To create an occasion that is truly memorable, you need nothing less than a top-notch catering service. Whether the event is a wedding, a corporate function, or a casual gathering, choosing a refined caterer will get you most of the way to “You should have seen this place when it was still a factory!” The past is present, and someday the future will also be historic. Here, we offer a guide to help you steer your choice toward the caterer that is right for your event.
Define Your Requirements
It’s crucial to pinpoint your requirements before you leap into the search for a catering service. Here’s what to mull over:
• Event: What is the nature of your gathering? Whether it’s formal or informal, the type of event will inherently affect your choice of caterer.
• Number of Attendees: Will your event be small, medium, or large? That count will dictate your caterer’s capacity, if you will.
• Type of Cuisine: Will your event serve up a specific type of cuisine? Or will your caterer serve a range of menu options, solving your specific problem of too many choices for what to serve at your event?
Start Your Search
To find the best catering, begin your inquiry by looking into local catering services. Quality catering companies have a good reputation; they don’t just wing it when it comes to planning an event and keeping everything running smoothly and on schedule. Start looking online:
• Review Sites: Websites like Yelp and local directories will give you valuable insights into not only the quality of food a potential caterer can provide but also how reliable they are if anything goes wrong.
• Recommendations: If you know anyone who has used a good caterer recently, ask for a recommendation. You can also ask a trusted local wedding resource (like your venue coordinator) for a recommendation.
• Portfolios: Visit the websites of any potentially good caterers and look at their “our work” portfolio.
Arrange Tastings
After you’ve trimmed your selection, set up tastings with the caterers. A food tasting is a key step in judging the quality and appearance of their offerings. Evaluate the following aspects:
• Presentation: Food must look mouthwatering, if not eye-popping, to make it past the initial judgement.
• Taste: Once you have taken all the above points into consideration, judge the food on its taste.
Check References
Prior to rendering a final judgement, elicit testimonials from previous patrons. Contact these past clients to probe their experiences. Some important questions to ask include:
• Punctuality: Did the caterer show up on time and deliver what was promised?
• Service Quality: How was the service during the event? Were the staff professional and accommodating?
• Overall Satisfaction: Would you hire the caterer again? Were there any issues?
Review and Finalise the Contract
After selecting a caterer, scrutinise and finalise the contract. Ensure it includes:
• Menu and Pricing: Confirm that the final menu, exactly as you want it, is in the contract, along with the pricing.
• Service Details: Be sure the contract spells out the company’s service responsibilities and your responsibilities—setup and cleanup, for example.
• Understanding Your Diners: The company should provide knowledge about the food being served and sometimes that requires knowing the diners’ special needs and what your guests can and can’t eat.
Discuss Special Requirements
Discuss your dietary needs and special requests with your caterer. Many catering services can provide suitable fare for those with dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-sensitive options.
Consider Sustainability
Caterers are embracing sustainable practices more and more every day. If it matters to you, make sure to ask your potential caterer about their waste reduction efforts, sourcing of local ingredients, and environmentally friendlier practices.
Conclusion
The best catering service isn’t just stumbled upon; it takes work to uncover. The actual catering part—serving delicious food—comes afterward. But first, you must determine exactly what you want. Is this an all-hands, any-place, any-time work requirement? What have the hosts hired the caterers to do, and what have they themselves committed to doing? Most likely, you won’t have an organiser’s ersatz glamour or a high police presence under either path I or II. Yet it is the right path and requires the right caterer.
