A Gummy Bear Carving Station

At the opening party for the Canadian Special Event Show last March, Bucket & Whisk created a carving station with five-pound gummy bears instead of beef. In flavors such as “Rare Cherry” and “Well Done Cola,” the giant candies had cheeky signage that advertised features such as “organic-raised” and “hormone-free.” The event was produced by the Idea Hunter.
Photo: Topfive Design

For a Los Angeles media event in April announcing the nationwide sale of chef Duff Goldman's Cake-in-a-Jar, guests could sample the product, which features layers of cake, frosting, and sprinkles encased in a Mason jar.
Photo: Courtesy of Duff's Cakemix

"By far one of the coolest catering concepts I've experienced was for TEDMed's 2013 conference dinner at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. United Kingdom company Gastrophonic worked with Occasions Caterers to design multiple flights of food and drink that combined the taste and smell of the small plates with your senses of sight and sound through lighting and music. As the music got bolder, the combinations of flavors in the food and drinks did too. With the food all placed on shelves at illuminated stations, it was an amazing, full-sensory experience." —D. Channing Muller, contributing editor
Photo: Pepe Gomez/Pixelme Photogaphy