Create An Excellent Party Experience with a Customized Makan Mate Buffet Menu

Hosting a party can be a blast, but let’s be honest – it can also be exhausting. From the guest list to the decorations to the menu, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. On the big day, there’s also the added stress of making small talk with your acquaintances, in-laws and other guests.

To help you through the process of hosting a party, this guide will cover everything from mini buffet catering, and how it can help you handle all your guests’ needs, to preparations you can make beforehand to make your party the talk of the town. We’ll introduce the benefits of mini buffet catering in Singapore so you don’t have to spend time figuring out a complicated grocery list. So grab a drink (or five), take a deep breath, and let’s dive into how to host the best party – starting with the food.

What is mini buffet catering?

Mini buffet catering is an option for meals or bite-sized dishes that can be served either as refreshments or as the main course. This type of catering is ideal for more intimate gatherings like small-scale office parties, birthday parties and family reunions with less than 20 guests. Depending on the type of mini buffet you are looking for, the menu items can range from light bites for high-tea or full 5-course meals with drinks and desserts. 

Mini Buffet Catering: Hosting Made Convenient

When you’re in a time crunch, catering food can save you hours of time. Even if a recipe only takes 45 minutes to cook, there is a list of hidden tasks that recipe blogs don’t account for. 

This is what preparing a home-cooked meal would look like. First, you consider everyone’s dietary restrictions and preferences, next decide on what to cook, and then figure out the ideal portion size so that you can fill everyone without too much leftovers. Once that is clear, you make a grocery list and find out which supermarkets you can find the ingredients at and make a trip there. Then, you prepare the ingredients and start cooking ahead of time.  Once you’ve cleaned up, you can focus on the final touches to get your party ready. When the guests arrive, it’s time to reheat the food and serve it. Fingers crossed that they enjoy the spread!

Let’s compare it to engaging mini buffet catering. You simply go to the caterer’s website, choose the menu, fill in your special requests, book a date and time and wait for the food, cutlery and disposables to arrive on the day. 

Be worry-free and leave the cooking and delivery to Makan Mate so you can save your time and energy for mingling with your guests and enjoying the festivities. 

Mini Buffet Catering: Pleasing every Palate

Bring your guests on a culinary adventure to the destination of your choice with the wide range of cuisines that mini buffet catering provides. From enjoying classic Western dishes to indulging in the bold flavours of Korean food, the spice of Indian curries, delicious Malay food and authentic Chinese food, you will be spoiled for choice.

When you pick the right caterer, you will not have to choose between getting a feast that caters to dietary restrictions and one that serves a wide range of cuisines. Cooked in a halal-certified kitchen, you can get the most out of Korean soups, salads, meats, and noodles while making sure it is completely halal and that dishes can be swapped out to provide vegan or vegetarian options at your request. At the dining table, no one’s needs should get left behind. Give your guests peace of mind knowing that they are able to enjoy the spread in front of them.

At Makan Mate, our years of catering experience have allowed us to truly understand Singaporean taste buds. That’s why we never skimp on taste even while serving food that has no MSG, less oil and salt. When choosing between our range of cuisines, it’s impossible to make the wrong choice. From our Korean menu, enjoy a well-balanced diet with beef bulgogi bibimbap served with sauteed shimeji mushrooms, seasoned spinach, soybean sprouts,  kimchi and egg. From our vegan options, enjoy golden crispy yasai gyoza, prosperous snow fungus and mushrooms on seasonal vegetables, sauteed basil beancurd and braised ee-fu noodles with golden mushrooms.

Letting your guests know what each dish contains helps them decide what to fill their plate with. You can put up labels so they know what they can eat, and what they should avoid based on their dietary requirements. It’s the little things like this that make your guests feel cared for so they can dig in without worry.

Finding the Right Mini Buffet Catering Service

Living in a food haven, there are so many catering options available so it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some tips to help you find the perfect mini buffet catering service for your event.

Consider your budget

Determine how much you can afford to spend on catering and make sure to find a caterer that fits nicely within your budget. With the right caterer, you can spend well within your means while serving your guests the best. 

Know your party

Next, think about the type of event you’re hosting. Will it be a formal or casual affair? Will there be a specific theme or cuisine that you want to serve? Make sure to choose a catering service that can accommodate what your party is about.

Get a reputable caterer

When it comes to choosing a caterer, reputation is key. Do your research and read reviews on Google and Facebook to get a sense of previous clients’ experience with the caterer. Ask your friends and family for caterers they have engaged in the past. 

