Transcending the Limits of Traditional Catering Through Vegan Catering in Salt Lake City
As a caterer, we’re always pushing the limits. This constant push to transcend the traditional menus we’ve all gotten used to historically is what sets the good caterers apart from the great caterers. It’s one thing to make delicious cuisine. It’s another to design a delicious menu with elements that no one has tasted on their palate before. That’s what we try at LUX Catering & Events.
Our award-winning team doesn’t settle for mainstream catering trends. We prefer to be the trendsetters! That’s why when we were challenged with doing a 650-person dinner for high-profile guest list at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, we didn’t shy away. Today, we’re going to show you the behind the scenes of this epic event featuring vegan catering!
Why Plant-Based? The Reasoning Behind Embracing Vegan Catering in Salt Lake City
Now, when taking a look at the guest list for the Sundance Film Festival dinner, we noticed that many individuals had dietary restrictions. So rather than coming up with substitutions that would make service nearly impossible for a group this size, we got creative. We considered our desire to be sustainable and eco-conscious while reducing our carbon footprint and paired that with the many dietary restrictions to get our answer. An entirely vegan meal seemed to be the ideal solution.
We chose to raise awareness on food consumption and its eco footprint and felt like this audience would be one to greatly appreciate that approach. In fact, shortly after this event, it was announced that large award shows like the Golden Globes would also be going vegan too. It felt incredible to be ahead of the trend on this menu!
Meshing Client Goals with Creative Catering Solutions to Delight Guests’ Tastebuds
Once we had the basic foundation of our plan—all vegan cuisine—it was time to get to work.
The client hired us for a dinner that was giving voices to new artists entering the film scene with their cutting-edge creativity. As such, we wanted to embrace the same cutting-edge creativity with an artful meal and presentation!
One challenge with a vegan meal is pleasing the avid meat eaters in the crowd. How do we satisfy those who prefer meat with an all vegan three-course meal? The key is in offering a hearty selection that will sustain just as a meat dish would. Then, pair that with a little creative presentation that provides the essence of eating meat, when in reality it’s all plant-based.
With these factors in mind, our team brainstormed and came up with the following menu:
Starter:
Winter Heirloom Salad
Featuring poached pears, heirloom tomatoes, vegan burrata, beets, carrots and white balsamic vinegar.
Entrée:
Vegan Eggplant and Zucchini Moussaka
Served over curried couscous, with roasted butternut squash, trumpet mushroom “scallops,” glazed Thumbelina carrots and truffled English pea puree. Garnished with pea tendrils.
Dessert:
Caramel Budino
With vegan chocolate, caramel and puff pastry.
Creating substitutes in the product, like our mushroom “scallops” featured in the entrée, helped with the perception of a heartier protein with the meal, even though the entrée itself was already hearty in ingredients. All guests were completely in love with the meal, and we earned rave reviews from the client. Mission accomplished!
Trust Our Award-Winning Team with the Culinary Vision for Your Next Event
We understand that any event you’re investing in, whether a corporate product launch, a festival or your own wedding day, should be impressive. You crave that wow factor that makes an event memorable. It all starts with the design and culinary options you feature! That’s where LUX comes in. Our awards speak for themselves: Best Caterer, Best Florist, Best Event/Party Planner, Best Company to Work For—the list goes on. You can trust us to design, plan and execute an event and menu that transcends the limits and helps you become a trendsetter. Ready to start planning? Contact us today!