HLB Signature Cocktail Pack

3 Hours Unlimited Service

Perfect for weddings, engagements, corporate events and milestone celebrations

Unlimited Service Included

Your package price includes unlimited service for 3 hours. Professional waitstaff circulate throughout your event, skilled chefs prepare and plate on-site, and your guests enjoy as much as they like. No portion counting, no running out, no additional service charges.

Victoria-Wide Service

We service Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Macedon Ranges, Dandenong Ranges and most of regional Victoria. From intimate venues to grand locations, we understand the unique requirements of each area and bring the same quality service everywhere.

Restaurant-Quality Dishes

Our bowl food isn’t standard event catering. Each dish is crafted with the same care and quality you’d expect from a high-end restaurant, using fresh, premium ingredients and techniques that deliver genuine flavour and presentation.

Transparent Pricing

The price you see is the price you pay. No hidden costs for staff, equipment, or essential services. We include everything upfront because we believe that’s how pricing should work. Simple, honest, transparent.

Complete Dietary Accommodation

Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and special dietary requirements are handled seamlessly. We don’t charge extra or make it complicated. Just tell us what your guests need, and we’ll make sure everyone’s looked after properly.

Seamless Event Service

From initial consultation through to the last guest served, our team handles every detail. Professional coordination, impeccable timing, and genuine care for your event’s success. You focus on your guests, we focus on everything else.

Ready to Create Your Event?

Join hundreds of satisfied clients across Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and regional Victoria who’ve experienced HLB’s bowl food catering service.

Need Help Planning?

We’ve catered hundreds of events and know what works. Get in touch and we’ll help you create the perfect bowl food menu for your specific event type, guest count, venue and budget.

How much does bowl food catering cost in Melbourne?

Our HLB Signature Cocktail Pack is $75 per person and includes 3 canapés, 2 hearty bites, and 3 bowl food dishes with unlimited service for 3 hours. This is our complete package that includes everything you need for a successful event.

The package includes professional waitstaff, on-site chef service, all necessary equipment (including portable commercial ovens and burners if needed), complete setup and pack down, and full dietary accommodation. There are no hidden costs for essential services.

Want more variety? You can add extra bowl food dishes for $8 per person, per dish. We also offer a stunning Live Paella Valenciana Station where our chef cooks traditional paella in front of your guests for an additional $10 per person (minimum 80 guests).

What’s included in your bowl food catering packages?

Every bowl food package includes everything you need for a successful event. Professional waitstaff who circulate throughout your event serving guests, skilled chefs who prepare, plate and present each dish on-site, all necessary cooking equipment including portable commercial ovens and burners if your venue requires them, elegant serving bowls and presentation materials, complete setup before your event and full pack down afterwards, and comprehensive dietary accommodation for all guest requirements.

The unlimited service means your guests can enjoy as much as they like throughout the 3-hour service period. Our staff keep circulating, our chefs keep preparing fresh dishes, and there’s no portion counting or worrying about running out. No hidden costs, no surprise charges for essential services.

Can you cater for small events under 30 guests?

Our standard minimum for bowl food catering is 30 guests. This allows us to bring the full experience with proper service levels, maintain our quality standards, and make the event economically viable for both parties.

That said, every event is unique. Depending on the day of the week and our availability, we may be able to make an exception for groups from 20 people. It’s not guaranteed, but we always do our best to accommodate when we can.

Get in touch with our team at events@hlbcatering.com.au or call (03) 8503 7394 to discuss your specific requirements. We’ll be upfront about what we can and can’t do for your guest numbers.

What types of bowl food are best for corporate events?

For corporate events across Melbourne and Victoria, we typically recommend a balanced selection that includes both hot and cold options to cater to different preferences. Popular corporate choices include our Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder, Pan-Fried Prawns, Grilled Cypriot Halloumi, and Flaked Salmon. These dishes are substantial enough to satisfy guests while being easy to eat during networking.

Our HLB Signature Cocktail Pack ($75pp) includes 3 bowl food dishes. For corporate events where you want more variety, you can add extra bowl food dishes for $8 per person, per dish. We always recommend including at least one vegetarian option to ensure all dietary requirements are covered.

