Food stations, or charcuterie bars, are gradually replacing buffets and regular food serving methods at parties and events. At most parties, a single food station provides one particular type of food. Typically, you would have more than one food station at an event so your guests can mingle and make their own selections from different menus. If you want your event to be unique, or if you have limited space and formal food serving is not an option, your best bet is to create food stations or a grazing table, like one big charcuterie board. After deciding to use a food station for your event, you might be worried about what choice of food or snacks to put on your menu; but not to worry - we have got you covered with plenty of ideas! 

Why Should You Use a Food Station?

In recent times, food stations have become a culinary trend for weddings, parties and other social events; and for a good reasons too. Food stations make it easy for people at events to mingle, have conversations and to really create a personal connection, without having to worry about which fork to use. (P.S. If you do end up having a sit-down event, we have a great how-to about more formal table settings on our blog!)

A food station is a crowd-pleaser, especially for people who are food lovers. The attractive and lavish display of all the foods at the stations create such an irresistible treat.

You should also note that you can have as much food stations as you deem fit, use these ideas as a starting point and get creative with your party menu!

Customizing the Dining Experience

People in present time love the ‘serve yourself’ idea; they enjoy this, even more, when it comes to choosing foods at an event. To make the dining event experience one your guest will remember, consider using the following items. Remember, let the food be the star of the show!

Table Decor

The style of your table decor should fit with the rest of the event. An attractive table decor spells, neatness and style. Make use of napkins, a table runner and overlay to give your table a welcoming and fancy look.

Appetizer Plates and Dessert Cups

Life has become a lot easier with the use of disposable items, from plates to cups and tableware like spoons, forks and knives. Having little plates to serve appetizers with will leave your food station looking neat. More so, guests will prefer disposable appetizer plates so they do not have to worry about returning them or keeping them intact.

Our disposable dessert cups are what you need for a complete food station. What is a meal if there is no dessert for a total balance? With the disposable dessert cups, guests can snack as they move around and make small talk without worrying about damaging the cup.

Pretzel Bar

For the savory food or snack lover, a pretzel food station is the perfect spot to get snack! To make the experience more interactive and fun for your guest, consider adding some dipping stations or providing an option for guest to customize their pretzel.

Nacho Bar

Sometimes, guests want the option of choosing between food that can both be a snack or something that can be made into something more filling. The savory guest will enjoy this food station better if there are different tortilla chips to bring in some color.

Food Art Dessert Bar

A table filled with fancy dessert is a stunning idea! In fact, you might have guests who wouldn’t want to disturb the dessert table display. Everyone loves to have dessert; an artistic lit up dessert table is going to give the attendees various choices to choose from. 

Donut Wall

A beautiful donut wall at your event is an eye-catching way to keep your guests entertained and also to create room for conversation among attendees. A donut station makes it easy for your guest to pick different flavors they would love to try out.

Pie Bar

Pie is a snack everyone would love; It’s an excellent choice to add to any food station. A pie bar gives you the option of providing different pie types for your guests. You can decide to make a regular large pie, and serve slices, or make smaller treat size mini pies. You can play with different flavors when making your pie so this option can be sweet or savory.

Kebab Spread

When it comes to using a food station, your guest will appreciate the ability to snack and move around during the event. Grilled meat, fish or vegetables on a stick is an option most guest will want to try. Don't forget to stock up on paper napkins if you go with this set up! Having a Kebab food bar is a perfect idea for any outdoor event. 

Continental Breakfast

If you're having an early morning event, going the continental way will leave your guest feeling satisfied and well cared for. Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day; you can have coffee and scones available for your guests. Seasonal fruits and mini waffles are also a big hit for this spread!

French Fry Bar

If you are thinking of having a food station that is both kid and adult-friendly, the French fry bar is a great option. It’s easy for your guest to carry smaller quantity of fries in cones. 

We hope these ideas make your next event an exciting and thrilling experience. Make sure to stock up on everything you need to make the dining experience for your guest a memorable one. We have beautiful table runners, napkins and overlays for your table décor; we also have cute appetizer plates, disposable dessert cups and tableware. Have you tried food stations at your event? Share your planning tips with us in the comments, or let us know if you have any questions!