Brooklyn-based design studio Volvoxlabs created a dynamic video wall that melds a photo booth experience with stylized interactive effects. Equipped with a DSLR camera and consisting of eight LED monitors varying in size and shape, the highly configurable system can be scaled and built to a company’s specifications. Photos are triggered remotely and processed with custom digital effects or branded content; iPad kiosks allow guests to post their shots to social media or to print them.
BuzzFeed and Jolly Rancher partnered for an interactive art exhibit celebrating the worst aspects of New York living, which was on display November 14 and 15 at the Space at 50 North 3rd in Williamsburg. The numerous art installations included a replica of an apartment building exterior, complete with fake pigeons, leaky air-conditioning window units, and graffiti inspired by the Jolly Rancher campaign.
Inspired by a recent viral news story involving a rat carrying pizza in an underground subway stop, a "pizza rat" mascot walked around offering guests standard New York cheese pizza slices.
Chicago-based caterer Limelight's "Smash It" station offers assorted homemade chocolate bark in flavors such as dark chocolate with dried cherries. Mallets next to the sweets let guests "smash" off a snack-size piece of the bark.
For a recent event at the Perot Museum of Science and Nature in Dallas, Wolfgang Puck Catering employed a "chef shadowbox." Meant to provide a strong visual behind a more standard food station, a chef in a shadowbox prepared appetizers as guests looked on.
For its "Let Your Fan Out" Campaign, online ticket marketplace StubHub invited seven finalists from a video contest to participate in a sports-minded live game show on November 12 at L.A. Live's Microsoft Square. Airbrush tattoos offered to fans attending the event matched the campaign messaging.
Washington event firm Taylor and Hov Events Design's social-media-driven Top Nosh Dinner took place October 14 at Decatur House on Lafayette Square. The Downton Abbey-theme dinner featured social media menu cards that listed the Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook handles of the vendors that contributed to the overall production of the event.
Painting on a hotel’s walls would normally result in a fine or worse. At Marriott Stanton South Beach, groups can channel the arty vibes of the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami and “vandalize” the hotel’s walls during organized graffiti lessons. The “Murals & Meetings” activity pairs groups with local artists to create their own street-art masterpieces.
Available for trade shows, fairs, and indoor-outdoor exhibitions, the Pyro Jet Truck goes faster than 300 miles per hour and shows off fire displays and a blaring locomotive horn. Formerly based in Florida, the 12,000-horsepower truck was recently acquired by Toronto-based motorsports racer Rick Kopp and comes with an extra passenger seat for "win a ride" event promotions.
As part of its experiential House Party campaign, Bacardi kicked off a traveling house party tour in October. The concept involves a custom-built house that sits atop a flatbed truck. The house's five different areas include a luxury living room, which features a wall of framed bats inspired by the rum brand's logo. After stopping in Philadelphia and Atlanta, the tour will make its last stop in Miami tonight.
Toronto's Eatertainment saw the return of bar carts, at both restaurants and events, in 2015. In the past year, the company has used bar carts to serve dishes—including frittatas, lobster, and sliders—to guests at their seats.
In New York, Elegant Affairs said classic comfort foods are still in demand, but clients expect a gourmet twist. The company's taco station, for example, lets event guests fill their own shells with items such as 16-hour slow-smoked brisket topped with Napa slaw and cilantro-lime aioli.
Limelight Catering in Chicago, as well as Elegant Affairs, said clients requested meals with several courses—in a format similar to chefs' tastings at restaurants—for their events. For a recent birthday party, Limelight prepared a seven-course Asian tasting menu that included bites paired with beer.
Limelight also said clients want their events to feature the same fare that's being served at buzzed-about restaurants. Ramen is trending in Chicago, and for one event, the firm created a ramen bar. At the station, chefs served classic or vegetarian broth with noodles and assorted toppings.
In Virginia, Design Cuisine has seen a trend toward charred foods and pork. The company developed a bacon bar that presents bacon on sticks, in flavors such as maple, chocolate, and hickory. The bacon can be eaten on its own, or used to top sandwiches D.I.Y.-style.
Chicago firm Catering by Michaels served nontraditional salads, including a deconstructed Mediterranean spelt salad, this year. Other creative first courses included green-grape gazpacho with burrata caprese and seared scallops with citrus wedges.
Not to be confused with more pedestrian Jello shots, Blue Plate Catering in Chicago served lots of "gelée shots" this year. The solid beverages come in flavors such as champagne, garnished with citrus cells and gold leaf.
Blue Plate reps said red velvet was a popular flavor in 2015, though not always presented traditionally. One dish the firm recently prepared was stacks of miniature red velvet pancakes filled with cream cheese buttercream.
Blue Plate also cited Greek-inspired desserts as a trend of 2015. One popular dish was ravani, a Greek lemon cake with yogurt, coconut, candied lemon peel, and lemon-vanilla syrup.
Elegant Affairs said the farm-to-table trend was still going strong in 2015, and clients were particularly interested in non-G.M.O. foods. One recent spread featured organic, free-range lemon-herb chicken with grain-based salads. Blue Plate Catering echoed that "anything rustic" was trending for the year, including in presentation style.
In Philadelphia, Brulee Catering saw the rise of health-conscious catering requests in 2015. But there was one caveat: clients wanted the items to presented in a playful manner. "People are eating healthier and with more consideration," said the catering firm's vice president, Jan DeMarzo. "That is why the 'eye-candy' component is important." For one event, the company prepared vegetarian "sandwiches" made out of grilled pineapple and ricotta. The dish was served on a flower-strewn tray.
Brulee also noted a trend of desserts presented in jars. In the past year, the company has filled Mason jars with treats such as wild blueberry pie and coconut cream cake and presented the confections buffet style.
Brulee saw updated twists on the classic French snack throughout the year. One option, which could be served at a breakfast event, is an open-face macaron topped with sunny-side-up quail eggs.
Food on sticks was increasingly popular among Paramount Catering's clients. The Chicago-based firm has served the following items kebab-style this year: chicken thighs with spicy miso, seared tuna with togarashi seasoning, Rice Krispie treats, and roasted marshmallows. The portable food trend carried over to summertime events, when many clients requested themed picnic baskets.
Vegetarian dishes are getting more complex. Paramount recently provided intricately detailed meat alternatives at events, including Anson Mills polenta with summer squash and leek fritters.