For larger corporate functions or when you want to make a real impression, consider adding our Live Paella Valenciana Station ($10pp, minimum 80 guests). The live cooking element creates a focal point and talking point for your event.

What’s the difference between bowl food and plated meals?

Bowl food offers the substance and quality of a plated meal with the flexibility of a standing reception. Unlike traditional plated meals which require designated seating and formal table service, bowl food allows guests to mingle freely while enjoying restaurant-quality dishes served in elegant, hand-sized bowls.

Each bowl food dish is fork-friendly and designed to be easily enjoyed while standing, making it perfect for cocktail parties, networking events, and celebrations where you want the sophistication of a proper meal without confining guests to assigned seats. The food quality and presentation standards are identical to plated service, just delivered in a more dynamic, social format.

Choose bowl food when you want guests to move around and interact naturally, or combine it with some casual seating for those who prefer to sit. Choose plated meals when formal dining with assigned seating is part of your event structure.

What’s the difference between bowl food and canapés?

Bowl food dishes are more substantial than canapés. While canapés are elegant bite-sized items designed to be eaten in one or two bites, bowl food delivers a proper portion of restaurant-quality food that’s filling and satisfying. Think of canapés as sophisticated snacks and bowl food as actual meals served in a standing reception format.

Many of our clients combine both for the perfect event flow. Start with canapés during the welcome period to give guests something light while they arrive and begin mingling, then transition to bowl food as the main dining component. This creates a dynamic experience that keeps guests engaged throughout the event.

Our HLB Signature Cocktail Pack ($75pp) actually includes both. You get 3 canapés and 2 hearty bites for the welcome period, plus 3 bowl food dishes for substantial dining, all with unlimited service for 3 hours.

How do you handle dietary requirements with bowl food?

Dietary accommodation is included in all our packages at no extra cost. Many of our bowl food dishes are naturally gluten free, vegetarian, or vegan, and we can modify others to meet specific requirements. Our chefs prepare separate portions for guests with dietary needs, using dedicated equipment to avoid cross-contamination.

Just let us know your guests’ requirements when booking, and we’ll make sure everyone’s properly looked after. We don’t make dietary accommodation complicated or charge extra for it. It’s simply part of providing good service.

Do you provide equipment for venues without kitchen facilities?

Yes, all necessary equipment is included in your package price. If your venue doesn’t have adequate kitchen facilities, we bring portable commercial ovens, burners, warming equipment, and everything else needed to prepare and serve your bowl food dishes at the proper temperature.

This is particularly common for warehouse venues, winery locations in Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, heritage buildings, outdoor spaces across the Dandenong Ranges and Macedon Ranges, and festival sites throughout regional Victoria. We’ve worked in venues ranging from fully equipped hotel kitchens to completely blank canvas spaces, and we come prepared for whatever your venue requires. No additional equipment charges, no surprises.

What areas do you service for bowl food catering?

We provide bowl food catering across Melbourne and throughout Victoria. Our regular service areas include all of Melbourne metropolitan, the Mornington Peninsula (including wineries and coastal venues), Yarra Valley (perfect for vineyard weddings and corporate retreats), Macedon Ranges, Dandenong Ranges, and most of regional Victoria.

We’ve catered events at wineries, farms, marquees, heritage estates, coastal venues, country clubs, and everything in between. Whether you’re planning a wedding at a Yarra Valley winery, a corporate event at a Mornington Peninsula venue, or a celebration in regional Victoria, we bring the same quality service and restaurant-standard food.

For locations outside our standard service areas, get in touch. We’re often able to accommodate special requests depending on the event size and location. Contact us at events@hlbcatering.com.au or (03) 8503 7394 to discuss your specific venue.

What’s the difference between bowl food and buffet catering?

Bowl food offers a more elegant, serviced experience compared to traditional buffets. With buffet catering, guests queue at a station and serve themselves, which can create bottlenecks and means guests need to leave conversations to get food. Bowl food is brought to your guests by professional waitstaff, so they can continue networking, mingling and enjoying the event without interruption.

