For my children's Bar and Bat Mitsva, the buffet was one of the most busy topics. It was necessary to treat guests of all ages, respect the cacheroute and keep a reasonable budget. Here's all I learned, with photos from our buffet, to help you compose the menu of your Mitsva Bar or Bat Mitsva.
Kiddouch, lunch or evening: what meal for what time?
A Bar Mitsva (or Bar Mitzvah) is often celebrated in two stages: the climb to the Torah at the synagogue, and the reception. Every moment calls for a different meal.
- The kiddush, just after the service: a simple sweet-salted buffet, with cakes, pastries, small salty and wine for blessing. If the ceremony takes place a Shabbat, everything must be prepared and delivered in advance.
- Lunch family: a real meal, often served at the table, for the loved ones.
- The evening : the great moment, with cocktail, dinner or buffet, desserts and dance floor. This is where the bulk of the budget is concentrated.
Milky or meaty: the golden rule of the cacheroute
Before choosing the dishes, you have to decide a question: will your meal be Halavi(based on dairy products and fish) or Bassari (meat based)? Both do not mix.
- A Bassari meal imposes desserts achieved, i.e. without milk or butter: sorbets, margarine pastries, fruit, vegetable cream cabbages.
- A Halavi meal allows cheeses, gratins, butter pastries and ice cream, but no meat. It is often the choice of kiddush or brunch.
- Fish is reached: it finds its place in both formulas, at the entrance or at the cocktail.
Also check with both families the expected level of cacheroute (Beth Din, Local Consistory, Mehadrin), and that the supervisor (machguia'h) is well included in the caterer's estimate.
The real challenge: feasting on teenagers and grandparents
A Bar Mitzvah often brings together two very different audiences: classmates, who want to eat fast to go back dancing, and adults, who are waiting for a real meal. The solution: to provide stands that please everyone.
- For teens : mini-burgers, sushi bar, pizzas, cornet fries, food truck, candy bar.
- For adults : smoked fish boards, composed salads, hot dishes served at the table, sefarade or ashkenaze specialities of the family.
- For everyone : a nice dessert buffet and a room mounted for candles.
3 menu ideas for a Bar or Bat Mitsva
1. The gourmand kiddouch (lacte)
Bourekas, salted cakes, fish quiches, salads, cheese trays, cakes and pastries, fresh fruit, wine and grape juice for kiddush.
2. Dinner cocktail (carne or milky)
Fifteen pieces per person: hot and cold bites, mini-burgers, sushi, verrines, skewers, followed by a dessert buffet. This is the ideal formula for a dancing evening, as guests travel freely.
3. Party dinner and dessert buffet (carne)
Cocktail at the entrance, dinner served at the table (entrance, meat dish, accompaniments), then dessert buffet served and room mounted. It's the most chic and expensive formula.
Drinks : kosher wines and soft bar
Plan some hidden wine for kiddush and dinner: red, white and a sweet wine for blessing. For young people, a soft bar, non-alcoholic cocktails and homemade lemonades are always smoking. Count about one bottle of wine for three adults.
What budget for the caterer?
| Formula | Order of magnitude per person |
|---|---|
| Sweet-salted Kiddouch | 15 to 35 € |
| Children / Teen Menu | 25 to 45 € |
| Dinner cocktail | 40 to 100 € |
| Dinner served + dessert buffet | 80 to 150 € |
These amounts are indicative: they vary by region, level of cacheroute, service and dishes. Only your caterer's quote is valid. Follow your expenses as you go through the tool My budget Your space.
The questions to ask your caterer hide
- What is your level of cacheroute, and is the supervisor included?
- Do you understand the service, the dishes and the painting?
- Do you propose a specific menu for children and teenagers?
- How many rooms per person do you plan for the cocktail?
- Can we make a tasting before signing?
- Can you deliver a kiddush the day before Shabbat?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long in advance do you book a Bar Mitsva caterer?
Ideally 6 to 12 months before, especially for spring and Sunday dates, which leave fast.
Can we serve meat and milky dessert?
No. After a bassari meal, desserts must be served without dairy products.
Do you need a different menu for a Bat Mitsva?
The rules are the same. Bat Mitsva often take the form of an evening or brunch: the dinner cocktail and dessert buffet are king.
Ready to compose your menu? Compare Hide caterers of the directory, as Sydney Caterer in Île-de-France, and find all the providers for Bar Mitsva and Bat Mitsva. Mazal Tov!