Assume you are planning an event for 1,000 people for a corporate

Continental Breakfast

This meal is typically a bread or pastry, juice, and coffee, although it can be upgraded with the addition of sliced fruit, yogurt, and/or cold cereals. Most are self-service, although table service is an option.

Full (Served) Breakfast

This would be plated in the kitchen and would normally include some type of eggs (such as eggs Benedict), a meat (such as bacon or sausage), a potato item (such as hash browns), fruit, and coffee.

Breakfast Buffet

An assortment of foods with a variety of fruits and fruit juices, egg dishes, meats, potatoes, and breads would be served.

Refreshment Break

This is often beverages only but may include snacks such as cookies, bagels, or fruit.

Brunch

This is a late-morning meal and includes both breakfast and lunch items. A brunch can be a buffet or a plated (served) meal.

Buffet Lunch

This can be a cold or hot buffet, with a variety of salads, vegetables, meats, etc. A deli buffet can include a make-your-own sandwich area.

Box Lunch

This meal is made to carry away from the hotel and eat in a remote location. It can be eaten on a bus if there is a long ride to a destination (such as a ride from San Francisco to the Napa Valley for a day’s activities) or eaten at the destination (such as a picnic area to hear the Boston Pops Orchestra). Box lunches can also be provided to attendees at a trade show.

Full (Served) Lunch

This is a plated lunch, usually a three-course hot meal, and often includes a salad, a main course, and a dessert. A one-course cold meal, such as chicken salad served in a pineapple half, is sometimes provided.

Reception

This is a networking event where people stand up and mill around. Food is usually placed on stations around the room on tables and may be butlered. There are often bars. Light receptions may only include dry snacks and beverages and often precede a dinner; heavy receptions would include hot and cold appetizers and perhaps a meat-carving station, and they are often planned instead of a dinner.

Dinner Buffet

This would include a variety of salads, vegetables, meats, desserts, and beverages. Often meats are carved and served by attendants.

Full (Served) Dinner

This could be a three- to five-course meal, including an appetizer, soup, salad, main course, and dessert. Food can be pre-plated in the kitchen (American service) or served from trays to guests at the table (banquet French service).

Off-Site Event

This is any event held away from the host hotel. It could be a reception at a famous landmark, such as the Queen Mary in Long Beach, or a picnic at a local beach or park.

Theme Party

This is a gala event with flair. It can be a reception, buffet, or served meal. Themes can run the gamut; for example, it might have an international theme, with different stations set up with food from Italy, China, Japan, Mexico, Germany, etc.