Bowl food also maintains better presentation and temperature control. Each dish is plated fresh by our chefs and served immediately, rather than sitting in chafing dishes. The portions are restaurant-quality and beautifully presented, creating a more premium experience for your guests.

Choose bowl food when you want the sophistication and service of plated dining with the flexibility of a standing reception. Choose buffet when you have designated dining times and want guests to serve themselves. For most cocktail parties, corporate networking events, and standing receptions, bowl food delivers a far superior experience.

How many bowl food dishes should I choose per person?

Our HLB Signature Cocktail Pack includes 3 bowl food dishes as standard, which works perfectly for most events when combined with the 3 canapés and 2 hearty bites also included in the package. This provides substantial, satisfying dining for a 3-hour event with unlimited service.

If you want more variety, particularly for longer events or when bowl food is the primary dining component (rather than combined with canapés), you can add extra bowl food dishes for $8 per person, per dish. Four to five bowl food dishes works well for events where guests will be primarily eating bowl food throughout the evening.

The beauty of unlimited service is that guests can enjoy as much as they like of each dish. Our waitstaff circulate continuously, and our chefs keep preparing fresh portions, so there’s no need to worry about running out or calculating exact quantities.

What bowl food works best for summer vs winter events?

For summer events, particularly outdoor celebrations at Mornington Peninsula beaches, Yarra Valley gardens, or Dandenong Ranges venues, our cold bowl food selections are extremely popular. Dishes like Lime Marinated Prawns, Sesame Seared Tuna, Flaked Salmon, and Soba Noodle Salad are refreshing and perfect for warmer weather. The Sumac Spiced Chicken and Crispy Falafel work beautifully as lighter options that don’t feel heavy in the heat.

For winter events, especially those in cooler regions like Macedon Ranges or indoor Melbourne venues, our hot bowl food dishes shine. The Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder, Slow-Roasted Pork Belly, Korean Fried Chicken, and Miso Glazed Beef provide warming, comforting flavours that guests appreciate in colder months. These heartier dishes are perfect for autumn and winter weddings, corporate events and celebrations.

Many clients choose a mix of both hot and cold options regardless of season, which gives guests choice and creates nice variety throughout the event. We can help you select the ideal combination based on your event date, venue, and guest preferences.

Is bowl food suitable for formal events or just casual parties?

Bowl food is absolutely suitable for formal events. We regularly cater high-end corporate galas, elegant weddings, prestigious award ceremonies, and upscale fundraisers with bowl food service. The key is in the execution, quality of ingredients, presentation, and level of service, all of which are restaurant-standard with HLB Catering.

Our bowl food dishes feature premium ingredients like slow-braised lamb shoulder, seared scallops, and sesame-crusted tuna, presented with the same attention to detail you’d expect from fine dining. The elegant bowls, professional white-glove service, and skilled chef presentation create a sophisticated experience that’s entirely appropriate for black-tie events, VIP functions, and prestigious celebrations.

What makes bowl food unique is that it delivers this level of quality and elegance while allowing guests the freedom to move around, network, and socialise. It’s the perfect solution when you want formal dining standards without the formality of assigned seating.

Can bowl food work for large corporate conferences and trade shows?

Absolutely. Bowl food is ideal for corporate conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, and large networking events because it allows attendees to eat substantial, quality food while remaining mobile and engaged. Unlike sit-down meals that require designated break times and seating arrangements, bowl food lets attendees grab a proper meal between sessions, at networking breaks, or while moving through exhibition spaces.

We’ve successfully catered conferences and corporate events for groups ranging from 30 to 800+ attendees across Melbourne convention centres, exhibition spaces, and conference venues. Our unlimited service model means attendees can eat when it suits their schedule, not when a formal meal service dictates. This flexibility is particularly valuable for multi-day conferences where different attendees have different session schedules.

For conferences and trade shows, we recommend a balanced selection of hot and cold options to cater to different preferences throughout the day. The Live Paella Valenciana Station also works exceptionally well as a drawcard and focal point for evening networking sessions.