At PartySlate, we are constantly wowed by the creative themes, over-the-top florals, and unique event installations we see uploaded daily to our site from all over the world. And catering is no exception; we get excited about all of the delectable-looking dishes and innovative displays.
We can’t wait to share with you what we’re seeing (and hearing about) when it comes to catering trends for 2022. Whether you’re getting married, celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, hosting an experiential corporate event, or a gala for good cause, you’re going to want to see our predictions of what’s hot in catering this year.
Hint: Expect to see dishes that evoke nostalgia, super-creative themed fare, fun handheld bites, continued safe service solutions — and many more fun catering trends in 2022
Don’t forget to check out PartySlate for all of your party-planning needs. Whether you’re looking to connect with venues and vendors or to simply find inspiration, PartySlate is here to help you celebrate in style. Let’s raise a glass (filled with a creative mocktail) to toast to a New Year of celebrating together.
Not Just Accommodation, But an Experience
More and more, party hosts are realizing that complex and delectable dishes can be made without a meat main course. Rather than having special options for vegans, vegetarians, and those who don’t drink alcohol, these options are being thoughtfully (and deliciously) integrated into menus for everyone.
1. An Increase in Flexitarian & Vegetarian-Focused Options
The seasonal nature of produce means that eating by season is the freshest way to serve your guests. Paramount Events makes beautiful use of nature’s bounty with this squash and lentil dish that is guaranteed to delight fall guests.
Lauren Hammond of the top catering team at LM Catering, shares, “Our sales team has seen a huge uptick in clients looking to focus on plant-based menus. They no longer want to only offer a single item but instead are interested in full vegetarian/vegan menus.” Their vegetarian risotto (at left) is a popular dish, even with carnivores.
Forward-thinking Abigail Kirsch Catering gave sushi a vegan makeover with butternut squash, beet, and cucumber pieces atop sesame quinoa sushi rice for an elegant, colorful, and healthy bite.
Naked Fig Catering, a recently-launched brand from Marcia Selden Catering & Events in partnership with Matthew Kenney Cuisine, is well-positioned to serve up this veggie-leaning trend (that we predict will last a long time). They specialize in luxurious plant-based cuisine, with fare that is delectable while also boosting immunity, impacting beauty, longevity, and more.
2. Curated Mocktails are Having a Moment
This springtime brunch featured bright and creative mocktails from Whoa Nelly Catering with fine ingredients like fresh lime juice and hibiscus syrup. All ages were able to enjoy the delicate creation.
Emma Nalbone of Paramount Events shares that she’s seeing a rise in curated non-alcoholic cocktails as well. Fresh, well-designed sips sans alcohol have become more than an accommodation, but a preference for many who would like a curated cocktail minus the hangover.
Elevated Comfort Fare at Celebrations
We all love a dish that reminds us of happy times — even while we are actually experiencing one of those happy times. Savvy caterers are finding ways to offer us a taste of home, but better. Robin Selden of iconic New York caterer, Marcia Selden Catering & Events, shares, “We’ve enjoyed putting a spin on and elevating some really old time comfort foods. They are nostalgic, make people smile, evoke some serious memories and are really comforting and delicious.”
3. Nostalgic Dishes
Selden of Marcia Selden Catering & Events, says, “Our clients are looking for really fun interpretations of classics.” At this Love Shack-themed party, the team not only created crave-worthy fare from the 70s, but also wowed with creative and nostalgic packaging.
4. Breakfast for Dinner
Chef Billy G knows that food that evokes emotion makes an event more memorable. He paired fried chicken and waffles for a classic dish that’s also fun.
5. Mini Bites of Mom’s Classics
Diane Gordon Catering created a new, yet classic, hors d’oeuvre with one-bite spaghetti and meatball for their “Better Together” event with Lenox China. The menu furthered the theme of pairings with prosciutto and figs, pear and pecorino, and of course, tomato and basil.
Continuing the elevated comfort food trend, Added Touch Catering refashioned Beef Wellington into perfectly-portioned bites — not an easy feat with a complicated dish involving pâté, duxelles, and puff pastry.
