Menus

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Types of menusThe type of menu is based on a number of factors:

• Time of day• Type of client• Price range• Occasion• Style of food

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What is a menu?

A menu is a bill of fare offering a variety of food items for eating

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MenusThere are a number of basic types of menus

• À la carte

• Tablé d’hôte

• Cyclical

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À la carte

• Individually priced items of which the customer decides what he/she is going to eat

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Table d’hôte• A set menu• Choice of dishes• Set number of courses • For a fixed price per

person

Occasions: • Lunch menu• Dinner menu • Banquet menu

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Cyclical menu

• A menu which repeats itself over a period of time

• Used primarily for nutritional value and dietary requirements

e.g. hospitals catering, school meals and industrial canteens

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Example of a Cyclic menu

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Other menu type

• A small à la carte menu which can change frequently and each dish is individually priced

• Usually associated with fine dining

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Other types and styles of menus

• Bistro menu

• Fine dining menu

• Banqueting menu

• Breakfast menu

• Early bird menu

• Bar menu

• Snack menu

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Bistro menu

• An à la carte style menu served within a certain style of establishment and style of food

• Generally inexpensive with speed and style of service being more informal

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Banqueting menus

• Set menus• For large

numbers • Table d’hôte in

style • Limited choice

of dishes at each course

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Breakfast menus

• à la carte or table d’hôte style depending on the establishment

• Buffet-style is very popular

• In England and Ireland there is still a tradition of a fully cooked breakfast

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Early-bird menu

• Primarily promotional menus

• Served at off-peak times e.g. pre-theatre meals, between 5-7pm

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Bar menu• Limited à la carte style

menus • Served in pubs and

bars at peak times • Generally consists of

local favourites • Served at reasonable

prices • Uses many

convenience foods

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Snack menus

• Found in many small cafes

• A variety of snacks which

• Served throughout the day

• Includes sandwiches, drinks etc.

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