What is a Banquet Menu
A banquet menu is a list of food and beverages intended to be served during a banquet. Just like a regular restaurant menu, it contains details of how the food is cooked and the ingredients used to prepare each. But this type of menu is more detailed as it also shows the flow of how the dishes will be served to guests.
You can apply banquet menus to different types of celebrations, including birthday parties and wedding receptions. They can also be effective for simple office cocktail events. A banquet menu helps guests anticipate what and how much food they will receive and guide them in making any necessary choices.
4 Banquet Menu Types
Different types of banquets require specific menus depending on the preference of the customer or type of party. Make sure that you offer different choices to appeal to your customers. Take a look at these four banquet menu ideas, their flow, and the kinds of dishes best served in each.
1. Western set menu
Set menus are a great way to keep costs low and offer your diners convenience and ease of ordering. For a Western set menu, the flow and types of dishes are:
- Bread and butter
- Salad
- Soup
- Main course
- Dessert
- Drinks
2. Western buffet menu
The main difference between a Western buffet menu and a Western set menu lies in the number of choices for each course. Here’s an example of the flow and types of dishes in a Western buffet menu:
- Appetizer
- Salad
- Soup
- Vegetables
- Starch
- Fish or seafood
- Chicken
- Pork or beef
- Dessert (chocolate-based, cheese-based, or spoon-based)
3. Modern Asian buffet
The flow of courses in modern Asian buffets is no different from Western buffets. The main difference lies in the type of dishes offered. While some Asian buffets focus on one cuisine, it’s not uncommon for some to include cuisines from different cultures. It means serving Japanese, Chinese, and Thai dishes in one buffet if a client requests.
4. Traditional Asian banquet
Chinese weddings are a good example of a traditional Asian banquet. This type follows a specific flow of courses or dishes that diners have been accustomed to for years. Here’s an example of the flow, types of dishes, and the meaning behind each one:
- Cold platter or “dragon-phoenix” plate for balance in the relationship
- Shark’s fin for wealth
- Chicken for a good life
- Prawns for happiness
- Fish for abundance and prosperity
- Vegetables to avoid conflict
- Noodles for longevity
- Dessert for a sweet life
It’s best to present these four options to your client to help them decide on which type suits their event best. Just make sure to highlight the food in every banquet menu you prepare.
Congratulations, you’ve completed the Banquet Menus topic!
Continue to the next topic, pick a related topic from the Banqueting module, or go back to the Chefmanship Academy modules page.
