6 Tips to Help You Hire the Right Caterer for Your Event

About the catering business

No matter what kind of party or event you are planning, the food that you serve can have a big impact on how successful it is. If you talk to the best event planners, they will tell you that finding the right companies for your events and catering can make a big difference in what people who attend say about it after it is over. Here are some tips to getting the right professional catering services company for your event.

  1. Make sure they have experience catering the kind of event you are throwing. Anyone with any experience dealing with events and catering services companies will tell you that the food catering menus for weddings are very different than those for Sweet 16 parties, corporate events, or retirement parties. You need to find a caterer who has experience dealing with the kind of event you are throwing. As you are talking to caterers, you should make it a point to talk to at least three companies and make sure they are able to do the kind of event you want to throw.
  2. Know what you want. It is hard for a catering company to give you what you want is if you are not sure what exactly you do want from them. Spend some time thinking about your event, what kinds of catering are best for that kind of event, and what you are going to want to serve. When you talk to events and catering companies, knowing what you want is the first step you need to take to get what you want.
  3. Make sure the caterer you choose is willing to answer your questions. When it comes to hiring a caterer for a big event. You will have a lot of questions. If a company is not willing to take the time to answer all of them before you hire them, you can be pretty sure they are not going to take the time to do so afterward. You should look for a company that is responsive to your needs and available to answer your questions when you have them.
  4. Make sure you can get the cuisine you want. Some caterers make really great food but can be very rigid when it comes to the event menus. This is your event so you should have the final say in what kinds of dishes that are served. You may have people who will attend who have religious preferences when it comes to what they eat and also may have dietary restrictions due to food allergies. Your goal with your catering is to have food that will be enjoyed by the people attending your event. If the events and catering company will not work with you on the menu, you should keep looking.
  5. Make sure you can taste before you buy. There are a lot of caterers who will provide you with tastings of the foods they offer. This is a great way to see what you think of the food the company can make. There are some companies who will not do this and there are some people who are scared to ask. Some party planners think that they will be considered to be a “difficult” consumer. This is not true and is a normal way catering companies do business. Doing the tastings can be one of the more enjoyable parts of planning a large event.
  6. Make sure they have experience working with the venue you have selected. Some venues require people use the caterer they have on site, so you should ask this before you start talking to outside catering companies. If you can bring in your own food, make sure the caterer has some experience working with the venue. If it is a new place, they may not but may still have a good idea of how to get the job done. The last thing you need is to find out on the day of your event that the caterer cannot work with the venue.

When you are planning any kind of event, picking the right caterer is just one of many details you have to worry about. These tips should help.

How To Create The Ultimate Wedding Menu Diets, Allergies, Seasonal Options And More

Event catering ideas

Weddings are one of the most beloved celebrations in the United States. They symbolize a union built on love and trust, creating warm memories that withstand the test of time. Because of this popularity it stands to reason every element of a wedding is held to a high standard, from designs to set-ups, and will be given the utmost quality. A quality menu for weddings is an incredibly involving feature that takes into account everything from unique tastes to particular diets, crafted to offer every guest something delicious to whet their appetite and create an evening to remember.

Food Services Never Go Out Of Style

Everyone loves a good spread. There are an estimated 321,000 American men and women working in both the food management and catering industry today — they do everything from cooking to baking to designing, working night and day to create the most brilliant weddings and after-parties imaginable. Good caterers should be aware of with the most up-to-date food safety regulations and should easily manage a staff of cooks, servers, dishwashers and cleaners. While everyone has different roles, some caterers are also in charge of decor, table arrangements and general presentation.

Seasonally Driven Menus Are Always In

No two seasons are the same. Neither are weddings! A good food catering menu for weddings should properly reflect the changing weather and passing holidays, all the better to cultivate an environment that feels relevant to all attending. A summer spread should have plenty of fun foods as well as classic spreads to cultivate the cheer of the season, while a winter spread should combine a proper mixture of filling and sweet.

