Where finger food works
Finger food (小點, 手拿點心, 開胃小點) is made for standing events: a cocktail reception, a gallery or shop opening, an after-work networking event, a welcome drink before a seated dinner. Guests hold a drink in one hand and a bite in the other, so every item should be eaten in one or two bites without a knife.
If the reception replaces a meal, plan more pieces per person and add a few more filling items such as sliders, skewers and small rice dishes. Our portion guide explains how many pieces to plan for each case.
Building a good spread
- Mix cold and warm items, and savoury before sweet.
- Include something filling: skewers, sliders, dumplings or mini pizzas.
- Include something light: smoked salmon rolls, canapés, fresh fruit or salad cups.
- Plan at least one clearly labelled vegetarian item, more if your guest list needs it.
- Finish with small sweets that hold their shape, such as macarons or mochi.
Platters or passed by staff
With setup, the platters are arranged on a reception table before guests arrive and collected later, which works well for most office receptions and openings. With staffed service, our team also replenishes the table and clears plates and glasses during the event, so the room stays tidy while you host.
Tell us the start time, how long the reception runs and whether guests will move on to a meal. That decides the number of pieces and whether items are brought out in waves.
Practical details
- Have small plates and plenty of napkins near every platter.
- Put a bin or a clearing station away from the food table.
- Keep the food table away from the entrance so arrivals do not stop in the doorway.
- If speeches are planned, serve before or after, not during.
