found a food-safe, lightbulb-shaped vessel online. He and his team then drilled holes in the vessels for straws and filled them with a pomegranate-flavored lemonade dubbed "Electric Lemonade." The drinks were served on light-up on trays branded with the ComEd logo.
Photo: Courtesy of Entertaining Company
Moet & Chandon Champagne Vending Machine
When Moet & Chandon debuted its champagne vending machine in 2016, it became an instant hit at benefits, parties, and galas. Eventually, the brand launched a new augmented-reality photo booth version that features Moet’s limited-edition “Living Ties” Impérial Rosé collection. Making its debut at the Pendry in San Diego, the new vending machine combines facial recognition and video, along with custom backgrounds, so guests can share augmented reality-enabled ecards. The original version of the vending machine can be found at Mama Lion in Los Angeles; The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans; the Dalmar Hotel in Fort Lauderdale; and even Kris Jenner’s home.
Photo: Courtesy of Moet & Chandon
Pre-Packaged Niçoise Salad
For a hands-free way to dine, chef Joachim Splichal from Los Angeles served up cleverly plated and pre-packaged niçoise salad in a can, which sat atop strips of dirt as a nod to his winery.
Photo: Eric Vitale
Mini Disposable Domes
Fineline Settings, which specializes in single-use tabletop products, launched Tiny Domains as part of its Tiny Temptations collection. The mini disposable domes are available in oval, circle, rectangle, and square shapes and add a delicate finishing touch to small bites while keeping germs out.
Photo: Courtesy of Fineline Settings
Prewrapped Sustainable Seafood
Seasonal wild blue salad with a full chilled lobster tail, served on a bed of baby arugula, house-pickled wild Maine blueberries, shredded red cabbage, white beans, and a sprinkling of roasted sunflower seeds with a house-made balsamic vinaigrette, by Luke’s Lobster in New York. The salad is prewrapped, but the packaging doesn't subtract from the colorful mixture of ingredients.
Photo: Courtesy of Luke's Lobster
Individual Capri Sun-Inspired Drinks
These cocktails are inspired by old-school Capri Sun drink pouches—but an adults-only version. Found at Thursday Kitchen, a casual New York restaurant serving Korean eats with French and Spanish influences, the whimsical concoctions ($9) come in four flavors (lemon, strawberry, lychee, and cucumber) and are mixed with soju, a vodka-like rice liquor.
Photo: Courtesy of Thursday Kitchen
