Imagine people speaking behind your back saying… “you aren’t big enough, I can never find you, you are too small, I can’t share you…” . This is the story of the misunderstood canapé.

Canapés, hors d'oeuvres, finger food, platters, say what you like, this food concept is often associated with; small, snack, starter and unsubstantial. Some people read the invitation and already anticipate what takeaway outlet they will drop in to on the way home, however this doesn’t have to be the case.

Move aside mini quiches and vol-au-vents, you have given canapés a bad rap. Food is one of the most important aspects of any event, and has the ability to ‘make it or break it’.

Cocktail style events often provide more room for creativity in food choices rather than the usual ‘chicken or beef’ set menu options. The key is variety. What’s better than one delicious item? Many delicious items! Canapés scream variety. Cater for everyone with a range of different flavours and ingredients; vegetarian, seafood, chicken, gluten free... everyone can try as many or few as they wish.

“Mini-me’s” are a crowd pleaser at the moment – from mini beef wellingtons, pasta dishes, and The Guildford Hotel very own mini GH cheeseburgers (with THAT burger sauce). As the name would suggest, they are mini versions of a main course. Eating “clean” is also fast becoming a priority for many people, therefore be sure to select a few healthier options where possible.

Looking for something a little different to what’s on offer? Event organisers should never feel afraid to request canapés which are on trend, suit their particular event theme, or guest dietary requirements. At The Publican Group we have hosted a range of events across our portfolio where canapés were tailored to suit the clients needs, including a vegan wedding, South American corporate fiesta, and a ‘raw table’ full of green smoothies & healthy snacks for a leading health institution. Our venues are not restricted by culture or cuisine, and we love a challenge - let your event imagination run wild, and put our chefs to the test, as we would be more than willing to accommodate requests and tailor packages and menus for clients.

Now quantity… this comes down to simple maths. When eating a normal meal, how many bite size morsels would that be? 15? 20? With this in mind, that’s how many bites your food should cover during your cocktail style function. A canapé is about 1-2 bites and a substantial canape is 3-4 bites… before you know it, your guests stomachs are full and everyone is happy and content.

There are many other benefits to opting for this style of event. Canapés can serve as an ice breaker, encouraging mingling between guests – perfect for networking events. There are fewer tables for guest seating which allows for a higher capacity, and no stressful seating plans to arrange which eliminates risk of seating someone at the “wrong” table.

Why not treat your guests to an interactive experience. Trained to serve, but also educate & excite, staff can really bring canapés to life with an element of fun. Hidden tastes which are designed to get your guests thinking, or simply take them back to a different time in their life. A perfect example is The Guildford Hotel cheeseburger spring rolls – they look like normal spring rolls, but when biting into them guests eyes light up once they realise the distinctly different but familiar flavour – such a great talking point amongst guests and staff as they try to work out the flavours in their mouth. DIY dessert stations with popping candy - now we are talking childhood memories, and textures to excite!

The Guildford Hotel takes pride in creating a unique and seamless event experience, and our cocktail menu “Eat with One Hand” is perfect for any stand up soiree, whether it be a networking event, birthday party or wedding. You will notice that this approach is applied across all of The Publican Group venues, with our sister properties located in both Perth and Melbourne.

We can now breathe a sigh of relief with Christmas done and dusted for another year, but soon there will be talk of end of financial year parties and December will be here again before we know it! Now is the perfect time to start thinking about these occasions and getting in touch with venues to secure your preferred date.

Our sales & events team are trained professionals who love everything events. Be sure to get in touch and ask us all your questions – and let us surprise you with our response.

Contact The Publican Group via