10 Advantages of Buffet Systems - By Maria Ploumido

Let alone the size of your venue or its type, demonstrate your food offerings to your special guests with a buffet system! The elegant yet functional buffet systems will showcase your creations with grace using the minimum of an effort! Minimize your setting up and arrangement costs with a straightforward and resourceful buffet system. Give the chance to your guests to meet and catch up on their latest news. Organizing a gathering buffet style will keep the spirit alive among the people attending.

Why should you choose using a buffet system though?

The Looks of your Buffet

Have you ever though that a food stylist is a “must” when it comes to food presentation? Not anymore! A buffet system comes to give you a solution which matches all kind of interiors and event venues. It will be your buffet display decorator right the time you need one. Clean, simple cuts, homogenized visual and aesthetics finish. Once central idea!

Presentation of the food

Food is appealingly arranged and grouped. So you can have a station with desserts another with appetizers fruits and so on. Present different dishes in an alluring way. When the presentation of your food is well thought in advance, your guests tend to indulge more the food you offer.

Functionality

With our buffet system you don’t have to worry about the right temperature of your food. Icebox accessories will have your food chilled. You just have to fill it in with ice and once your event is over just get rid of the water! This makes it suitable for salad buffet or seafood buffet sections. If you now want to serve warm food you just need to use the icebox accessory together with the chafing fuel support. So you’ve covered both warm and cold buffet with just using two accessories, less is more. Buffetize in addition, following most country hygiene regulations, offers you clear sneeze guards to protect your food. Last but not least, impress your guests and shed light to your buffet using LED buffet lighting. Give your display a modern twist, illuminate your mini bites and demonstrate them in “one of a kind” ways.

Versatility

With a multifunctional buffet you can be ready in no time, for any type of event or any type of outlet. Breakfast buffet, coffee break or brunch, banqueting, all day dining or executive lounge, indoors or outdoors catering our buffet systems give you the solution. One tool, several components and you are ready, simple as that! Hospitality trends have changed and with the buffet display equipment it is sure that you are “in”!

Being modular and mobile

You can change the look of the buffet depending on what you want it to be. Write down the characteristics of your event, how many people you will host, what is the type of the event, what is the type of the venue and have our buffet system assembled accordingly. Present your food in an appropriate yet tempting way! Our Buffetize systems can be assembled and disassembled in zero time, but it is not only this. By changing the colors, forms and sizes of the plates hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers can change the look of the buffet depending on the occasion.
Storage

Our buffet display equipment is designed that way so that you can reduce the space that is required to store them, so they can be folded, stacked one on top of the other easily transported. This will save you also money having in mind the warehousing expenses and the transportation costs.

Minimizing the costs

With the buffet system you will cut down your costs as compared to a sit down mean. Think about it. The self service concept requires fewer staff, less space, tableware and linens. Moreover, more people are served in less time and this is profit as well. In a sit down meal, you have to wait for the waiter to pick up the empty plates after finishing your meal and bring you the next one, with the buffet system you don’t have to wait anymore you go and serve yourself. Time is money! Go to the buffet, serve yourself whenever you feel like and don’t wait in the queue. Have your social gathering in a buffet style..it is preferred these days for parties, corporate meetings, events, marriage receptions.

The atmosphere

With buffet presentation style you create a casual, relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Have your guests ready to mingle with one another, have their food while walking around, socializing and chatting.

Choice of the food

Your guests can check out the food before taking it. They check the appearance of the food before tasting it. This cannot happen in a sit down meal. They can take the quantity they want from their favorite ones even do it twice or more times, no harm.. this is why the buffet systems are replenished in the meantime. The guest can choose if they will eat a particular dish and repeat it or try different ones without reluctance.

Variety of foods

With a buffet system you increase the variety of dishes presented and offered to the guests, different cuisines, different preferences, vegetarian and vegan options while this seems a bit restrained in the case of a table service. The buffet system increases the variety of dishes served which is reserved in case of table service.

If you are in the hospitality business, Buffetize systems are ideal. Our passion for design is recognizable and passed on designing our buffet display equipment also. Started with coffee break buffets, breakfast buffets and brunch buffets, but we keep going.Together with our clients we use our imagination to expand our portfolio and add new designs in our Buffetize brand. Have your business reach the pick and use your creations and buffet systems to do so! Your dishes will stand out with Buffetize and wow your guests.

Create the buffet as you pictured it in your mind and not as it was designed for you from someone else. Level up your work by combining it with our work!

