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Veganuary not just for January at Croke Park Meetings & Events
30/01/2020
The proliferation of content about food at meetings and events is testament to how central “breaking bread” has become to the entire event experience. Food is relevant across the entire event spectrum, both in ways related to the appeal of the meeting (“there’s always great food there”) and its impact (“healthy, energising food so everyone can make a more effective contribution”).
Sustainable meeting and event catering options
Recently we’ve gone a step further as we take on board the implications of food choice and food waste on sustainability. This has led to further changes around food at meetings and events with non-meat, vegetarian and vegan options becoming more central. 79% of meeting planners surveyed for the recent International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) report on The Venue of the Future report significant increases in requests for vegan and vegetarian options.
At Croke Park Meetings & Events, our approach to food has been a differentiator for us and a core reason why our business has grown year-on-year. Sous Chef Cian Irvine is our leading advocate when it comes to developing menus that reflect the changing tastes of meetings and events delegates:
“Veganuary is not just for January – it’s been part of our thought process at Croke Park for a long time! From our kitchen standpoint, we have always provided a vegan option for meetings and events along with gluten free and lactose free options. More recently we’ve developed a vegan sandwich range and these are now available as part of our working lunch option”.
Vegan moves mainstream for meetings and events
While Croke Park has had vegan options for meetings & events for quite some time, these were often “silent options” available if and when requested. This has changed dramatically with veganism now main stream. Earlier this month, for example, 1300 guests at the Golden Globe awards at the Beverly Hilton in LA were served a plant based menu with no meat options. Cian sees this trend continuing and references a conference on sustainability hosted this month at Croke Park.
“I think going forward we will incorporate more vegan options for people to choose themselves. Recently, we had a sustainability conference where the menu was all vegetarian / vegan”.
Vegan options at Croke Park Meetings & Events
So what vegan options for meetings & events do we have at Croke Park?
How about these tasty options instead of the usual “beige” food available during refreshment breaks? Baked Courgette Chips or Spirulina Dusted Popcorn or a dipping board with Beet Hummus and Raw Veg?
Or for lunch you can try an assortment of sandwiches such as Roast Carrot Feast or Falafel & Hummus Wrap or a Butternut Squash, Coconut & Ginger Cream Soup?
And finally, for an evening dinner reception choose from Cauliflower & Lentil Taco with Curried Mango Chutney or Thai Lentil Dahl, Coriander, Coconut Milk, Pak Choi, Lemongrass & Galangal?
It’s a long way from potatoes, two veg and a slab of meat but this type of food at meetings and events represents the brave new world that meetings and events delegates now inhabit. It’s about responding to the changing tastes of our customers but it’s also about standing up and leading the way for better, healthier and must sustainable choices for food at meetings and events.
Download our vegan catering menu options here
Contact us when planning your next event to discuss different food options.
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