Another important factor to consider is the quality of the food. Look for a caterer that uses fresh, high-quality ingredients and is flexible to accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences. 

Logistics

Don’t forget about the logistics! Make sure that the catering service can deliver to your venue at the date and time that you need. Check the terms of the delivery to see if the caterer provides disposable plates, utensils and cups so you can make the necessary arrangements. If the caterer also has a full table set-up with warmers, they may have a cut-off time when they will collect the trays back so keep that in mind when deciding when to serve the food. For mini catering services, you may not need all the fancy table set-ups since it is a small party. 

With these tips in mind, finding the right mini buffet catering service for your event should be a breeze. At Makan Mate, we are honoured to be the trusted catering partner for many corporate events, birthday parties, festive celebrations and family gatherings through the years. With a long list of menu options, you are sure to find a mini buffet catering option that sits within your budget, and suits your guests’ requirements. Our mini catering is served in aluminium trays so you don’t have to worry about a collection time to return anything. 

Now that the catering is settled, it’s time to get everything else in place for the big day.

Tips for Hosting an Intimate Gathering

Here’s a guide to all the other elements that go into planning and hosting a party so you won’t miss out on anything:

Plan ahead of time.

Don’t just wing it, plan it. Decide on the vibe you want to create and make sure you have everything you need to pull it off. Whether it’s a cozy gathering or a funky costume party, make sure you have the right decor, guest list and music to set the tone. Let your guests know ahead of time how to get to the venue and inform them of the parking options available.

Get the place ready.

Taking the time to decorate your venue helps to put you in the mood to party. There is something about getting the ladder out of the storeroom to hang up lights and streamers that signals to your mind that it is time for celebration. Getting simple decorations from Daiso or setting up a photo wall can transform your space into a party venue from the moment your guests step in. 

Choosing a Spotify playlist to play through the party does so much more than set the mood. When guests are streaming in and the party hasn’t quite started yet, it helps to fill in awkward silences – especially between guests who don’t know each other well. 

Welcome your guests.

Once the doorbell starts ringing, it’s time to swing into action. As your guests arrive, be sure to be the familiar face that greets them and shows them around the space. Along the way, make introductions if necessary so they can start mingling.

Have simple activities.

Giving your guests something to do (apart from eating and drinking) will bring life to the party – even if they do not know each other. Your guests have the chance to bond with each other as they play simple card games, board games or Nintendo Switch games that can be suitable for all ages.

If you see someone looking out of place, you can ask them to accompany you to do simple tasks like following you to buy more ice cubes for the party. Hopefully, they will feel more at ease when they are with a familiar face.

Thank your guests.

Last but not least, don’t forget to say your thanks to your guests on their way out.  Let them know that you appreciate that they have carved out time in their day to celebrate with you. Offer to give them some of the leftovers to bring to their families so they know that you thought of them. 

Pat yourself on the back.

You did it. You hosted the party that you’d been planning for months. Whether things went according to plan or not, you shared your gift of hospitality with your friends and family. It’s time to clean up and relax.

Get the party started with Makan Mate!

When it comes to hosting an event or party, there is no denying that the food can make or break the experience for your guests. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, so choosing Makan Mate as your caterer goes a long way in providing your guests with a wide variety of options that cater to different tastes and preferences.

At Makan Mate, we pride ourselves on offering personalized and outstanding cuisine to our hungry clients. Our team of experienced chefs is committed to creating dishes that are not only delicious but also visually appealing, so your guests are impressed from the first bite to the last. You can take your intimate gathering as a testing ground to see if you and your loved ones enjoy the food we serve. Once you get a taste of the goodness of our dishes, you can consider engaging us for much larger events like weddings, seminars and other major corporate events. If a buffet style is not what you are looking for, we even have bento sets available so you can customise a fuss-free option when serving a large group.

Makan Mate offers an extensive selection of dishes that range from local Singaporean favourites to international cuisine.  If you are looking for a catering service that can take your event to the next level, you have come to the right place. With our exceptional food and attentive service, you can sit back and relax, knowing that your guests are in good hands. 

It’s time to get the party started! Get your invites ready and head on over to our menus page to see what’s in store for your guests. In just 5 minutes, you can have a delectable spread of food ready to serve at your party without the need to worry about leftovers. Let us cater for your next party.