An event wouldn’t be complete without food. Various gatherings like conferences, meetings, or parties commonly serve food and drinks to their guests to keep them full and entertained. So, if you’re planning on organizing an event, you may want to consider finding a caterer.
Hiring someone to take charge of the food for your event could take a load off your mind. Additionally, it could help ensure the quality of the meals served is top-notch. However, before you sign a deal with an event caterer, there are a few considerations you should think about.
As such, here are some:
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1. Check Their Capacity
One of the first questions you should ask a caterer is their maximum capacity. Although food providers can prepare and serve food for a large group, the number of people they can accommodate can still vary. Some companies can handle thousands of guests, while others can only serve a few hundred.
To start, know how many people you’re expecting for your event and hire a caterer who can handle your order. For instance, if you’re hosting a corporate get-together, you could hire a food provider specializing in huge celebrations. It may be helpful to prioritize corporate catering options to ensure your food supplier can accommodate your requirements.
It’s essential to work with a caterer that can meet your needs so that your event runs smoothly. Also, hiring a reliable food supplier can help ensure the quality of meals is consistent regardless of the portions they need to produce.
2. Ask For A Menu
If you plan on serving a full course meal during an event, such as snacks, appetizers, main course, and desserts, you may want to ask your caterer for their menu options. It can be difficult to mix and match dishes, especially if you don’t know what your guests would like. And so, it could also be easier to ask for recommendations from your food provider.
Some caterers have menu options for their clients to fit different occasions or food preferences. You can ask them for a few samples while stating which food items you prefer to include or remove from your event. For example, you can inform them to exclude dishes with seafood or nuts from the menu samples if you think a number of your attendees have allergies.
Once you have the options, you can decide which meal combination would fit your event’s overall ambiance and theme. If the occasion is more formal, quality dishes like steak may be ideal. On the other hand, a light meal or finger food would work if you have a casual get-together.
Additionally, when choosing your menu items, think about the time of your event. For example, if you’re holding a convention in the morning, consider adding breakfast dishes to your menu.
3. Do A Tasting Session
Before you close a deal with an event caterer, you should first know how their food tastes. The presentation of your food may not be enough if the flavor’s bland or underwhelming. Hence, it is ideal to request a tasting session to ensure the food tastes as good as it looks.
Moreso, you can ask other people to go with you to ask for their opinion during the tasting. It may also be an excellent idea to invite individuals who’d also be present during the event, so they can give you feedback on which dishes may appeal more to the attendees.
During the tasting, you can also talk about the serving format of the food with your event caterer. For instance, would a buffet-style event be more suitable to allow your guests to pick what goes on their plate? Or would serving them in individually plated meals be more convenient?
Additionally, you can also ask how your food supplier plans on keeping the food fresh. If your menu includes hot or cold items like soup or ice cream, your event caterer should have the necessary equipment to maintain the food’s temperature.
4. Evaluate Your Budget
An excellent menu and impressive dishes from a reliable caterer may not be ideal for your event if their cost is above your budget. And as such, consider setting how much you’re willing to spend on food before choosing your event caterer.
In some cases, the total price for a catering package may depend on how many people will attend the event. Your menu may also determine the amount you need to pay. For instance, a bigger budget is required if you’re serving dishes with premium cut steak or lobster. These ingredients generally cost more, so the caterer would price them higher.
If it helps, it would also be recommended to inform your event caterer how much you’re willing to spend so they can work around it.
Final Thoughts
Holding an event can be a lot of work. You need to plan it from start to finish and think about the food you’ll serve to your guests. If you wish to find a suitable event caterer, it could be helpful to check their menu options and taste their food before hiring them. This way, you can ensure the food at your event won’t disappoint.
