“Chicken, fish or beef?”

When is the last time you were asked this question at a wedding or catered affair? Today, events featuring strolling chef stations, main course meals made up of multiple small plates and trendy bite-size portions, and interactive food stations have become much more interesting than the traditional sit-down main course meal.

The mini-food catering trend began years ago and is still going strong according to caterers and event planners. People get more excited by the idea of offering their guests small tastings of all of their favorite foods rather than having to choose one main course. With a “main course” meal  being made up of 5 or 6 different plates, chefs today have more opportunity to create interesting and out-of-the-ordinary menus rather than focusing on making sure guests leave with a full belly.

Peter Callahan, the man credited with starting the mini-food catering craze, and also the author of Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party, explained in an interview with Four Seasons Magazine: “I do mini-foods because what people really want to eat at weddings are foods like cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, apple crumb pies and sugar doughnuts. But in order to be served at the fanciest party, these need to be shrunk down to bite-size. They look just as stylish as the most au courant tuna canapé, are unexpected, and please foodies as well as less adventurous palates.”

As more and more people consider themselves to be “foodies,” mediocre menus are no longer acceptable. The bar has been raised for chefs and caterers as people demand menus that will show off their prowess for food.  How foods are displayed and served also continues to get more inventive, especially important when serving bite-sized portions.

After choosing the menu and moving on to the presentation of the food, a good place to start is with Packnwood’s new Mini Porcelain Tableware, Mini Doublewall Glass collection, All Black Collection and Stylish Bamboo Skewers. These collections all offer new options for elegant and creative serving of mini portions that are suitable for both upscale affairs as well as more casual events.

The small-bite food possibilities are as limitless as a chef’s imagination. And with Packnwood’s wide collection of stylish tableware, so are the inventive ways to serve.