Thinking about hosting your company event on a yacht?
Anita Dee Yacht Charters‘s yachts are versatile enough to comfortably host a range of guests, from about 50 to up to 400 people. From a product launch to an employee or client appreciation luncheon, a yacht is an ideal venue for your next corporate party or event. Plus, the yacht charter service will provide you with a team of hospitality specialists who have years of experience providing their guests with top-notch attention to detail.
One of the most, if not the most, important aspects of a corporate event is the food you’ll be serving your employees, clients, or guests. An event cannot be successful if the food isn’t up to par. Many yacht charters have hand-selected catering companies that they use for each event. These catering companies are chosen for their customer service, presentation, efficiency, variety, and quality of food, so any charter-approved catering company should be excellent. Whether you are looking to serve a grazing or stationary crowd, a catering company can create a specialty menu just for your guests.
Your Choice of Hors d’Oeuvres
A staple at any corporate event is tasty hors d’oeuvres. As with every other course of the meal, there should be enough options for the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free guests. Also, it might be difficult, but try to take a survey of your guests’ allergies and special requests.
Hors d’oeuvres can be served either hot or cold. They should be bite-sized, easy to eat, aesthetically pleasing, and above all, delicious. Caterers and yacht charters understand that at corporate events, the guests are trying to stay professional-looking and polite, so the food shouldn’t pose any threat to a white blouse or ball gown. Some of the best cold hors d’oeuvres to serve are shrimp skewers, avocado deviled eggs, cucumber summer rolls, and stuffed baby bell peppers. If you’d like to mix in a few hot options, chicken or beef skewers, tiny tinga tacos, mini meatballs, and cauliflower flatbreads are good picks.
Choosing the Main Dishes
When it comes to the main dish, there are a number of avenues you could take. It depends on the nature of your event, how formal it is, what time constrictions might exist, how many guests are present, and what time of day the event is taking place.
If you are hosting a breakfast or brunch, you would probably forgo hors d’oeuvres in favor of coffee, orange juice, and pastries as a starter while people mingle. Some caterers, such as Chicago’s Beyond Catering, offer various breakfast buffet options to fit any budget and serve any number of guests. A traditional breakfast buffet of scrambled eggs, bacon, and breakfast potatoes suits the lower end of a budget and still leaves guests full and satisfied.
If you have a bigger budget, you could spring for a French toast bar or a breakfast taco-building bar, which are a few dollars per guest more expensive. As always, be sure to have options for even the pickiest eaters. This could be an array of fresh fruits, steel-cut oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, or an assortment of fresh-baked muffins.
Dinner is a bit more complicated because there are so many options. Do you want a themed meal? A buffet? A sit-down dinner served by waiters? A set menu? Different food stations? If your event is leaning toward the formal end of the spectrum, you might want to opt for the sit-down dinner with a set menu.
But if you are hosting a friendly staff appreciation meal or team retreat, a buffet or food stations might work better because people can mingle, chat, and move around more. Chicken piccata or pecan-crusted whitefish are good options for either buffets or a sit-down dinner. Quinoa stuffed portobellos or vegetable pasta are good options for vegan and vegetarian guests. The sides can be just about anything, like roasted vegetables and rice pilaf.
A Range of Beverages
And what would a special event be without drinks? A general rule of thumb is to have a basic selection of white and red wines and beer on hand. A cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or pinot noir will likely have broad appeal to red wine drinkers, while a sauvignon blanc or chardonnay should appeal to those who prefer white wine. Beer drinkers will appreciate the choice between domestic, premium, and craft beers. Your caterer will probably let you choose one of each tier. For domestic, choose between Coors Light, Miller Light, or Bud Light. For premium, Goose Island or Stella Artois. And for craft, either Blue Moon or Lagunitas would be appropriate choices.
A formal event might call for a full bar, which would offer liquor, mixers, wine, and beer. This is a premium option because the drinks will need to be made and served by a bartender.
Don’t Forget Dessert
Last but not least, you should treat every guest to an indulgent dessert before they leave. Each catering company offers a variety of their own special treats, so be sure to take their dessert menu into consideration when choosing which company you want to hire.
Fresh-baked cookies are always a crowd-pleaser, but if you are hosting a formal event, you might want something a couple of notches better. For the classier crowd, consider banana bread tiramisu, warm mini churros, or homemade cream puffs. The cherry on top of any dessert is an espresso or hot chocolate station where guests can customize their own desserts.
Consider a Chicago Yacht Charter for Your Next Corporate Event
Let us help you plan your next big company event on a yacht in Chicago. With the help of our artisan catering companies, state-of-the-art sound system, and our team of dedicated staff members, your event will be sure to impress. Call (312) 379-3191 to start planning your next great event.