If you're planning any type of special event and are trying to decide on one type of food that will appeal to all guests, look no further than pizza. Please the crowd even more by serving customized pies topped with everything from basic to gourmet ingredients.
Pizza isn't just for kids' parties—adults love it too, especially when it's enhanced with grown-up toppings and farm-fresh ingredients. You can serve pizza at a variety of special events and occasions, including children's and adults' birthday celebrations, family and corporate holiday parties, anniversary and graduation soirees, housewarmings, bridal and baby showers, and wedding receptions.
You can serve pizza at both indoor and outdoor parties, utilizing whatever cooking elements that are onsite at the venue, such as wood-fired grills. Be sure to take any food allergies, preferences, and dietary restrictions that guests may have when planning the pizza menu. Provide gluten-, meat- and dairy-free options as needed.
Depending on how large your guest list is and the size of your party-planning budget, you can either prepare the pizza yourself or hire a catering company to do it for you. If you make the pies yourself, use your favorite pizzeria as inspiration.
Here are some additional tips for serving customized pizza at a special event.
1. Pizza Buffet
Serve the pizza buffet-style, to allow guests to completely customize their own lunch or dinners. Provide individual crusts at the start of the line, and then line up serving trays or bowls filled with a variety of toppings, including shredded cheese and tomato sauce.
Other topping ingredient ideas include traditional pepperoni and sausage, diced tomatoes and green peppers, onions, black and green olives, and sauteed mushrooms. Provide dairy-free cheese and soy meat alternatives for the vegans and vegetarians at the event.
If you're hosting a fancy soiree, include a few creative and gourmet toppings as well, such as prosciutto, grilled portobello mushrooms, eggplant, pineapple, peaches, sundried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. You can also provide all of the ingredients for themed pizzas, such as grilled chicken, barbecue sauce, cilantro, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, and taco sauce.
2. Kid-Friendly Pies
For kids' birthday parties or other types of events that feature a lot of young guests, provide fun crust ideas such as halved English muffins or pita bread. Kids will have fun spreading their own sauce on the creative crusts, and then topping them with their favorite ingredients.
As a fun touch, send the guest home with leftovers in personalized boxes featuring the date, occasion, and celebrant's name.
Reach out to a company like Scittino's Italian Market Place to learn more.