Top It Off With A Good Drink

Drinks are so popular they have their own sections and guidelines. Should you be cultivating a menu for weddings in a more rural location, such as a vineyard or ranch, keep in mind your kitchen facilities may be inefficient to meet the challenges of providing a proper spread and drink selection for your guests. There should be a good range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic options for all and sundry, with martinis and vodka mixes still some of the most popular fun choices for adults. Even now ‘Great Gatsby-inspired’ weddings with champagne towers and cocktails are incredibly popular.

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

A menu for weddings should never neglect allergies, alternate diets or food intolerance. Recipes should be adjusted to cope with the aforementioned issues and there should always be easy-to-find disclaimers so people know what they’re interacting with. Common food allergies include peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, shellfish and wheat. Common intolerance issues include soy, milk and eggs. Alternate diets should take into account vegetarians, vegans and pescatarians. Some allergies are rarer and, at the end of the day, it never hurts to double-check to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.

Creating A Good Menu For Weddings

Now for a little refresher. A dinner catering menu is one of the most essential elements to a successful wedding and easily takes up a significant amount of time for the couple in question. Seasonally driven menus are some of the most popular decisions, while good drinks should always be in heavy supply. Double-checking for allergies and alternative diets will go a long way in preventing trouble, while hiring the right outside catering services will reduce a lot of stress on your already busy schedule. Ready to create the ultimate wedding? It pays to be prepared!

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Caterer

Corporate catering company

You are in charge of planning an event. You must choose the location, the theme of the event, and most importantly, the menu. Guests tend to look forward to and remember one thing at events, the food that was served. That is why catering can be so expensive and the best caterers sell out quickly. The type and quality of food at an event really makes or breaks the event. When planning an event that will serve food, keep the following things in mind when planning the menu with the caterer.

Research and ask for referrals with selecting good caterers. Good caterers make good impressions. They leave their customers satisfied and willing to make recommendations. When researching possible caterers for your event, ask them for recommendations. A caterer that is established and provides great service should be able to provide you with a list of satisfied previous customers. Ask your friends and co workers for recommendations of good caterers they have used previously.

Carefully plan your menu with the selected caterer. Your selected caterer should be able to provide you with recommended menu options, but the final menu decision will come down to you. Work with your caterer on creating a menu that fits the type of event you are planning. Event menus will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of event, the time of the event, and the time of year of the event.

For example, wedding events that take place in the evening are likely to have more upscale dining menus, including steaks, fishes, and appetizers. However, corporate menus that take place during the work day are likely to be filled with luncheon foods, such as sandwiches, salads, and bagels. The best event planner or caterer will be able to provide suggestions based on the specific details of your event.

Go over the contract with your caterer. You might assume that the full extent of the caterer contract is that they provide you with the meal suggested. However, there are actually many more details involved in this process. Good caterers will provide you with a contract that specifically lays out every aspect of the deal. You will need to decide on a lot of aspects of the catering relationship before signing the contract.

For example, in nearly all cases when you hire a caterer, you do not get to keep the leftovers. You only get what you paid for and what your guests ate, unless you have prearranged something differently in the contract. If you desire to keep the leftovers, you should have this specifically laid out in the contract and you should have previously discussed this with the caterer that you chose. Good caterers are often willing to work with their clients on adjusting to their specific needs.

Figure out the specifics of the event day. Another important discussion with the caterer is who will provide the needed essentials, such as the utensils, plates, napkins, and condiments. These are all items that your guests will need to enjoy their meals and the specific of who provides should be laid out in the contract and discussed ahead of time. A caterer may also be in charge of some decorations, table arrangements, and food presentation.

Inquire who will accompany your caterer. Some catering companies are full service. The best wedding menus prices include the setup, the serving, and the cleanup of the meal. A dinner catering menu can be a lot of work, so having an all inclusive package can be helpful. A caterer has to manage a staff of cooks, servers, cleaners, and dishwashers, while ensuring their team is aware of their schedules, place settings, serving customs, and food safety regulations. Ensure that your caterer is aware of these expectations and will be bringing a team for a full service catering job.

Planning any event requires a lot of decision making. One of the most important decisions, as an event planner is who will provide the catering for the event. There are a lot of minor details involved with the catering process. Good caterers will lay everything out in the contract and the contract should be thoroughly discussed before hiring a caterer for your next event.