As we look forward to the halfway mark in 2025 (where has the time gone?), event planners are seeking to refresh their options while holding on to proven winners. Combining new with tried and true only makes sense, and this winning strategy is not lost on you as a seasoned event planner.
What do your guests really want in 2025?
Not surprisingly, food trends in 2025 focus on sustainability, interactive experiences, and global flavors. You've been here before - thinking of ways in which to make the trifecta of sustainable, interactive, and global work for you - and this year is no exception.
You are ready to up the ante for better engagement and better ways to show off your creative gifts and unique brand.
There's plenty of room to do all of this well in 2025.
Guests will appreciate your personalized menus, zero-waste practices, and innovative plant-based options. Anticipate a rise in grazing tables, food stations, and late-night snacks, and don't allow yourself to be left behind.
Sustainability Takes Center Stage
This year’s events increasingly prioritize eco-friendly practices, including locally sourced ingredients, minimal packaging, and zero-waste initiatives; all of these are quickly becoming the norm and what guests expect to find on arrival. You’ll wow your guests by elevating the menu here. In addition to offering plant-based alternatives to cheese and dairy, consider rockstar whole grains such as buckwheat, a nutritious, planet-friendly grain that is gaining in popularity.
Increase Engagement With Personalized And Customizable Menus
Guests this year will fully expect catering that makes it easy for them to meet their dietary preferences and enjoy cultural influences. Interactive menus and personalized cocktail pairings are nothing new, but going high-tech may be. Be the first to incorporate digital elements into your event. QR codes allow guests to access your event menu on their phones, offering high-quality visuals, nutritional information, and allergy filters.
Interactive And Immersive Dining Experiences Leave Lasting Impressions
In addition to the high-tech option of interactive menus, today's event guests really enjoy food stations, live cooking demonstrations, and build-your-own dessert bars. These proven winners await your personal touch in order to create the most engaging and social atmosphere possible. For a quick primer on the plusses of enjoying and even hosting a get-together, consider what Psychology Today has to say.
Go With A Theme
To sweeten the deal, consider a simple theme for a dessert bar. A "summer" sundae bar might feature tropical fruit, coconut flakes, and mango salsa. Hosting guests in the morning hours? Cozy up to guests with breakfast-in-bed-inspired treats such as scones with a choice of toppings like fresh fruit and whipped cream.
Global Fusion And Authentic Regional Cuisine Will Be Winners Again This Year
Expect a rise in global flavor fusion, combining tastes from different cultures, and an emphasis on authentic regional cuisine. Fusion cuisine continues to evolve, blending international flavors with a focus on local ingredients and regional authenticity. Chefs are reimagining traditional dishes, creating unique experiences that connect diners with both global and local culinary traditions.
Wellness-Focused And Functional Foods Combine Health With Impact
Health-conscious diners will appreciate menus incorporating superfoods, immune-boosting ingredients, and gut-friendly dishes. Simple, functional foods for entertaining include spices such as turmeric that pair health benefits with good taste. High-protein foods or foods with antioxidant qualities, such as berries, also make the cut. Functional foods can really be this simple. A greater investment in functional foods may represent going with a fermented fair or a starter of bone broth.
Grazing Tables And Family-Style Dinners Are Bound To Please
Casual and social dining options, like grazing tables and family-style setups, will replace formal, plated dinners. Examples of grazing tables include charcuterie boards, fruit crudite platters, and carefully styled veggie trays. Modern family dining favors cleaner eating and inclusive ingredients in a casual atmosphere. Think global flavor in a bowl.
Elevated Late-Night Snacks Are All The Rage
The afterparty will feature more than just typical fast food; expect gourmet popcorn, loaded fry bars, and build-your-own ramen bars. None of the above are going to be ordinary. Think truffle fries, sweet, savory, and spicy popcorn, and next-level ramen. For a healthy touch, offer fruit, cheese, and vegetable platters or caprese-styled skewers.
The Return Of Classic Cocktails Gets A New Twist
While elevated mocktails will also be popular, classic cocktails are making a comeback. Vintage cocktails are here to stay and even making a comeback this year. You may see these classics upcycled with a modern twist. Grasshoppers, Harvey Wallbangers, and Tequila Sunrises abound but arrive on the scene reimagined with premium ingredients. Here's one modern Take: A Harvey Wallbanger made with fresh-squeezed orange juice and craft Galliano.
Zero-Waste Practices Are Fast Becoming The Norm
Remember to impress your guests by embedding zero-waste practices into your event. Reusable containers and compostable utensils make that easy to do; you won't regret the choice for its lasting impact. These items are a must-have in 2025.
Meet Top Catering Pros and Elevate Your Event Menus at The Expo
Guests in 2025 will engage well with your personalized menus, zero-waste practices, and innovative plant-based options. The thought you put into grazing tables, food stations, and late-night snacks will leave guests with a lasting impression.
Discover all the latest event menu and catering ideas at this year’s Event Planner Expo! Reserve your exhibitor booth (while space is still available) on the trade show floor and find new strategic catering partners to help elevate all your events.
