Are you planning to thank your team for their efforts with summer corporate event catering in Houston? Or, perhaps you want to impress some new potential clients? The Texan way to do it is with true, authentic mesquite-smoked barbeque!
But too often, when they go it alone, we see team managers overlook the unique challenges posed by Texas’s hot, humid summers. You’ve got to factor in food safety and guest comfort.
So, here’s a look at which menus work in our sweaty southern conditions and what food safety factors you should never overlook.
Why Summer Corporate Events in Houston Need a Different Menu
The Houston heat problem: What it does to food and guests
Houston’s summers can reach as high as 95°F during the day and 79°F during the night. As any locals will know, once you add in our notorious humidity, you can get uncomfortable fast.
These extremes call for extra care in guests’ comfort and safety. For example, warm weather can accelerate bacterial growth, making it unsafe to leave some foods out for too long.
With that in mind, any summer corporate event catering in Houston needs to be planned wisely, with coolers, ice, thermometers, and shade as critical safety factors.
Heat-safe vs. heat-risky: How to build an outdoor menu
When hosting an outdoor summer office party and planning a heat-safe menu, you need to think light, fast, and low-risk.
This is easy enough for sides, as you can focus on salads, dips, and chilled items. When it comes to Texas BBQ meats, your safest option is to have them come straight off the grill. Colder meats pose a risk, unless they’re being chilled on ice until the last moment.
At Goode Co. Catering, we can have a live carving and grilling station set up at your venue, so that the meat goes directly from our grill to your guests’ plates, both safe and extra delicious.
The Best Summer Corporate Event Catering Menus for Houston Outdoors
Barbeque and Southern Comfort: Mesquite-Smoked Meats
At Goode Co. Catering, our brisket, pork ribs, and chicken breast are perfect for hot temperatures when served straight off the grill. Those high grill temperatures kill off bacteria, while the food itself provides the nutrients your guests need to re-energize in the heat.
Serve the meat with jalapeno cheese bread and white cheddar mac and cheese, for that extra hit of carb energy.
Tex-Mex Fajita Bars: Interactive and Outdoor-Friendly
Our Tex-Mex fajita bars are also ideal for hot summers, with the meat fresh off the grill and served with customizable toppings, chilled on ice, like our authentic southern guacamole, salsa, and queso.
Tex-Mex stations are also great for outdoor settings, getting people on their feet and primed to mingle.
Summer Picnic Buffet Options
For a lighter summery approach, you can opt for grilled chicken, fresh salads, and chilled sides like pico de gallo.
We’d argue chilled sides are an absolute must for any outdoor catering, as your guests will be desperate for something refreshing alongside their delicious meats.
Mediterranean and Plant-Forward Options
For a more seasonal approach, why not opt for grilled seafood? Catfish fillet, salmon, redfish, Gulf shrimp, and oysters are our favorites!
As with our mesquite-smoked barbeque meats, we can serve the fish hot off the fire grill for safety or provide ice-chilled seafood options like our smoked redfish dip.
Serve it up alongside summery sides like hummus, falafel, and Vegetable Empanadas!
Outdoor-Friendly Catering Styles for Houston Corporate Events
Boxed meals for high-volume outdoor retreats
With the heat comes the need for practicality. If you’re looking to host a private event with corporate catering at your own venue or even your office, you may want to consider our delivery meals.
With this option, however, you’re getting more than a DoorDash-type experience. We go above and beyond to ensure the safety and freshness of your meals, ensuring careful heat insulation on your grilled meats and ice boxes for the chilled options.
We also carefully label and separate dishes to ensure safe catering for all dietary requirements, while including all the necessary cutlery and add-ons.
Live stations and interactive setups
For those looking for a catering experience that brings some life to the summer office party, our live stations and interactive set-ups will be perfect!
Whether it’s our live-fire grills, carving, loaded potato, or taco stations, your guests will witness our chefs at work, freshly preparing their barbeque choices while the aromas drift across the venue.
Buffets with full-service staffing in the heat
Our full-service buffets are the perfect setup for summer, with our staff monitoring food temperatures and conditions. At the same time, your corporate guests can customize their plates throughout the event.
From refreshing ice and preventing bacterial buildup to live-fire grills, preparation, and cleanup, our staff will take care of all the logistics so your staff gets the experience to go home wowed.
Key Considerations for Summer Outdoor Corporate Catering in Houston
Food safety in the heat: what to avoid and what holds up
In Houston’s high temperatures, leaving perishable food exposed at 90°F or higher for over an hour puts it in the food safety danger zone.
For that reason, any dairy or mayo-based products should be kept on ice at all times and carefully monitored. It’s also wise to avoid soft cheese.
If the BBQ meats come off the grill fresh, you know they’re safe to eat immediately. We also recommend salads and sides that naturally benefit from being cooled, so you can simply keep them around ice (such as pico de gallo).
The number one tip is to use ice, keep foods in ice boxes until serving time, and to refill buffets as time progresses.
Hydration stations and refreshments
Of course, in any Texan summer, hydration is critical to everyone’s safety and comfort. We recommend going all out on drinks, with water fountains, iced tea, and plenty of ice.
With Goode Co. Catering, we can even bring our very own portable silverstream bar ‘Yonderlust’, to your outdoor catering. With dedicated bar staff, we can serve up fresh drinks all day and night, from cocktails and beers to sodas, iced tea, and even coffee.
Covered venues and indoor-outdoor spaces in Houston
Prolonged exposure to searing temperatures of around 90-95°F poses a danger to anyone. Make sure you have plenty of shade if you’re hosting your summer corporate event catering outdoors in Houston.
If at an open venue, you can opt for market umbrellas. But a better solution is to opt for a covered venue or indoor/outdoor space.
Goode Co. Catering offers both, with the option for your guests to dine in our shaded outdoor area or switch between the two in our AC indoor spaces.
Timing your food service around peak heat
We recommend timing your event to avoid peak hours, when food and guest safety become a concern.
That means avoiding midday. Instead, you can schedule from 5 pm onwards when the temperature starts to drop. This fits better with your office hours.
If you want to get your summer BBQ party with full-service catering started earlier in the afternoon, you can start with some cold appetizers.
Book Summer Corporate Event Catering in Houston
If you’re looking to host a summer corporate event but are concerned about food safety and guest comfort, then let us handle the hard work.
Our full-service catering in Houston can cover everything from full-service catering menus and setup to service, theming, and drinks. Our food is carefully monitored and served straight off the grill, using traditional Texan techniques, after being slow-smoked over mesquite wood.
We welcome you to contact us today to share details about your event so we can start planning something special!
Call us at 713.844.8180 or email us at events@goodecompany.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Corporate Catering
How much does it cost to cater outside food?
You can expect to pay around $25 to $5 per person, but pricing varies by event, menu, service style, venue, and add-ons. We welcome you to contact us today for a direct quote.
When is the best time to serve food at a summer office party?
We recommend hosting your office summer party after peak hours, such as from around 5 pm onwards.
How can I start to plan catering for my summer corporate event in Houston?
Once you’ve chosen your preferred menu items and confirmed your headcount and venue, please feel free to contact us to get started planning the logistics for your event.