Whether you run a small catering company or manage multiple operations, you’re always on the lookout for new strategies.
From creative new recipes to unique presentation schemes, we're always impressed by the range of inventive catering ideas that come from every corner of the foodservice industry.
In this blog, we're sharing the latest creative catering tips that will help your business thrive in 2025.
What's New in the Catering World? 2025's Biggest Trends
Food trends change all the time, and staying up-to-date on the latest consumer favorites will help you keep your menu fresh and exciting.
Here are some of the biggest commercial dining trends of the year:
Emphasis on Sustainability
According to the National Restaurant Association, sustainability tops the list of the biggest commercial food trends in 2025.
Diners value local and sustainably sourced ingredients and low-waste cooking practices.
Asian Cuisine
The National Restaurant Association also reports that Asian cuisine is booming this year.
Korean, Vietnamese, and Filipino dishes are especially popular.
Consumers are developing a palate for both spice and fermentation, which can be found in a wide variety of Asian foods.
Wellness Beverages
Hydration is important to consumers, and in 2025, there are practically endless options for healthy beverages.
Whole Foods reports a growing interest in drinks with electrolytes, chlorophyll, and protein.
Food as an Experience
In EHL's insights for hospitality in 2025, experts highlight the concept of dining as an experience.
Diners enjoy watching and conversing with chefs as they prepare the meal. Many consumers even like to be a part of the preparation themselves.
Classic Dessert Ingredients
Fun and unique desserts have been on the menu for a while.
Technomic reports that in 2025, many commercial kitchens are focusing on incorporating classic ingredients into creative desserts.
For instance, French fries topped with ice cream offer a highly desired blend of sweet, savory, and nostalgic flavors.
Creative Catering Ideas for 2025
1. Re-Imagine Traditional Dishes
Putting a few simple spins on traditional dishes will turn out memorable catering entrees.
With the rise in popularity of international foods, fusions of classic global dishes can be a crowd-pleaser.
Recipe Ideas:
Elevate a baked chicken dish with a jelly glaze, orange sauce, or coconut curry.
Pan-sear salmon with creamy pasta sauce.
Add a zesty kick to quesadillas by including cooked kimchi.
2. Get Creative With Dietary Requests
When a client asks how you plan on accommodating special dietary requests at a catering event, be prepared with creative responses.
Plan on serving at least one option for your plant-based, gluten-free, and nut-free diners.
Recipe Ideas:
Offer Brussels sprout tacos in corn tortillas or baby iceberg shells as an alternative for keto or gluten-free guests.
Prepare dairy-free Mediterranean falafel for a healthy, globally inspired dish.
Serve up this tzatziki dip with sliced bell peppers and carrots for a low-FODMAP appetizer.
3. Incorporate Live & Interactive Food Stations
Consumers are looking for a memorable dining experience.
Think beyond the food itself and consider how you can deliver an exciting, unique, and interactive meal.
Menu Ideas:
Set up a "mocktail chemistry lab" where diners can experiment with color-changing drinks, dry ice mist, and custom garnishes.
Offer a DIY stir fry bar for guests to create a customized dish, choosing a base of rice or noodles and adding their proteins and veggies of choice.
Host a sushi rolling demonstration so diners learn to assemble their perfect sushi.
4. Cater to Young Guests
If the event you're catering involves families with children, don't leave the kids out.
Parents will be thrilled to see a kids' station with simple favorites.
Menu Ideas:
Serve sliders for a delicious, low-mess, and kid-sized main dish or appetizer.
Let kids join in on the interactive fun by offering a make-your-own-pizza bar with classic toppings like pepperoni, peppers, and bacon.
Top off the main course with an ice cream sundae bar that will appeal to kids and adults alike.
5. Master Table Signage
Smart table signage dresses up your presentations and provides valuable information.
Imaginative signage and clever item descriptions also add splashes of color and interactive fun to buffet tables.
Presentation Ideas:
Use small chalkboards for a rustic yet functional and sustainable setup.
Invest in unique mini frames from thrift stores or craft stores to serve as labels.
Always label menu items that fulfill specific dietary needs, like plant-based or gluten-free.
6. Embrace Visual & Instagram-Worthy Items
Diners love creative food presentations.
If you plate your dishes with an Instagrammable aesthetic, you may even get some free advertising from the number of guests snapping photos.
Presentation Ideas:
Serve a themed charcuterie board or butter board with meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, jams, and bread.
Prepare a colorful and artistic crudites platter by arranging your cut veggies into flowers, animals, landscapes, or other images.
Strategically place mirrors and lighting sources around your tables so the dishes photograph well.
7. Partner With Local Produce Growers
Fresh fruits and vegetables are important ingredients in many catering recipes, and diners value local and sustainably sourced foods.
Partner with growers and suppliers such as Hitchcock Farms, who consistently deliver field-fresh products.
Recipe Ideas:
Swap out the vegetables in your salads or pasta dishes with the changing of the seasons, so you can always source fresh and local produce.
Work with a local butcher or fishmonger to source the highest quality proteins.
8. Spotlight Local Chefs
This is another working partnership that works for everyone involved.
The presence of a local chef adds another layer of professionalism to your catering business, and it extends your outreach marketing.
Menu Ideas:
Invite a guest chef to partner with you during a catering event, and make sure to give them plenty of kudos.
Work with a local chef to develop new menu items, especially items within their specialty.
Partner With Hitchcock Farms for Fresh Catering Innovation
At Hitchcock Farms, we don’t just grow premium produce - we help caterers, chefs, and event planners turn fresh ingredients into unforgettable culinary experiences.
Whether you're planning a wellness retreat, corporate activation, or high-end celebration, our team is here to inspire with seasonal, sustainable, and crowd-pleasing menu ideas.
Let’s collaborate to bring your next event to life with innovative catering concepts sourced straight from the farm.
FAQ
What type of catering is most profitable?
All types of catering have the potential to make great profits.
Event caterers who serve weddings, receptions, and other functions often charge higher premiums than other types of caterers.
However, caterers that serve on-site at organizations like hospitals or universities have longer contracts and more consistent work.
Catering corporate events can be very lucrative, too, and can be a good source of recurring work.
What are the most popular catering foods?
Handheld foods like sandwiches, pizza, and burritos are popular catering options because they're easy to serve and eat at events.
Mexican and Mediterranean dishes are also very popular on catering menus.
What is the cheapest food to cater?
Some of the most profitable catering foods include miniature desserts, seafood platters, salad stations, pasta, and finger foods.
