What is served at the vernissage and how much does a buffet at the exhibition cost?

The exhibition opening lasts two hours, allowing guests to view the works, talk with the artist, and each other. There’s no place or reason to sit at a table in this scenario: people move around the room, stopping at the paintings, and returning to have a glass of wine. That’s why vernissages are almost always a buffet rather than a banquet.

The format has a simple technical requirement: food should be eaten standing up and with one hand. The other is occupied with a glass, a catalog, or a phone. Hence the selection — canapés on skewers, tartlets, mini sandwiches, individual salads in cups, cold cuts, fruit, and bite-sized desserts. Cutlery is almost unnecessary, and a plate is optional.

The second requirement is to avoid contamination. In a room with artwork on the walls, sauces, greasy appetizers, and anything that might drip are a bad idea. Organizers usually ask that unnecessary items be removed from the menu and that dry items be reserved, ones that don’t run or crumble.

Third, arrangement. Tables are arranged so that the food line doesn’t block the view of the paintings or back up into the aisle. Typically, there are two or three spots around the perimeter of the room, rather than one long table in the middle.

How much does it cost?

The price is calculated per person and depends on whether staff is needed. If the contractor simply delivers prepared food and leaves, delivery starts at 600 rubles per guest. If waiters are on-site, serving drinks, and cleaning up after the event, the price starts at 1,200 rubles. Ready-made menus from the catalog start at 2,000 rubles, and can be discounted up to 30%.

The minimum order amount depends on the contractor and starts at 3,000 rubles. For a small vernissage of twenty people, this isn’t a limitation, but for an intimate showing for five, it is, and such matters are clarified during the very first conversation.

How to choose a contractor

Few people are willing to call dozens of companies for a single event. It’s easier to submit a single request and receive several quotes at once: aggregator services take about half an hour, and up to seven quotes with prices and menu items are returned. Then, all that’s left to do is compare what’s included in the price: tableware, linens, delivery, staff, and post-event trash removal. These are the items that make the difference between two seemingly identical quotes.

Buffet menu options, including menu items and prices, can be found on the service’s website , which features offerings from catering companies and restaurants in St. Petersburg.

What to ask before agreeing

What time will the food arrive and how long will it take to set up? What happens if more guests arrive? Who cleans up the room afterwards? Will the vendor pick up their dishes that same evening or the next day? The answers to these four questions usually determine your satisfaction, not whether the menu included six or eight types of canapés.