Guidelines for Choosing Catered Food for a Wake

After a funeral service, it's nice to have everyone gather together and talk about the deceased. These post-service get-togethers, also known as wakes, are also times for families to catch up as many may not have seen each other for a while. They're not joyous occasions, but they can bring comfort to everyone and let those attending talk about their good memories of the one they lost.

It's a good idea to have food in the wake, and catering can take away the stress of preparing and serving food in the midst of grief. Whether you're holding the wake at someone's home or at an outside venue, caterers can deliver hot and cold food along with drinks to feed those who've just finished holding a funeral. Review these tips for choosing catered food for a wake.

Allow for Many Different Appetites

You may find that you and others are very hungry after the funeral service is complete. The stress of the past few days can make people forget their body's signals, reducing what people eat. When the service is done, you can find your appetite roaring back.

Or, you could find that the activity of the day has left you drained and not really craving anything. You'd eat maybe a couple of small bites and that's it.

You'll find you're not the only one dealing with an appetite gone mad or gone into hiding. When you choose items from the catering menu, consider providing dishes that could provide people with a wholesome meal if they wanted, such as steam tray dishes, as well as smaller foods for people to snack on if they so choose.

Serve the Deceased's Favorite Foods

If the deceased liked certain foods that the caterer also offers, having those at the wake could be a wonderful way to honour the deceased. Sometimes the food choices can be a bit humourous, such as having a selection of a specific type of ice cream novelty that the deceased adored. But this gives attendees the chance to talk about how much the deceased liked those foods and leads to welcome memories.

You don't have to concentrate on specific products or dishes. Having a food group that the deceased ate a lot of, such as fruit platters with some of the loved one’s favourite fruits, can be just as comforting.

Have Food That Travels Well

As people chat with each other and reminisce about their loved one, food safety concerns may not be at the front of everyone's minds. If the catering is staffed, then the caterers will keep everything at the right temperature. But if the catering is the type where food is simply dropped off in disposable trays, you'll want to ensure the food remains good to eat for hours without refrigeration.

This doesn't mean that you can't have cheese, deli meats, and other perishables. What you need to do is ensure that there's enough to satisfy people, but not so much that there will likely be leftovers that stay out for longer than is safe. If this happens, you have to throw out the food if the wake is held away from someone's home (and thus away from immediate refrigeration).

Decide Whether to Avoid Alcohol

It's your decision whether to provide alcohol at the wake. Some families like to make a toast to the deceased using the deceased's favourite wine, for example. However, you don't have to provide alcohol if it's not something you want.

Attendees can still make a toast to the deceased with non-alcoholic drinks if preferred. Wakes are often very emotional, and not every family wants there to be substances that could amplify the emotional feeling in the room. Caterers usually offer an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks in various flavours, including coffee and tea.

If you’re considering catering for the wake following your loved one's funeral service, contact Temptations Catering. We offer several choices of delicious and wholesome foods, including platters, pizzas, and various finger foods. You'll be able to find affordable options and variety that can feed a crowd in memory of your loved one.