Author’s Bio:

Maria Ploumidou

Maria is a buffet systems advisor at Buffetize - a world leading buffet display systems manufacturer. With good eye for details she provides quick aesthetic and functional solutions that improve hotel and restaurant operations. Maria brings over 10 years of experience in the hospitality market and has worked with chefs and F&B managers from major hotel chains such as Four Seasons, Marriott and Hilton. She has a good understanding of buffet set ups and extensive experience in assisting clients create memorable buffet presentations. When she is not helping hotels improve their operations she loves to travel and organize occasional home cocktail parties herself.

Catering vs Buffet: The Pros and Cons for Serving Food at Events

Food and beverage expenses for an event can get quite costly, ranging anywhere from 30% to 50% of an event’s budget. Successful event planning requires careful attention to every detail. This is particularly true when serving food at events. 

Every choice will directly affect the bottom line.

Once you’ve decided on a venue, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and have some fun. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is what and how you’ll feed your guests.

Before you plan the menu, you’ll need to determine whether sit-down catering or buffet style will work best for your event. This decision lays the groundwork for a well-orchestrated event. It defines your food and drink choices, influences the floor plan for the event, and affects the final budget.

Plated meals, also known as sit-down catering, as well as buffets, both come with their own sets of pros and cons.

But how do you know which one will work?

Read through our list of advantages and disadvantages to help determine which style works best for your event.

Sit-Down Catering

Sit-down catering is a catering option where wait staff serves guests at their assigned seats. Prior to the event, menu cards go out to each guest.

They select which plated meal they would like and send the card back to you for a final meal count. This is also an opportunity for guests to notify you regarding any special dietary needs.

Pros:

• More formal: Treating your guests to a plated meal adds a more formal feel to the occasion. This is an excellent option if elegance is what you’re trying to achieve.

• More organized: If you have an event schedule to adhere to, sit-down catering can help in managing the flow of your event.

• Less work for your guests: The wait staff delivers each course to guests at their assigned seats. This gives them more time to connect with others at their table. It’s also a great way to make everyone feel special.

• Controlled portioning: Every event planner’s worst nightmare is to run out of food. Since each guest selected their meal ahead of time, your caterer should have exactly the right amount of food. No worrying about having too much or too little!

Cons:

• More expensive: Serving plated meals typically comes with a higher price tag. This doesn’t have to be the case, however. If a sit-down meal is important to you, work with your caterer to select cost-efficient menu options.

• Fewer choices: While this option helps control portions, it limits your guests’ choices. When selecting the menu options, be sure to choose items that most people enjoy and accommodate dietary restrictions.

• More advanced work: Meal cards must be sent out prior to the event. As each card comes in, you’ll record their choices. The caterer collects these numbers a few days before the event.

• Unexpected guests: Did someone’s plus one realize they can attend at the last minute? Sit-down seating leaves less room for guest count fluctuations.

If your goal is to deliver a more elegant guest experience, sit-down catering may be the best option for your event. Don’t get discouraged by the disadvantages. An experienced caterer prepares for the unexpected and can offer some tips to help ensure a memorable evening.

Buffet or Stations

Unlike sit-down catering, buffets present food on banquet tables or by station.

Guests walk along the table(s) and select the dishes they want. In most cases, the catering staff is there to serve the guests and answer questions.

Pros:

• Reduced cost: In most cases, buffets are the more budget-friendly option. Historically, buffets are 30-50% cheaper than plated meals.

• More informal: Buffets are usually more informal. If you’re leaning towards this catering option, don’t let this discourage you. You don’t have to sacrifice elegance with a buffeted event.

• More choices: This is a great opportunity to get creative with the menu. You can offer a variety of food choices, ensuring everyone gets the food they want. So, if you have your heart set on a taco bar and chicken and waffles, a buffet enables you to select both.

• Guests can go for seconds: Once everyone’s visited the buffet, they can go for round two of their favorites if available. 

• Guest interaction: Buffets allow guests to get up, stretch their legs, and mingle with other guests.

Cons:

• Slower process: Buffets can lead to lines, which slows down the entire event timeline. You can control this by calling a couple of tables at a time and having double-sided buffet tables.

• Risk of cold food: The larger the event, the more you risk the food getting cold. Work with the caterer to ensure they have a plan for keeping everything at their desired temperatures.

• Food waste: Most buffets end up with leftover food. Make a plan for leftovers ahead of time. Not sure what to do with the food? Consider donating it to a local homeless shelter, church, or nursing home.

As with the sit-down catering option, most of the buffet’s disadvantages can be turned around as a positive. The key is to partner with an experienced and flexible caterer for serving food at events. 

Both catering options are sure to deliver a fun and unique guest experience. When planning the menu, collaborate with your caterer. They can help you come up with a plan that meets the needs of your guests, and delivers the desired outcome for the event.