How to Catch the Accomplished Caterer?

Answer 1

When planning an event, the stress level can rise quickly and without notice. The biggest mistake most people make is to try to do too much themselves instead of delegating duties to others. One way you can relieve stress for yourself is to hire a catering company to prepare, serve, and clean up the food portion of your event for you, leaving you free to deal with other matters like enjoying yourself.

Choosing a caterer can seem like a daunting task. Look in any phone book in any sizeable city and you will see listings for hundreds of caterers, all vying for your hard earned dollars. Do not be fooled by flashy ads and big signage; just because they look established does not necessarily mean they are.

One way to trim the list of prospective caterers is to ask your friends and family who they have used and trusted in the past. Word of mouth is often times the best form of advertising as it involves personal accounts of the services rendered. People you know may have had experience with some of the caterers you are interested in and can offer opinions on the services.

Once you have a small list of catering businesses to choose from, you can start visiting them. The goal of a visit with each of the caterers is to see how you will get along with each one of them. Sometimes personalities clash and difficulty relating can hamper a smooth running event. Always ask for and follow up on references. Even though you may have three friends that loved the caterer, it doesn’t hurt to contact three strangers and ask their opinions on the services either.

Now that you have a very short list to choose from, ask the caterers for samples of their work. Arrange tastings at this point, and ask for photos of their work; human nature is to eat first with the eyes, second with the stomach. The choice at this point becomes a matter of taste.

You have chosen someone you can work with and trust, and now your event is off and running. The only job left is to enjoy!