Choosing an item already identified on our menu as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free does not automatically attract a dietary charge. Charges apply when a guest’s meal needs to be separately assessed, prepared, substituted, packaged, labelled, protected or managed.
WHY DIETARY CHARGES APPLY
Providing a separately managed dietary meal involves much more than changing one ingredient.
Medical requirements, severe allergies and complex exclusions can have serious consequences if they are misunderstood or incorrectly handled. At larger events, each individual meal must be planned, prepared, identified and delivered to the correct guest.
The dietary charge contributes to the additional administration, planning, labour and food-safety controls required, including:
Event Manager review, guest-list coordination and dietary tracking
Chef review and menu planning
Assessment of whether each requirement can be safely accommodated
Separate ingredient sourcing and substitutions
Separate production scheduling
Individual meal preparation
Additional food-safety controls
Front of House and kitchen briefings
Individual meal identification, packaging and labelling
Dietary meal management during onsite service
Assessment of unnotified dietary requirements that arise on the day, where this can be done safely
Much of this work happens before the event and behind the scenes, but it is essential to reducing errors and ensuring each declared dietary meal is managed consistently from the initial booking through to service.
CHARGE SCENARIOS
Introduction / description
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I have vegetarian guests. Will I be charged?
No charge applies where suitable vegetarian items are already included in the selected menu and can be supplied in their standard shared format. A charge applies where meals or items must be separately prepared, packaged, labelled, identified or served for individual guests.
my guest has coeliac disease
Coeliac disease requires more than choosing an item generally identified as gluten-free. The requirement must be declared specifically so our team can review ingredients, preparation and cross-contact risks and determine whether a separately managed meal can be provided. The applicable dietary charge applies. A charge applies where meals or items must be separately prepared, packaged, labelled, identified or served for individual guests.
My guest has a severe allergy or anaphylaxis risk
The exact allergen and severity must be provided in advance. Additional review, kitchen controls, identification and service coordination will be required. The applicable dietary charge applies, and we may be unable to accommodate some requirements safely.
My guest is pregnant
Pregnancy alone does not tell us what an individual guest has chosen, or been medically advised, to avoid. If the guest is comfortable selecting suitable food from the catered menu and does not require a separate meal, no additional charge applies. If the guest requires a specific separately prepared or managed meal, the exact foods or ingredients to avoid must be provided in advance and the applicable dietary charge applies.
My guest has diabetes
Diabetes alone does not tell us the guest’s individual meal requirements. If a specific meal, carbohydrate allowance, portion size or ingredient substitution is required, the details must be provided in advance. A separately prepared or managed meal will attract the applicable dietary charge.
My guest requires a low FODMAP meal
Low FODMAP requirements are highly individual. The exact foods and ingredients to avoid must be provided because we cannot determine a guest’s tolerances from the term “low FODMAP” alone. The applicable dietary charge applies, and complex requests may require further review.
My guest follows a keto, paleo or carnivore diet
These requests generally require a custom meal or changes to the selected menu, even where some suitable ingredients may already be available. The applicable dietary charge applies.
My guest has three or more exclusions
Requests involving several exclusions require additional ingredient assessment and may need a custom meal. Additional charges may apply and, in some cases, we may be unable to accommodate the requirement safely.
I want every dietary meal individually packaged and labelled
Individual packaging, identification and labelling require additional preparation and handling. The applicable Express Catering item charge or Wine & Dine’m Events dietary management charge applies.
More than 20% of my guests have dietary requirements
Where dietary requirements exceed 20% of total guest numbers, we may need to develop a customised menu or adjust the selected menu and service plan. Additional charges may apply and will be discussed with the Event Manager.
I provided the dietary information after the final deadline
Late additions or changes are subject to ingredient and production availability. Additional charges may apply, and accommodation cannot be guaranteed once purchasing, production and event planning have been finalised.
A guest advises us of a dietary requirement during the event
We will assess the request and assist where reasonably possible; however, the kitchen may not have a suitable separately managed meal available. Accommodation cannot be guaranteed for requirements that were not disclosed before the event.
We are not collecting or catering for dietary requirements at our event
Choosing not to collect dietary information does not mean dietary requirements will not arise. In practice, guests may not have advised the organiser, may not have completed an RSVP, may have been invited as a replacement guest or may only disclose their requirement when food is being served. Wine & Dine’m carries a reasonable contingency of dietary meals for staffed events because these situations commonly arise. We may also prepare additional dietary meals where guests on the supplied list withdraw, change sessions or are replaced. These contingency meals still require menu planning, ingredients, preparation, identification and onsite service management. For this reason, advising that an event is “not catering for dietaries” does not remove the need for dietary planning or the applicable dietary management charge. Any contingency allowance will be determined by Wine & Dine’m based on the event size, menu and service format. While we carry reasonable contingency meals, we cannot guarantee that every undeclared requirement can be safely accommodated on the day.
