Mouthwatering Food Station Ideas

My suggestions of mouthwatering food stations and food bars, which will tantalize your taste buds.  Come and discuss with Diamant Events SA  a food station or food bar that will suit your function. 

Few dishes for a Greek food station 

1. Instead of having expensive canapes have a Dip Food Station, Mini hot dog bar, Fresh fruit and juice station (Lovely in South Africa when it's very hot), a Cocktail Pita Bar with different fillings and dips or a Greek Food Station  from Greek Caterers SA with cocktail kebabs, filled vine leaves, a couple of dips and cocktail pita bread pockets.

   

   Variety of dips  for your Dip Food Station

2. Having a breakfast wedding or special gathering in the morning? Try a Sparkling Wine Bar with fresh fruits and fruit juices for guest when they arrive and a Bacon doughnut bar or Sausage and egg Station. I just love a Pancake and Waffle Bar with different savory and sweet fillings.
3. Instead of having the traditional old salad table replace it with a Salad Bar or Salad and Fruit Bar. Let guests make their own salad and choose their own dressings. This is a very popular and safe option that will please most guests. For desserts a healthy choice will be a Fruit Station or Fruit and Cheese Bar together.
4. Sandwich Bars don't have to be boring! It is lovely for a casual afternoon wedding and can help with saving costs. Different kinds of breads and rolls can be presented with assortment of meats, cheeses, pickels, an variety of spreds and vegetables, even peanut butter, jam and glace fruit pieces. 
5. This one just come to my mind, a High Tea Station. Can be a lovely late morning wedding with lots of tiny sandwiches and desserts that can be presented on your food station. 
6. When having a larger wedding or event place several South African Food Stations and Bars through the reception area, one for starters, one for main meal, one for salads and one for desserts.Just make sure all the food is from South Africa and don't forget your late night snack stations.
7.  How about themed stations/bars? The Around the World Food Station are very popular. Start with a Greek meze bar, followed by a pasta station from Italy, a Curry Station from India, a Cavery Station from England, a Traditional South African Station with dishes like springbok and ostrich and desserts from France. 
8. Mashed potato bar where mashed potatoes are getting served in an elegant way (eg. in martini glasses or long tall glasses) with colorful toppings such as beef with tomato and onion relish, pork with minty gravy, chicken with a tangy apricot and orange gravy, green and yellow peppers and red onions will make the glasses look too good to eat.
9. a Popcorn Station for guest to munch on at the reception or to take home later the night or a Dougnut Bar where milk shooters are placed in the middle is a perfect late night snack.
10. For desserts how about a South African Dessert Bar with traditional desserts like koeksisters and milktart, a Greek Dessert Bar having the traditional desserts like baklava and kadaifi, Other popular options are -  Marshmallow Bar, Biscuit Bar, Candy Bar, Chocolate bar or Mini Tartlets Station. 

    

    Milk Tart Bar with a variety of tarts
    

    

    
    
11. Cupcake Bar's  are very popular. Let guests have a cupcake bar with different flavors, leave them plain and let guests put their own frosting and toppings on to eat as dessert or take home favor.  The same can be done with cake balls or pops. You can expect to have a lot of fun with these bar's.
12. A Hot Drink Station after serving the desserts or a Good Night Bar before your guests leave. Do you love coffee or tea? Have a Coffee Bar or Tea Station with different kinds of coffee or different kinds of tea. Don't forget the lovely Cheese Bar with different kinds of cheeses, savory biscuits and fruit.
13. Late night snack bars are very very popular and always a hit. Just think of what you like to eat or drink after a nice party. A doughnut station (sweet and savory),  Mini pie bar, Mini pita bar with filled pita bread, burger bar or even a Chili Bar. Cookies and milk bar or a French fry bar are all excellent choices.
14. Unique Food Stations or Bars - Come and discuss your food preferences with us and we will put together a station just for you! If you love milk tart we'll do a complete bar with different kinds of milk tarts like the traditional milk tart, coconut milk tart and lemon milk tart. 
15. The Unique Food Bar will personalize your wedding or event and give it that special something everyone will talk about. Diamant Events SA shall design and build your food station for you and customize all the signs for the food station. You can rent or buy a portable food station or portable food bar. Portable food stations and portable food bars are easy to move around in the venue you will be using.

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    Sample of a food station
    
    
     Latest Candy Bar were done with delicious home made sweets. Customized according to colour scheme of your event. Sample sweets of a green candy bar we did include:
    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    
    Home made marshmallows, Coconut candy balls, jelly sweets, diabetic jelly sweets, and mint fudge
    
    
    
    
    
    

BUFFETS - FOOD STATIONS - FOOD BARS

Left top a draped food station
Right top food bar in front and
bottom left food bar at
back with place to hide more food
 

An unbelievable 30 years ago I started working in the hospitality industry in a large restaurant, where we did catering for different functions in and off the premises.  Back in the old days we used "food stations" for every day and large events.  The aim for division of food in stations was to let people get their food fast and to minimize the long queues at the buffet area. 

The golden rule was "PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING!" Today this rule still stands.

Food stations must never look like a cafeteria.  Food always must be presented attractive and have all the variety of flavors a buffet offer.  After all you are doing a special event, doesn't matter what kind of event, can be a wedding or even a birthday, for that person it will be special and they want it to be remembered and keep fond memories of the event. Place, fun and beautifully styled wedding and party stations or bars, throughout your reception area. When you are expecting a large number of guests, use two or more stations with the same food on, at different locations in the reception area or in different rooms, if possible. It is brilliant way to escape the traditional previous wedding dinners that tend to be a bit formal or parties.

In the older day's food stations were packed with food in very large trays.  Today food get presented on small appetizer size plates (More like the traditional Greek Meze) so guests will take "bites" of different foods and then socialize again.  Stations can be organized by food themes, think Greek bar, Mediterranean bar, Mexican bar, Italian bar, South African bar or by different food kinds (Salad station, pasta bar or dessert bar).  Food stations are normally self-serve like the traditional buffet but can be also interactive stations where guests build actively their own food.  Because guests have to stand up, walk around and help themselves, it will minimize queues and guests will circulate and socialize.  When the guests mix and mingle, it create a casual atmosphere.

With a preset menu guests don't always like the food offered.  Food stations or food bars are an easy way for guests to pick out what they like and will help avoid food being wasted.  Guests will love the variety what food stations or bars offer. Remember at dinner hour guests are expecting a meal so plan realistically and if you not sure about the amount of food contact a professional caterer. Don't provide only snacks when it is meal time.  You don't want your guests to leave still being hungry. 

Cocktails and desserts are often easily forgotten but with a cocktail station or dessert bar guests will love having them.  By adding a bit of your own personality to the stations and bars you will make them unique and memorable. If you not sure how to do this you are welcome to contact Diamant Events SA for a consultation.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to food stations or food bars. Next time we will discuss some of my suggestions. 

Food Stations and Food Bars