Under its subdivision Jewell To Go, Chicago's Jewell Events Catering supplies an Asian-inspired alternative to more traditional box lunches. The company's sleek bento boxes hold items such as salmon over a seasonal grain salad, grilled asparagus spears, sesame noodle salad, and fresh fruit tartlets.
For lunch meetings at the office, Pure Kitchen Catering in Chicago drops off jarred salads. Flavors include the Southwest salad, made with spiced nuts and pepitas.
Austin, Texas-based Royal Fig Catering has a Limited Service Menu tailored to office events. Options on the menu include a cheese and antipasto display with house-pickled vegetables, fruit spreads, rustic breads, and crackers.
At Washington's Design Cuisine, a new division called Prepped by Design focuses on seasonal foods that make for quick buffet-style service. Menu items include a five-mushroom tart, made with roasted mushrooms, a Gruyere custard, and house-made pie crust.
Arthur's Catering in Orlando can set up salsa stations at meetings. The stations are stocked with chips, guacamole, hot sauce, and several types of salsa; there are also bamboo trays for guests to stash their snacks.
Aruthur's also provides Thai chicken meatballs for in-office gatherings. Accompanied by a cup of toothpicks, the meatballs can be passed or set up on a buffet for guests to serve themselves.
In Philadelphia, Brûlée Catering brings British cheese and beer pairing stations to offices. One pairing offers oatmeal stout with Huntsman cheese.
At a soup and sandwich bar from Heirloom L.A. catering, color-blocked paper wrapped sandwiches on the buffet.
Chicago restaurant Lillie's Q has a takeout window known as LQ Chicken Shack. The eatery dishes out buckets of Southern-smoked fried chicken with honey, and sides include biscuits with honey butter, potato salad, stone-ground grits, and mac and cheese.
Vancouver's Railtown Catering prepares a canape of chicken karaage, a Japanese version of fried chicken. The chicken is marinated in ginger, garlic, yuzu, and soy sauce before it's fried. Then, the bite-size pieces are are topped with yuzu mayonnaise and shaved jalapeño peppers.
With outposts in Brooklyn and the Flatiron district, Hill Country Chicken in New York serves Texas-inspired comfort food. Adapted by a family recipe, the "Mama Els" style features skinless chicken that's removed, seasoned, battered, and rolled in cracker crumbs. Available for pickup or delivery with advance notice of 24 hours, catering packages include chicken breasts, thighs, wings, or tenders. Sides include buttermilk biscuits, pimento mac 'n' cheese, salads, and miniature pies in flavors such as bourbon pecan.
“While rare delicacies or mini foods were all the rage for a time, more substantive comfort food using fresh, local ingredients or meaningful family recipes is becoming a more popular choice,” says Harrison. “Not only is it a crowd pleaser, but the origin of the recipe, dish, or ingredients can help tell a story. In addition, using different food stations with a variety of ingredient options allows guests to customize the menu, warmly welcoming anyone with any dietary restrictions or preferences to partake and enjoy.”
Pictured: At Grutman and Rangel’s wedding, Starr Events served up an homage to Rangel’s homeland with Brazilian cachorro quente—Brazilian-style hot dogs with seasoned ground beef, sweet pepper pico de gallo, potato strings, and catupiry cheese.
For a couple’s cocktail hour, Boutique Bites incorporated hand-made ramen (pictured, left) served in tiny sake cups with mini chopsticks. The cups were wrapped with decorative washi tape and served on a tray with mini mugs of Sapporo beer. For another couple’s playful reception, the Chicago-based catering company created mini funnel cakes, which were served in clear funnels on top of small glass bottles that were filled with orange and cherry soda; the serving tray was lined with cotton to give the illusion the dessert was sitting in a cloud.
For a healthy catering option for meetings, Wolfgang Puck Catering offers a variety of energizing snack options with brain-boosting foods such as almonds, walnuts, and flax seeds. Options include a build-your-own oatmeal bar.
