Buffets, finger food, menus, dessert variations — even in 2025, you can enjoy culinary highlights at your events with NORD EVENT, all selectable from our banquet portfolio. In industry terms, a banquet portfolio is defined as an information and planning document. And that’s exactly what it is: our catering team prepares a document featuring food options at various price levels and a diverse range of seasonal offerings, from which you as clients can choose the perfect selection for your occasion.

But how is such a banquet portfolio created? We asked our head chef, Daniel Obst, for a behind-the-scenes look. Read on!

Preparation: Building the framework

The banquet portfolio for 2025 is complete. “However, we already begin preparations for our 2026 banquet portfolio in February/March,” Daniel explains. “That’s when the general parameters for writing it are defined. For example, we determine how broadly the selection should be: how many menus and buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the banquet portfolio should include.” After all, our team knows that demand is constantly changing, and we want to offer the right options for every client. Therefore, discussions about the variety of offerings take place with colleagues from sales and event management. In a joint meeting, a guideline is developed based on the expertise of the kitchen, the wishes of the clients, and the knowledge of the office team.

Brainstorming: Fresh ideas for new dishes

In the second step, the framework is enriched with the most important element: the ideas from the culinary team! “In the kitchen and offices of our catering manufactory at the wholesale meat market, we all come together,” Daniel explains. “We bring in all the station chefs and their deputies and schedule initial meetings for our so-called pre-banquet portfolio sessions. Each station chef then leads their team to ensure everyone can contribute their ideas.” Online research, the extensive library in the showroom, and exchanges among colleagues are all utilized for inspiration.

Conceptualization: Creating a banquet portfolio

For about three months, the kitchen team bursts with ideas — then, in June, everyone gathers for the final meeting and an intensive workshop begins! “For two days, the kitchen management, station chefs, and their deputies sit together in the showroom amid wonderfully summery temperatures,” Daniel explains, adding with a smile that the team often moves the meeting outdoors to the beer garden benches. “In any case, we come together to design the buffets and menus. We take our time because from this point on, things get quite complex. We have to assess which ideas are feasible for the event business and whether the starters, main courses, and desserts align with the established guidelines.” But always with success: after this two-day meeting, the banquet portfolio is initially finalized.

Test cooking: From concept to final dish

Next comes the hands-on part: the test cooking! Together with his team, Daniel sets an internal deadline by which all dishes must be trialed. “We consider this step crucial and essential,” Daniel emphasizes. The entire preparation process is run through, dishes are thoroughly tasted, and each one is checked for flavor and feasibility. The team pays attention to every detail — every step for plating a menu dish is rehearsed, and the final version is approved by everyone. This applies not only to hot dishes but also to cold kitchen items and pastries, which are all cooked or baked from the banquet portfolio. According to Daniel, typically about 5-10% of the dishes are later adjusted to perfect the selection.

Final touches: Recipes, cost calculation and data entry

After the kitchen has worked its magic and the banquet portfolio has been approved by everyone, the bureaucratic part begins — calling our kitchen team from the sacred culinary halls to the computers. What must be done, must be done! All dishes are then documented and costed in our inventory management system, KOST. Meanwhile, the sales and event management teams at our office on Spitalerstraße start entering and translating the banquet portfolio into our event software, BankettProfi. And then it’s complete — sales can begin!

Would you like to review our banquet portfolio for your event? Feel free to write to us or give us a call!

NORD EVENT GmbH I info@nordevent.de I 040 – 2000 64 0