Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is a foodie these days, and that’s okay. We all love food, after all.
The NYC foodie is just a bit extra about it – rapturously discussing curated cocktails from underground speakeasies, taking pictures of their deconstructed meatloaf, and dropping words like omakase into casual conversation, hoping you will ask the question, What is omakase? But really, who are we to judge?
As an undisputedly charming and knowledgeable NYC event planner, you are either a foodie yourself, or you know how to tap into the mind of the foodie. You, therefore, know that fresh, seasonal, local food is the best. And fresh, seasonal, local food from the food capital of NYC is even better.
Your guests know this as well, and they will arrive at your event with high expectations for the cuisine. Let’s look at five ways to incorporate local cuisine into the food and beverage at your next event.
1. It’s About Local Ingredients (and Where to Find Them)
Want to have a fun experience that will help you become an even more spectacular event planner than you are right now? Two words: field trip. That’s right. Take an urban farm tour or sign up for a botanical tasting tour. You can field trip yourself to rooftop gardens, neighborhood breweries, farmers’ markets, artisan craft fairs, and food trucks. And if it seems to others that you’re having too much fun, you can call it research.
In NYC, you don’t have to look too hard for really, really good local foods. Take the time to find out where these places are because the more extensive your knowledge base, the easier it becomes to actively source ingredients so fresh and sublime that your guests will be raving about the delish food at your event weeks later.
2. It’s About the Drinks
Serving a signature cocktail? Be sure to use local fresh fruits or herbs (or those botanicals you learned about on your field trip.) Also, think about local craft distilleries, because why wouldn’t you use local spirits in the signature cocktail your client has been dreaming about for months?
Local craft brews are another option. Perhaps you found some down-the-way beer garden with a local hefeweizen that tastes like Bavaria. Serving a regional wine – such as a Riesling from the Finger Lakes or a Malbec from the Hamptons – is yet another way to go. Whatever you choose, don’t pass on the opportunity to perfectly pair the food and beverage at your event by making sure both are local.
3. It’s About the Season We Are In
If the cuisine at your event features fresh produce, make sure it’s the right season. Remember, NYC has some of the best restaurants in the world, so your guests will be expecting the best. Using ingredients at the peak of freshness ensures you are treating your guests to the truest flavors of a dish.
There’s an added bonus here as well – sustainability. Your client might appreciate the smaller carbon footprint, or even celebrate it.
4. It’s About Local Vendors
NYC is always bustling with exquisite tastes and fare. There are skilled artisans, and caterers and on every city block. Be sure to build these relationships. If your client is serving vegan cuisine, you’ll be in luck because you know where to find the best vegan caterers in NYC.
Visit restaurants that are known for using fresh local ingredients and ask what vendors they recommend. (Just remember to tip your server.) Amazing local vendors can also be found at farmers’ markets, craft fairs, neighborhood coops, and, of course, industry events.
5. It’s About the Presentation
Food tells a story, and you’ll want to tell that story to your event guests. Thoughtful menu design, a signature dish or a tasting menu, signage, and plating all matter – and knowledgeable servers are essential. For example, a lovely little coupe makes a perfect showcase for a cocktail shrub with local vinegar, but you’ll also want servers who can explain that, yes, it’s supposed to taste like that.
To sum up, using local and seasonal ingredients helps you accomplish a thousand good things. A sublime bite. A dreamy cocktail. A sustainable carbon footprint. An authentic NYC vibe and an entire, unforgettable experience. So, the next chance you get, celebrate NYC with the best that the city has to offer.
And because you’re a go-getter, go get your tickets for the 2025 Event Planner Expo NOW to connect with top caterers and vendors. This premier NYC conference for the events and hospitality industries attracts the best of the best in the business, so it’s right where you belong.
