Client drinks catering: good food, room to talk.

Start with the invitation: drinks or dinner?

A one-hour welcome event before dinner is not the same as drinks that replace dinner. If the invitation crosses the usual meal time, guests need more than a token snack. Ask the organiser whether people will eat beforehand, what other substantial dishes are coming and when the food will be served.

For a planning estimate, allow two to three empanadas per adult alongside other substantial food, or three to four when empanadas carry the main meal. A drink is not a food course. Adjust quantities for appetite, event duration and the whole menu rather than presenting either range as a guarantee.

Quantity examples for 20, 30 and 50 guests

A 100-empanada Corporate Box is not automatically dinner for 50. Use the portion guide, then ask about the quantity your event needs. Mixed boxes have their own listed flavour combinations; individual flavours in the wider range are not automatically included.

Give guests somewhere to put the food

A standing format still needs a clear serving surface, napkins and a place to put used items. Keep the food table away from the only entrance and avoid placing every tray beside the drinks queue. Think about a guest holding a glass, greeting a colleague and choosing food at the same time.

Make suitable dietary portions easy to identify before general service begins. The Classic is vegetarian and Patagonia is vegan. Check individual product ingredients and confirm dietary requests before ordering. Argentum does not produce gluten-free empanadas; do not assume a different filling makes the pastry gluten-free.

No office kitchen? Choose the service format first

Baked catering is the option to discuss when nobody will be cooking. Frozen boxes require suitable oven or air-fryer capacity and a person responsible for preparation. A kitchenette with only a microwave is not the same as an event kitchen. Our office catering without a kitchen guide covers that decision.

Delivery time, serving time and guest arrival are separate points in the plan. Share the expected gap with Argentum and the venue. Do not leave the entire order out for a long event; agree batch service and appropriate temperature control with the venue, following the product and venue instructions.

CBD reception or North Sydney office: the access brief matters

Send the street entrance, floor, lift arrangements, loading restrictions and receiving contact, not just a company name. For a North Sydney workplace, use the local office catering page. For other Sydney events, start with the catering hub and have the postcode and date ready.

Ask the venue whether outside food is permitted and whether serving equipment or staff are needed. An empanada box is not a staffed event package, drinks service or venue booking. Confirm separately what the order includes instead of assuming those services come with the food.

Client drinks are not a seated presentation lunch

If people will be taking notes around a table, use the boardroom catering guide. For a December standing event, the Christmas party guide adds seasonal planning questions. These guides serve different formats; choose the one that matches the event, not simply the season.