Dietary & allergens
Dietary needs and allergens
The original buffet packages can include meat-free choices such as Penne Tomato Basil, Pasta Primavera, Eggplant Parmesan or roasted chickpeas with vegetables. For allergies, tell us the counts and specifics before you order: we confirm ingredients, sourcing and preparation before accepting, and we make no blanket dietary or allergen-free claims.
- Meat-free choices
- Ask for ingredients
- Dish labels
- Being finalised
- Gluten-free pasta
- Not on the menu
- Halal
- Listed chicken and beef
Meat-free
What are the meat-free choices?
| Dish | Available with |
|---|---|
| Penne Tomato Basil | retained menus available by quote |
| Pasta Primavera | Classic, Feast, Celebration |
| Eggplant Parmesan | Classic, Feast, Celebration |
| Roasted Chickpeas & Seasonal Vegetables | Lunch |
| Build Your Own Pasta Bar | Tomato basil sauce and roasted vegetables are among the toppings, so guests can build a meat-free plate |
Italian Lunch Essentials starts at $13.95 per person. Meat-free dishes such as pasta, Eggplant Parmesan and vegetables are available on the menu. Tell us the counts and any allergies so we can confirm suitable choices and handling before accepting the order.
Why not call them vegetarian? A dish can be meat-free and still contain ingredients some vegetarians avoid, such as cheese made with animal rennet or a dressing made with anchovy. Until each recipe's ingredients are confirmed and labelled, we would rather check for your order than put a word on the menu that might be wrong.
Additional menu
Vegetarian selections in the new premium menu
- Eggplant and White Bean Ragu
- Mushroom Cacciatore
- Zucchini and Chickpea Stew
- Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Roasted Cauliflower Puttanesca
Please tell us about all allergies, dietary needs and restrictions. Little Italy Catering is not a gluten-free restaurant; cross-contamination may occur.
See all new selections and prices. Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and nut information is confirmed per item; the abbreviation legend is not a dietary guarantee.
Allergies
How do you handle allergies?
Step 1
Tell us before you order
List every allergy and intolerance, how many guests it affects and how severe it is. Put it in the dietary field of the quote form.
Step 2
We check the order
We confirm ingredients, sourcing and preparation for the dishes you've chosen, and whether the handling and labelling you need can be supported.
Step 3
We accept, adjust or decline
If we can support it, your written quote says so. If we can't do it safely, we tell you plainly rather than accept the order.
A dietary claim from us is always about a specific item in a specific order, never a blanket promise. Please don't rely on a dish name to judge what's in it. Sauces, dressings, breads and desserts can all contain common allergens, so ask about every dish on your menu, not just the obvious ones.
Specific requirements
Gluten, nuts and halal
Gluten-free
Gluten-free pasta is not on our menu, and we don't label any dish gluten-free. If a guest must avoid gluten, tell us and we'll say honestly what we can and can't provide.
Nuts
We make no claim either way about nuts. If anyone has a nut allergy, tell us before ordering so we can confirm ingredients, sourcing and preparation for your menu.
Halal
The listed chicken and beef selections in the new premium buffet menu are halal. This does not extend to every menu item or establish certification. Tell us your requirements so we can confirm the selected dishes and preparation for your order.
On the day
How do labels work at the event?
Every buffet arrives with dish labels, so guests can see what each tray is. Lunch boxes are individually packaged. If you've ordered for guests with specific needs, keep the labels next to their trays and point those guests to the dishes we confirmed for them. Serving utensils should stay with their own tray to avoid mixing.
For mixed groups, most hosts find it easiest to count meat-free and allergy guests when they collect RSVPs. Our guide to Italian shower menu ideas and the one on small home party catering both include menus with meat-free plates built in.
Planning a gathering? See catering for bridal and baby showers or home parties; original buffets start at 15 guests with 48 hours' notice. Every dish is listed on the full menu, and you can put your dietary counts straight into a quote request.
Let's bring everyone to the table
Tell us who you're feeding.
Share your guest count, meat-free count and any allergies. We confirm what we can support before you approve the quote.