6 of the best canapés to serve at a party

There are so many options of what to serve at a party, it can be hard to decide which are the dishes that your guests will write home about. At Salt of the Earth Catering, our clients are always asking 'what are your most popular dishes?'. So today we are sharing the six platters that are guaranteed to get your guests talking.

1. Roast beef and horseradish cream on parmesan crisps.

Soft, melt-in-your-mouth roast beef, a smooth dollop of cream and a crunchy parmesan crisp - the textures alone make this canapé one not-to-be-missed. But what makes this dish a star is a unique knock-out flavour combination. The subtle hint of horseradish creeps in amongst the rare roast beef slices, with the final punch delivered by the crispy cooked parmesan. Delish!

2. Pork belly bites with caramelised apple

Pork crackling is a luxury for many of us - it can be tough to get it right but when you do, you can be sure that the whole family will be fighting over every last bit. Our pork belly bites are no exception. Bite-size pieces of pork belly with crackling on top are paired with their perfect counterpart - caramelised apple. Just be sure to order enough - our guests have been known to scramble for the last one.

3. Sesame-seared tuna with ginger

Seared ever so gently on either side and coated with sesame seeds, our tuna remains bright pink in the middle. Topped with the soft pink of pickled ginger, these become a stunning coloured display floating around your party. A real crowd-pleaser, this match made in heaven is served with both soy sauce and wasabi mayonnaise.

4. Peking duck pancakes

Duck pancakes, everyone's favourite entree, also make it onto our hit list. Rarely do we see someone turn away one of these Chinese classics. Peking duck, shallots, thin slices of cucumber and the hero - Hoi Sin sauce are all wrapped up in a soft pancake to make these beauties.

5. Caramelised onion and goats cheese tarts

To make these vegetarian delights, we place a generous amount of sweet caramelised onion in a shortcrust pastry tart, and top with a dollop of soft goats cheese and a sprig of thyme. The result is an utterly lip-smacking sensation sure to impress your guests.

6. Trio of desserts

So you've already wowed your guests with your savoury treats, and just when they think they are too full to eat any more, you bring out the pièce de résistance, a trio of desserts. We make mouthfuls of lemon meringue pie, tiramisu and chocolate mousse in shot glasses - the perfect size for just a taste of each (believe us, they'll want one of each!). These will ensure your guests go home on a high (even if it's just a sugar high).

About Salt of the Earth Catering:

Salt of the Earth Catering is a catering company based in Sydney. We cater for weddings, baby showers, funerals, and everything in between across Sydney's Northern Beaches, North Shore and city.
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5 tips for ensuring your guests aren’t starving at your party

There's nothing worse than an under-catered party.

Anyone who’s been to one knows that you are constantly keeping an eye out for the waitstaff, spotting them from across the room. You keep one eye on them, trailing off your conversation with another party guest, hoping that they make it over to you with food still on the platter. They rarely do. Like seagulls, people descend on them, feigning politeness ('Oh, you have the last one. No really, you have it') when what they really want to do is take a whole platter off to a dark corner and stuff their faces.

When people look back on your party the next day, the last thing you want is for them to be talking about how hungry they were. Plus, with nothing to line their stomachs, you’re sure to have a few guests who are pretty embarrassed about their behaviour.

I attended a cocktail-style wedding last night where there wasn’t enough food, and it prompted me to share some tips for ensuring that your guests don't go home via McDonalds.

1. The ten-piece rule

The average person will eat ten canapés before they start to feel full - so ordering at least ten per person is the best way to keep your guests happy.

2. Cater for all tastes

Remember, not everyone is going to eat every type of food - so make sure there is plenty of variety. As someone who can't eat fish, I was left disappointed as the first six platters that came out last night were salmon and swordfish. By the time a non-fish dish made it to me, I was ravenous! Factor this in to the ten piece rule too - there needs to be enough platters for people to reach their quota even if they skip a few dishes.

3. Switch up the order

Once everyone has had one of something, take out a different platter rather than more of the same. Not only does this help those who might not want any of the first canapé, but it allows your guests to try each of your delicious dishes before they fill up.  Everyone likes to try something new - and by the time you bring out more of the same, it’ll only be the people who are still hungry that are still eating.

4. Get it out early

It can be tempting to space out the platters throughout the night, but in reality people want to eat pretty soon after they get to a party as it’s usually around the time they'd normally be eating lunch or dinner. Having two canapés per hour doesn't touch the sides and by the time the next lot comes out, it feels like you haven't eaten a thing yet, so you're starting from an empty tank again. People are generally good at knowing when to stop too - if you fill them up early, they'll stop saying yes to platters and they can focus on having a good boogie.

5. Leave something for the midnight snackers

There will always be those people who start to think of food again late into the night. Leave something out on the table for them so that they can find their way to it when their tummy’s start to rumble again. Last night, my saving grace was a beautiful carrot wedding cake of which I had a few pieces since it was all I could get my hands on.

Follow these tips and your guests will look back on your party with nothing but fond memories. Happy party planning!

Sophie McAulay

(Guest blogger)

Salt of the Earth Cateting Staff Member