From the kitchen ·
Wake and funeral catering in the Barossa: a gentle guide
The short answer: for a wake, plan simple food that’s easy to eat standing up, set out over two or three hours. Give your caterer four things: the date and start time, a rough headcount, the venue and any dietary needs. Then let them take it from there. If time is short, a phone call is the quickest way to get it moving.
Nobody plans a wake far in advance. It usually comes together within days, while you’re juggling family, the funeral director and a hundred small decisions. Food is one of the things you can hand to someone else. Here’s how we’d approach it, whether you book us or another Barossa caterer.
What food is usually served at a wake?
Most wakes are relaxed, standing gatherings rather than sit-down meals. People arrive from the service, talk, share stories and leave when they’re ready. The food that works best fits that rhythm:
- Finger food and one-hand food that can be eaten with a cup of tea in the other hand.
- Something warm, especially on a cold Barossa afternoon, if the venue has a way to keep it hot.
- Something sweet for the tea and coffee table: slices, cookies or brownies.
- Food the person loved. Many families like to include a favourite dish or a family recipe. Tell your caterer about it; it’s often the part people remember.
Keep the menu short. A handful of dishes done well is easier on everyone than a long buffet.
How much food do you need for a wake?
Wakes often fall between meals, after a late-morning or early-afternoon service, so most guests eat lighter than they would at a lunch. As a rough starting point:
| If the wake… | Plan roughly, per person |
|---|---|
| Falls between meals | A light, afternoon-tea style spread: about 4 to 6 pieces of finger food |
| Runs over lunch | A meal-sized amount: about 8 to 10 pieces, or a small plate of something hearty |
| Something sweet | 1 to 2 sweet pieces with tea and coffee |
Numbers at a wake are hard to predict. Start from the number you expect at the funeral, think about how many will come on afterwards, and ask your caterer how they handle a few more or fewer on the day.
How much notice does a caterer need for a funeral?
Less than you might think, sometimes. It depends on the date, the numbers and what else the kitchen has on. Ask as soon as you know the date, even if the details aren’t settled. When you call us, we’ll tell you straight away and honestly whether we can do the day justice, so you’re not left waiting.
Should you hold the wake at home, a hall or a winery?
Each works, and each changes the food a little.
- At home. Familiar and personal. Check fridge and bench space, parking for guests, and who will meet the food when it arrives.
- A community hall or club rooms. Plenty of space and tables. Check what the kitchen has (fridge, oven, urn), when you can get in to set up, and what cleaning is expected afterwards.
- A winery, cellar door or function room. A beautiful setting, and very Barossa. Ask the venue early whether outside caterers are welcome and what they provide.
Dietary needs and allergies
Ask close family about allergies and dietary needs, and pass them on in writing. List each allergy by name rather than “nut-free” or “no dairy”. Food Standards Australia New Zealand notes that most food allergies in Australia are caused by a short list of foods, including peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, sesame, fish, shellfish, soy, lupin and wheat (FSANZ: Food allergies and intolerances). Labelled dishes on the table help guests look after themselves.
Vegan options are already part of our rotating menu, and we plan around allergies from the first conversation. Our kitchen handles common allergens (including gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, soy and sesame), so we can’t promise any dish is completely free of traces. If someone has a severe allergy, call us on 0406 288 148 before you book and we’ll talk it through honestly.
Keeping food safe through the afternoon
Wakes can run for hours, and food that sits out all afternoon is the main food safety risk. FSANZ’s 2-hour/4-hour rule is a simple guide: cooked or perishable food at room temperature for under 2 hours can go back in the fridge, between 2 and 4 hours should be eaten straight away, and after 4 hours should be thrown out (FSANZ: Food safety basics).
- Put food out in two or three rounds rather than all at once.
- Keep cold food in the fridge until it’s needed.
- Ask someone who isn’t grieving closely to keep an eye on the table and pack up leftovers.
What to tell a caterer when you call
- The date and the time the wake will start.
- The venue address, and what’s there (fridge, oven, tables, plates).
- A rough headcount. A best guess is fine.
- Any allergies and dietary needs.
- Whether you’d like something sweet for the tea table.
- Who to contact on the day, so the family doesn’t have to.
Wake and funeral catering with Auggies
We’re a family kitchen in the Barossa Valley, and we cook everything from scratch. Our Barossa catering covers wakes and funerals as well as birthdays, winery events and work lunches, across Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Lyndoch, Williamstown, Greenock, Seppeltsfield and Eden Valley. For the tea and coffee table, our cookie and brownie boxes are baked to order.
If you’re organising a smaller gathering after a service, our guide to catering a small gathering has a practical checklist too. And if you’d rather simply make sure the family is fed in the days after, a bundle of home-cooked ready-made meals delivered to their door is a kind thing to send.
Questions we get asked
What food is usually served at a wake?
Finger food and one-hand food that guests can eat standing up, something warm if the day is cold, and something sweet for the tea and coffee table. Many families also include a dish the person loved.
How much food per person do you need for a wake?
As a rough starting point, about 4 to 6 pieces of finger food per person if the wake falls between meals, about 8 to 10 if it runs over lunch, plus 1 to 2 sweet pieces each. Your caterer will adjust for your crowd.
How much notice do you need to cater a wake or funeral?
Ask as soon as you know the date, even if details are still settling. We will tell you straight away and honestly whether we can do the day justice.
Do you cater wakes and funerals across the Barossa?
Yes. We cater wakes and funerals across the Barossa Valley, including Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Lyndoch, Williamstown, Greenock, Seppeltsfield and Eden Valley. Send the date, a rough headcount and the venue through our contact page or call 0406 288 148.