Vegetarian Catering

Vegetarian Catering by Gourmet Foods

Explore the immersive range of meat-free cuisine with Gourmet Foods’ extraordinary vegetarian catering services. We take great satisfaction in creating exquisite tasting, nourishing food that caters to multiple dietary preferences, offering a mouth-watering experience for everyone, regardless of their dietary lifestyle.

Vegetarian food

The modern approach to vegetarian catering employs creativity, sustainability, and culinary brilliance within dairy and vegetable-based food. While meat is excluded, the use of other animal products such as eggs, milk, and cheese helps provide a strong foundation from which to establish a variety of master-crafted dishes. Combining these food groups with a mixture of modern cooking techniques, we aim to raise the standards to create unforgettable, signature recipes. Gourmet Foods is dedicated to delivering flavours that leave a lasting impression and menus that ignite the palate. Our vegetarian recipes are carefully curated to be full of life in colour, flavour, and presentation, offering a distinctive dining experience for every guest.

As with any menu that has a restricted ingredient base, the main challenge is to be able to offer customisation within the menu for when further dietary requirements are presented. The wealth of knowledge and experience within the team allows us to navigate such challenges in a way that represents the same passion for food for every person involved, irrespective of dietary differences.

Vegetarian menu options at Gourmet Foods

We offer a varying collection of menu options. Below are just a few examples of what we can offer. (gf) marks options that are gluten-free.

Vegetarian starters

• Ale, Mustard and Leek Rarebit Served on Toasted Sourdough with Watercress and Cayenne
• Balsamic and Garlic Mushrooms with Toasted Ciabatta and Herb Oil
• Smoked Butternut Squash and Chilli Soup with Artisan Baked Breads

Vegetarian mains

• Ravioli of Wild Mushroom with Cream Sauce and Rocket and Parmesan Salad
• Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Pie with Creamy Spinach and Feta Sauce
• Miso Caramelised Squash Tarte Tatin with Crushed Herb Potatoes and Creamed Leeks

Vegetarian desserts

• Salted Caramel Brownie with a Macadamia Nut Brittle and a White Chocolate Sauce
• Sticky Toffee Pudding with Orange and Pistachio, Honeycomb and Toffee Sauce
• Mini Tiramisu, Mini Raspberry Pavlova and Mini Chocolate Brownie

Vegetarian canapés

• Mini Stilton and Spiced Pear Tarts
• Goats Cheese, Grape and Beetroot Baskets
• Mini Cones with Beetroot, Cream Cheese and Chive

Vegetarian sandwich selection

• Hummus and Mediterranean Vegetables
• Cheese and Celery
• Falafel, Chutney and Spinach

How we manage multiple dietary requirements at large-scale events

The initial step to properly managing dietary requirements at any event is to collect all dietary information from every guest attending. We request the event organiser gathers details about allergies, intolerances, and dietary preferences for each person. After this essential step, we implement the following strategies.

Clear labelling for dietary transparency

• All food is clearly labelled throughout the process, from preparation to presentation, ensuring that vegetarian food is easily identifiable.
• Ensuring traceability provides complete clarity about every ingredient in the food. This is made possible by having suppliers, chefs, and service staff dedicated to a particular dietary role.

Designated preparation and service areas

• Food for a specific dietary requirement is prepared by a designated chef in a specific area of the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination.
• At the event, food for a specific dietary need is presented separately from other food groups. For instance, the vegetarian catering will have its own section.

Ensuring safety for guests with allergies and food sensitivities

• Staff training is integral to our work culture. Every team member is well-trained in food allergies, cross-contamination prevention, and the importance of following strict preparation and service procedures both on the cook line and at the event.
• For sit-down meals, designated staff will prepare and serve food for specific dietary requirements. For example, a dairy-free dish will be prepared in a dairy-free area by a chef who is handling only dairy-free ingredients at the event. These dishes are commonly prepared first, ensuring no possible trace of cross-contaminants and allowing the chef to move on to non-restrictive food groups afterwards. The dish will then be served by a dedicated team member following the same principles. They will handle only dairy-free dishes until all dairy-free dishes have been delivered to the guest. This process ensures there is no possible chance of a mix-up at any stage.

A staff briefing will take place just before an event begins, before any preparation or service has gone ahead. The purpose of this briefing is to highlight every person’s role for the day, designating dietary requirements to the team members and making sure they receive the details of names and preferences for the guests they are responsible for. Should there be any need for further information on the day regarding allergens, ingredients, or preparation methods used in the making of the food, a member of our team will be available at any point to answer such queries.

Vegetarian products and ingredients

When selecting vegetarian products and ingredients, we exclusively collaborate with trusted suppliers. They generally provide superior quality items that are fresh and free from contaminants or additives. Our suppliers prioritise ethical practices, sustainability, and fair-trade principles, providing free-range non-meat animal products such as eggs and milk, aligning with the vegetarian ethos of compassion for animals, people, and the environment.

Cheese is a wonderful ingredient to use. It not only opens endless possibilities for dish ideas but cheese itself has such a vast range of flavours, types, textures, and smells to explore. It is for this reason we use our own specialist cheese suppliers who create unique and wonderful versions of the traditional wheels and blocks we love, along with new cheeses altogether, adding another memorable layer to the vegetarian culinary experience.

Whichever of our trusted suppliers we use, we can be certain they follow rigorous food safety standards and regulations, ensuring their products are properly handled and stored. Coupled with their dedication to providing genuinely fresh ingredients, this helps to maintain the consistent quality and taste of our dishes, meeting the same standards and specifications every time.

Is there a difference between home-made vegetarian food and vegetarian food from a caterer?

We take pride in our expertise in catering. With extensive culinary training and different generations of experience in crafting diverse dishes from various cuisines, we channel our passion, knowledge, and determination to elevate home-cooked food to the next level.

While home-cooked vegetarian meals often emphasise taste and comfort, they can sometimes overlook presentation. We are thrilled to bring these elements together, offering dishes that are not only delicious but also visually stunning by utilising our expert presentation and plating skills.

A home kitchen has its comforts, but it does come with its limitations when comparing it to a caterer’s kitchen. With the use of specialised ingredients and tools that are not often found at home, we create inspiring one-of-a-kind dishes that are sure to impress even the most capable of home cooks.

Trial and error can be costly and time-consuming. Our kitchen serves as an environment for culinary creativity and innovation, allowing us to push the boundaries. We experiment with new flavours, textures, and techniques and combine the results into fresh, new dishes as we endeavour to bring an experience that surpasses that of a homemade one.

Our mission is to enhance your dining event beyond home-cooked meals. We offer expertise, scale, presentation, variety, and the ability to customise menus to meet your guests’ needs while upholding and expanding on the principles of vegetarian cuisine.

To learn more about our vegetarian catering options and practices, or to discuss an upcoming event, please visit the link below and get in touch.