The VYC Arancini Index: Why Not All Canapés Are Created Equal

When it comes to planning an event, there’s one question we hear more than almost any other:

“How much food should I order?”

It sounds simple, but the truth is, not all canapés are created equal. A half cherry tomato balanced on a parmesan crisp is not the same as a crispy chicken slider. And a five-hour evening event over dinnertime is not the same as a quick, 90-minute cocktail function after work.

Yet most catering estimates are based on a flat number of canapés per guest. Which is where things start to get tricky. Order too little, and guests are left hungry. Order too much, and you’ve blown your budget (and your guests’ appetites before the dance floor even opens).

At VYC, we wanted a better way.

Introducing the Arancini Index

To bring some real-world logic to canapé planning, we developed the Arancini Index.

Here’s how it works: every canapé on our menu is benchmarked against a 35g arancini ball. Why arancini? Because it’s the perfect middle ground, substantial enough to satisfy, but still bite-sized.

By translating canapés into “arancini equivalents,” you’re not just counting pieces, you’re measuring satiation. Think of it as a common currency for canapés.

• A half cherry tomato on a crisp? That’s less than one arancini unit.

• A chicken slider? That’s several.

• A 35g arancini ball? Well, that’s the gold standard itself.

This gives you a satiation score for your menu. So instead of guessing, you’ll know exactly how filling your selections will be.

More Than Just Counting Pieces

Of course, the equation isn’t only about canapé size, it’s also about time of day and event duration.

A 5pm drinks function that runs for 90 minutes needs far less food than a 7pm-12am wedding reception. Guests arrive with different hunger levels, and the role of food shifts depending on whether canapés are standing in for dinner or simply bridging the gap before it.

That’s why our Arancini Index comes with portion recommendations, matching your menu’s satiation score to the kind of catering you want to provide, so you can hit the perfect balance—whether that’s light and stylish, comfortably filling, or deliciously abundant.

The Confidence to Cater Smart

The beauty of the Arancini Index is that it removes the guesswork.

You won’t be nervously wondering if a dozen “light” bites per person will really cut it for a five-hour celebration. You won’t overcompensate with too much food, wasting money and product.

Instead, you’ll have a clear framework to plan the perfect spread.

So whether your style is refined one-bite hors d’oeuvres or hearty sliders that soak up the cocktails, you can build your menu with confidence—knowing you’ve catered at the right level for your event.

Because the truth is simple: when it comes to canapés, it’s not just the number that counts, it’s the weight they carry.