Chat with Cat: Hungry for Variety in Your Retreat Menu?

Whether your group is meeting for one day or for four, mealtime is an important part of your meeting schedule. Meals offer a place for participants to decompress and to digest (pun intended) the content of keynotes, discussions and workshops. Groups who eat together also have an opportunity to get to know one another better and to socialize.

So why not mix it up a little? Go ahead and plan to have most of your meals--especially breakfast and lunch, when time is at a premium--at your conference center dining room. Be sure to alert the kitchen to any special dietary requests well ahead of time, and ask your reservations person about the food. Most facilities will provide a variety of options that offers a little something for everyone. Check out the sample menus on Montreat's meals and refreshments page.

But for one meal--maybe dinner after a very packed day--plan something different. Here are some ideas:

• Cookout: Ask if your facility has picnic areas with grills, and plan a cookout for your group. This allows you to enjoy the outdoor setting of your conference center, and it also gives participants the chance to work together as they help prepare the food. The kitchen at some facilities can even provide the food and beverages--just ask.
• Night on the Town: If you are meeting close to a town or area with a good choice of restaurants, offer participants a night on their own. They will appreciate the opportunity to dine out and maybe do some window shopping before your meetings resume.
• Reception: Does your group have something to celebrate? Awards? A new year? Getting together? Consider skipping the traditional dinner fare and hosting a reception instead. Hors d'oeuvres and a nice selection of wine and desserts can make for an evening as elegant or casual as you want. Be sure to ask your facility about catering and alcohol policies.
• Campfire: A great option for families and congregations--but fun for everyone--campfires are great venues not just for dinner, but also for storytelling and for enjoying the outdoors. Hotdogs and s'mores are a great start, but you can be creative too. Bisquick on a stick, anyone?
• Dinner and a Show: Consider having dinner in a different space, maybe one where you can feature live music or another type of performance. Also consider after-dinner activities such as dancing, or fun menus like barbecue or a pasta bar.

Don't be afraid to ask your reservations person about any of these options. A special evening event doesn't have to be extravagant or take up a lot of your schedule. Just think outside the boxed lunch, and look for some great culinary opportunities.

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I also wanted to highlight a new program available at Montreat for visitors and residents. Check out the announcement on our meal options page to learn about how you might be able to purchase a set of meals in our Galax Dining Room and at the Huckleberry Cafe.

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Cat is the Sales Associate at Montreat Conference Center. She loves helping people plan the perfect Montreat Experience and would love to hear from you about how this blog can help you.

Cat can be reached at catw@montreat.org.