Place Cards and Special Meal Requests

Answers to an Age Old Dilemma

What to serve…this age old question has been asked for centuries.  Before you decide, it’s important when planning an event that includes a meal, to ask guests if they have any special needs.  Your menu may be influenced based on what special needs are requested, i.e. food allergies (nuts, shellfish, gluten), vegetarian, vegan, and medical dietary requirements (low sugar or carbs), etc.   This can easily be obtained from your guests on the RSVP by including a list with a place for check marks and an additional line for “Other” (in case there is something that you didn’t ask) that they can fill in.  You can then plan your menu accordingly.

If you are planning on having a buffet, be sure any restricted items are labeled as such:

Spinach Salad w/Pears and Walnuts

Paella with Shrimp and Sausage

Most people with special dietary needs know what they can and can’t have.  Problems can arise when a sauce or ingredients are added that contain restricted items that are difficult to indentify.  Be sure those items are labeled.

Trout Almandine

(contains nuts)

If you are having a set menu that is served, it’s best to have a seating chart and place cards for all of your guests.  The kitchen/Maitre’ D should have a list of those names, table numbers and the special requests.  Your servers can then identify where those people are and the special meal they are supposed to get without attracting too much attention to them.  Further, you can place a symbol, sticker, or hot glue a colored bow on the card by the guest’s name which would represent a certain request (blue means nut free, green means vegetarian, etc.).  This way the waiter knows who is getting the special meal and what that special meal is supposed to be.  When the waiter serves the special meal, they can verify it by mentioning what the meal is, discreetly to the guest (such as “Your gluten free sea bass, sir”).

The labels and place cards will look nice in holders that won’t detract from your décor.  Your guests will appreciate the extra attention and care you have shown them to make your event as enjoyable as possible for everyone!

Karen