Unlike
most professions, there is not standard ranking system for caterers. Anyone regardless of experience can start
their own business. Let’s look at some
possible ways to choose a good caterer for your event. Use the methods to narrow your field. There a many caterers out there but don’t
become overwhelmed by the numbers.
Word
of mouth recommendations.
·
Anyone
can pay to advertise, but you will not find better advertising than word of
mouth. Ask someone who recently got
married or had an event who they used.
Ask how everything went from the first meeting to the event itself. Even if they had a bad experience, you may
find things you never thought to ask your caterer or pitfalls to avoid.
Ask for menus.
·
Not
all caterers can do every menu type well.
They should be able to provide you sample menus. It doesn’t hurt to ask for items not on the
menu. Most caterers cannot list every
item they can make in a packet. A good
caterer will be looking to break from the norm as well.
Schedule
a tasting.
·
Before
I started catering, I was very leery of caterers who would not schedule a
tasting. When I was getting married, the
exclusive caterer for the venue we were considering told us we could come to
another wedding and sample the food. I
know as a bride I would not be comfortable with strangers at my wedding.
Consider
the caterer’s specialty.
·
Some
caterers specialize in large scale events and have the equipment and expertize
to handle the larger number of guests.
Other caterers specialize in smaller intimate events, cocktail parties,
or specifically delivery & set-up of catered food. Ask your caterer what their specialty
is. They may not fit the event you are
currently planning, but they could be used for a different event.
o
Cannon
Events and Catering specializes in catering smaller events or delivery for
large events. Cocktail parties are our
favorite. Additionally, we prefer not to
cater events that we are planning and vice versa.
·
In
addition to the type of event, ask what their food specialty is. Not all caterers do bakery items. If they do not, are you to supply those items
such as a cake.
o
Cannon
Events and Catering refers our clients to Jamie Lane Sweets for bakery
items. While we do certain bakery items,
it is not our specialty.
Know
what they supply.
·
Be
sure to ask what kind of rentals the caterer supplies, such as china, silver
glasses, linens, etc. Sometimes the reception venue or florist will provide
these items. Make sure you understand
what you are suppling.
Consider
what services you need.
·
Find
out if your caterer only delivers and set-up the food ordered or will they
provide staff. If you have a more formal event, you may want service and
support staff. Find out if your caterer
has their own service staff or if they hire them from a temp agency for the
night. Those that do not have servers on
staff may not be accustom to catering the larger formal events.
Ask
for references.
·
You
are entrusting a single company with one of the largest parts of your
event. Don’t just ask for a list of
names of those they have catered for; instead ask for referrals of several
recent events they catered.
o
Cannon
Events and Catering includes “Love Letters” in our catering packets. These are feedback from those we have worked
with. We can also give you contact
information for some of our clients to ask them questions about working with
us.
Inquire
about food freshness.
·
Not
only if they are using frozen vs. fresh, but when do they start preparing your
order and will they be reheating the dish for your event. You can start with the freshest ingredients,
but preparing the items more than they day before and then reheating can lead
to a lower quality dish.
o
Unfortunately,
there are companies out there that operate this way. Especially, if they are making the same dish
for more than one order that week. Some
items should be started early to allow the flavors to properly marry or
blend. Certain items like sauces, soups,
marinated dishes, etc. need time to blend together properly. But not everything needs to be made days
before. Ask yourself this, would you
make this at home and reheat it for your guests? If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t hire
a caterer that would either.
Contact
the local health department.
·
Either
by phone or on the county department’s website to see inspection reports,
complaints, or issues for the catering company.
Depending on what you find, you may want to consider another
company.
Ask
for a Quote.
·
Looking
at just the bottom line number is not enough.
The quote should be detailed explaining the cost of each item/area. This will help determine if the items listed
are what you need/want. This is the time
to ask questions and make sure everything is exactly as discussed. In most cases, the quote becomes part of the
contract.
Ask
for and read the contract.
·
Never
hire a contractor of any kind without a firm contract in place. This includes a caterer. This will protect your interests to ensure
what you are paying for is what you are receiving. Once you have chosen your cater, read through
the contract thoroughly to ensure services and pricing are correct. Do no sign until you have read everything and
are confident everything is clear.
I
would like to thank the following sources for helping me write this article:
·
Belvederebanquets.com
– 7 Essential Tips for Hiring the Best Caterer for Your Event
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