Amazing Edibles Catering brought the taste of home (but better) with mom-classic mini grilled cheese and tomato soup. And this is the first time we’ve seen one-bite pie ala mode, and we are wowed.
Safe Service Continues
In addition to reteaching us all how to wash our hands (don’t forget to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), the global pandemic has increased our vigilance toward safe service. Buffetts are on a break while caterers continue to conceive instant-classic solutions to our new situation. Kayla Castellano with top New York-based caterer CxRA says, “We have been continuing to receive requests for individually-packaged, elegant small bites from our clients who are hosting events during this time.”
Castellano of CxRA says, “These new packaging options make items easy to see for the guests and they can enjoy in comfort, knowing that their individual platter has been served exclusively to them. With the additional focus on our environment, we are also able to source eco-friendly options for these individual platters.”
This cool outdoor corporate event features several on-trend dishes and displays from 24 Carrots Catering and Events. We love the clever display and packaging of these mussels with crispy French bread.
Creative Edge Parties never fails to delight, with both their delectable dishes and their unique presentation. We love this clever answer to the question of safe service.
Good Gracious! Events always comes up with the perfect menu and the best way to present each dish, like these chic glass domes on luxe passed bites.
A party isn’t a party without a sweet treat, and Cottura Catering & Events ensured that guests were also delighted by their sweet safety measures: chic glass domes and mini cake stands.
The Most Popular Party Themes Have Matching Fare
For 2022, decades and locale party theming are on the rise. While the 20s are still fun for the 2020s, they’re definitely taking a backseat to 90s and 80s party themes. And when it comes to fun themes that transport guests through clever details, say aloha to Hawaii (in the way that means hello, not goodbye).
9. Party-Perfect Polynesian
Capers Catering curated a beautifully tropical food and cocktail vision that channeled “Mad Men” and “Trader Vic’s” for this themed wedding. We are tikied-pink over those clever cocktail glasses.
This Hawaiian-themed dinner party wowed with fresh island dishes and drinks from the team at Good Gracious! Events. Every dish popped with color and flavor and gave guests a taste of paradise.
10. Throwback-Themed Food Evokes a Decade
This “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” themed birthday party conjured the 80s with cool decade detail. Neon hues and graphic patterns were a feast for the eyes and Sensory Delights Catering made them into a literal feast for nostalgic guests.
Make sure to check out our article: Don’t Be Clueless — How to Host a 90s Theme Party
Food For Thought was the perfect creative caterer for this 80s theme birthday party that featured cheeky song/food combos and that guests enjoyed under a ceiling of slinkies and disco balls.
Make sure to check out our article: Break Out Your Neon & Spandex for these 80s Theme Party Ideas
Boards Go Handheld
Buffets and similar spreads have been slower to return to gatherings. Instead, we’re continuing to see creative solutions to handheld fare. Enter cones and cups as convenient and chic holders for crudité and charcuterie.
11. Crudité Cups
With such a floral-filled and butterfly-alighted affair, the food has to be really special and Good Gracious! Events delivered (as always) with elegant, garden-inspired fare like these crudité cups.
Vestals Catering carried this party’s vibe and hue to the fresh fare at the glamorous all-pink baby shower, with handheld crudité in pretty pink dip.
12. Charcuterie Cones
This gorgeous pale green and rose-colored Bat Mitzvah luncheon drew inspiration from its lush outdoor setting with handheld cones of fresh fruit, cheese, and flatbread from Whoa Nelly Catering.
Ever-creative Limelight Catering conjured not only delicious charcuterie cones, but also a chic hanging brass display, doing what good food should aways do: surprise and delight.
Customization & Personalization
Mary Kline of Wolfgang Puck Catering (in Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles) shared a recent catering customization from her team that perfectly captures how a talented caterer can bring additional meaning to an event: “We created custom ‘His & Hers’ drinks related to the couple’s first dance song.” In this case, the mash-up meant “Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton” paired with a “Boulevardier” drink for Him and “Sweet as Strawberry Wine” was Hers.
13. Interesting Ice
Elaborate ice sculptures at events aren’t new, but we’re enjoying this new personalized approach to ice from OKAMOTO STUDIO Custom Ice. In this case, the initials in the rocks keeping cocktails cold reminds guests that they are there to celebrate a corporate anniversary for an event visionary.
