Planning guide · Planning · July 2026
Gluten-Free Guests at a Catered Event: How Paisan's Handles It
Every event over twenty people has at least one guest quietly scanning the buffet for something safe. Handling that guest well is cheap; handling them badly is the thing they remember. Here is how it works.
What the kitchen offers
The deli bakes gluten-free focaccia in parmesan and rosemary (a $3 upgrade on the sandwich board; ask which is baking today), so a GF guest gets a real sandwich, not a lettuce apology. On the catering side, buffet boards carry naturally gluten-free entrees and sides, and the crew will walk the menu with you and mark the safe lanes for your headcount.
Flag it on the quote, not at the event
The quote call is the moment. Say “three gluten-free, one tree-nut allergy, one vegetarian” and the menu bends around it while it’s still on paper: swaps, separate portions, labels on the line. Allergies handled per event is the house policy, and per event means yours, specifically, planned in advance.
The honest cross-contact conversation
Paisan’s is a working deli and bakery, and flour exists in the building. For gluten-sensitive guests, the published options above cover the table well. For a guest with celiac-level sensitivity, say so on the quote and have the direct conversation about preparation and packaging; a straight answer beats a brave guess, and the kitchen would rather plan a dedicated portion than improvise one.
Labels save buffets
The cheapest insurance at any event is labeling: when the line is marked, GF guests serve themselves with confidence and your most careful guest doesn’t have to interview the servers. Ask for it when you book; it costs nothing and reads as thoughtfulness.
Quick answers
GF bread
Parmesan or rosemary focaccia; ask which is baking today
Allergy handling
Flagged on the quote, planned per event
Vegetarian entrees
On the buffet board alongside the meat rows
Prices reflect the printed menus as of July 2026 and can change; the quote you receive is the number that counts. More guides: How Far Ahead Should You Book a Caterer in Reno? · Sandwich Tray Math: How Many Trays Feed a Crowd? · Winter Event Catering Over the Sierra Passes, Honestly · Real China or Deluxe Disposable? The $4 Question.
Guests with dietary needs?
Put it in the quote form's message box. The menu bends before the event, not during it.