A couple months ago, we spotlighted our VIP Event and Venue Showcase at the famed Artis—Naples. It was a chance for local event planners and vendors to mix and mingle while discussing some of the top trends in catering and event planning in Southwest Florida. In this blog, we want to go into deeper detail on some of the innovative food stations that captured our guests’ imaginations at the event.

These five food stations show the boundless creativity of our chefs. They combine some unique ingredients with thoughtful displays to make your event menu more enticing for your guests. So without further ado, here are those five food stations in greater detail—all sure to give your wedding, corporate or social event a real boost!

The Flying Pig Station. This innovative station was inspired by our visit to Cochon in New Orleans, LA. We put our spin on a classic butchery station by literally elevating the experience. This unique artisan butcher station features:

• House-cured and smoked “flying” bacon
• House-made country paté
• Prosciutto di parma
• Pork chicharrón
• Soppressata and house-made accoutrements like pickles, jams and crackers.

The industrial feel means that it can pair well with several interesting décor schemes like rustic, art deco or the increasingly popular “steampunk” look!

The “Make Your Own” Buddha Bowl Station. Our Event Specialist Susie was inspired to create this station after a visit to a restaurant that included a “Buddha Bowl” dish on the menu. We thought it would be amazing to create a “make your own” station around the dish and give it a health-forward approach in it’s ingredients. This delicious station features:

• Grilled shrimp
• Chicken
• Tofu
• Black/brown rice
• Red quinoa
• Seasonal raw and roasted vegetables
• Hummus
• Cheeses
• Toasted nuts
• Curated spice blends and house-made dressings

We pair it with “Chakra shots” to create a “yogi-centric” theme that’ll bring your event a whole new energy. The station is very versatile and makes a great fit for all types of events from a rustic wedding to an outdoor birthday or anniversary party.

The Pop & Shuck Cart Station. Looking for a way to give your event an extra sense of sophistication? This mobile oyster and champagne station is sure to give your guests the feeling of receiving that VIP treatment! Dressed in fine garb with a bowtie, our oyster aficionado rolls through your venue while bringing your guests fresh, salty sweet raw oysters along with all the accoutrements and a glass of chilled champagne.

It’s an upscale indulgence that would be ideal for a wedding, social soiree, corporate gala or even fundraiser.

The Carnival Station. This station is all about atmosphere! To be more specific, it creates it all by itself.

Our staff dresses up in tastefully designed carnival-style costumes with clown noses and attire. They migrate around the room spreading laughs and excitement while serving up an assortment of sweet eats using custom designed “hawker style” passing trays. These include:

• Cracker jacks (in traditional striped boxes)
• Churros chocolat
• Mini candied apples

The station has a built-in “wow” factor that evokes pure joy and gives events a totally new look and feel. Picture it for your themed wedding or your next birthday party.

Get Rooted – A Vegetable Carving Station. One normally wouldn’t associate a vegetarian menu with the idea of “carving” anything but this station certainly speaks to our chef’s creativity. For events looking for a more rustic feel and with a high number of vegetarians, this station checks all the boxes and really gets guests talking! Chefs prepare several healthy vegetables both marinated and grilled, like:

• Carrots
• Portobello Mushroom
• Radishes
• Zucchini
• Eggplant

It’s a one-of-a-kind carving station experience that’s perfect for the vegetarian and vegan crowd at your wedding reception or next social gathering!

Food stations give events such personality, and we love using them to help events stand out in creative ways. So whether you’re looking to experience Artis—Naples for yourself or exploring one of our other fantastic local venues in Southwest Florida, we’d love to bring one of these stations and so much more to your next event. Get in touch with us here and let’s create something marvelous!