Cocktails That Keep Guests Engaged
Everyone always gathers at the bar, so it only makes sense to have the making of cocktails serve as entertainment as well as service for a tasty bite. We’re seeing lots of memorable bar performance moments with interactive elements (think: aromatic bubbles that the guest gets to pop) and garnishes that are actually appetizers.
14. Cocktail Toppers Fill Two Needs at Once
Paramount Events tells us that they’re creating more “cocktail toppers” — bites that marry the flavors of the cocktails they sit atop perfectly with the sip. The team also sent over a photo of an apple cider slushie with a cider donut topper that has us dreaming of fall.
15. Scents Play with Senses
Euphoria Bar Services conjures cocktails that appeal to multiple senses at once, like this custom recipe the call “Dumb Luck.” Guests get to open the cocktail’s glass case to release aromatic smoke that starts creating a flavor profile before they even take a first sip.
16. Evolving Cocktails Change Over Time
This Seven Deadly Sins-themed dinner was the perfect place for Cocktail + Creative to show off an evolving cocktail — one that steeps like tea in a mix of herbs, fruit, etc., changing flavor as it goes. We predict that we will see more of these, as each sip is slightly different than the last, giving guests a unique experience.
17. Old Standbys with New In-Demand Ingredients
Lauren Eck with renowned Wolfgang Puck Catering in Houston and Dallas, tells us, “For beverage, a current trend that we’re seeing is associated with the surge in interest for Topo Chico and the shortage that the country is experiencing. In the Texas market, ‘Ranch Water’ was a popular cocktail in 2021 and I anticipate the trend will continue into 2022. We have worked to do a seasonal play on the cocktail using seasonal fruit or take a classic drink like a Moscow Mule that is not a current trend and use those flavors to create a ‘Ranch Mule’ using ginger syrup, tequila and lime Topo Chico.” The Mezcal Rancholoma at left is another creative creation from the team.
Champagne Still Means Celebration
Bubbly has never gone out of style when it comes to celebrating — but the way we serve Champagne has changed over time. Over the past few years, entire greenery walls filled with glasses of the gold stuff were popular (sometimes even with hands holding the stems of the glasses). But now we’re seeing a recalling of the classic Champagne tower as well as new versions of the Champagne wall. The important thing is, we’re still toasting to our good times together.
18. Champagne Towers are Chic (Again)
The talented team at Marcia Selden Catering & Events shared this trend with Robin Selden commenting, “We are also seeing over-the-top jaw-dropping, surprise and delight moments that are exciting and evoke a lot of happiness (in addition to a LOT of Instagram stories)! Here is one of our faves that we’ve been doing a lot: The Champagne Tower.”
19. 3-D Champagne Display Offers Service From All Sides
Liz Shockley from the always-creative team at Sage Catering says of this room-centering display, “We’ve seen Champagne walls in different shapes and sizes, and they are all beautiful. This is one of the more interesting ways that we have seen the display.”
Interactive Stations & Displays
Knight’s Catering & Events shares that “interactive stations” are on-trend for 2022. At PartySlate, we’re also seeing more creative displays and service.
20. Vertical Displays Make Clever Use of Space
The team at Knight’s Catering & Events is getting creative with their displays of tasty bites, making use of vertical space in a chic way.
21. Catering Displays That Fit in On the Dance Floor
A catering display doesn’t get more interactive than this tiered long tray-turned-limbo stick. We love the tray’s stacked vibe as well as the vibrant uniformity of the bites. This stunning corporate anniversary exhibited trends galore from multiple catering teams, including Pinch Food Design for the design pictured.
And the most important trend of all…
Kabrel Geller of the charcuterie magic-makers at This Messy Table LA, reminds us, “Once people are in the door, life is back to normal! Yes, events are smaller for now but guests lists are more curated and the celebration more intimate. The biggest trend I see for 2022 is gratitude for being together again.”
Don’t forget, PartySlate is your one-stop-shop for finding your venue, event planner or agency, design team, photographer, entertainment, and oh so much more. In addition to our listings, you’ll also find lots of inspiration for your lifetime of memorable events.