Entrée or Main Course
The French word entrée literally means “entrance” and denotes the appetizer or starter portion of a meal when speaking about food. In North America, however, “entrée” denotes the main course of a sit down meal. The entrée usually comes after the bread, appetizer and salad and before the dessert and after dessert drinks. An entrée usually includes a meat, vegetable and a starch but could also include a dish that incorporates all three food groups such as lasagna or paella.
The entrée is usually the most expensive part of a catered meal as it is “meat and potatoes” of the entire operation so to speak. When a client calls an event planning or catering company, the planner or caterer will want to know what type of meat the client wants to serve at their event. The selection of meat directly effects what else will be served in the entrée. If the client wants to serve a choice of beef and fish at their event, then the fish could be accompanied by rice pilaf and mixed vegetables, while the beef entrée could be accompanied by a baked potato and asparagus. Types of meat typically served in an entrée are:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Pork
- Fish
The contents of an entrée are also directly affected by the type of event that is being thrown. A summer picnic would serve and entrée of finger foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers, while a corporate dinner might serve lobster and filet mignon for theirs. The entrée selection directly affects the price of the catering. If you choose to serve chicken and salmon, your cost will be much lower than if you chose to serve lamb and prawns. Unless you are hosting a cocktail party, the entrée is what your guests are anticipating. It is the actual meal of the event. The appetizers, salad and soup are great but the entrée is what relives your guests from hunger. After the meal or entrée has been served your guests can relax and enjoy desserts and/or after dinner drinks.
When choosing an entrée to be served at your event, make sure to consider the tastes and needs of your guests. If you are hosting an anti-fur convention you should inquire before serving everyone a steak. Make sure that everyone at your event will have something to eat and that your entrée selections are broad enough to accommodate everyone.
