6 Best Catering Tips For An Amazing Guest Experience
When you think about catering, you only usually consider the food. However, there is a lot more that needs to be taken into consideration. So I have put together these top event catering tips so it can help you out when you next organise an event.
Catering Menu
First up, I will talk about the menu and how to get the best out of it.
When choosing a caterer and looking at their menu you have to ask them about their flexibility. This includes a range of things, such as: food substitutes, dietary replacements and food adaptation according to your ideas. You want a caterer that can accommodate any requests you might have. Obviously you can’t ask for the impossible; but any catering company should be open to changing certain elements of a menu.
Another thing to consider is: is the caterer up to speed with the latest food trends? And does their menu reflect that? A good example of a current trend is plant-based options. I would suggest that you keep your menu trendy, as it will be more exciting for your guests. However, it all depends on the crowd attending the event – so I will let you be the judge of what menu suits your event best. Just make sure it is exactly what you want.
Lastly, you should check if your caterers have seasonal menus. You want to serve seasonal food at your event. This is because the food will be locally produced and fresher.
Catering Service
One thing you should always ask your caterer about is the number of staff that they will provide. And ask them to explain to you the reasoning behind the number of staff they intend to supply. This way you have a clearer idea of the number of staff and how things will work during the event.
To understand the logic behind this – it is good to enquire about their standards on other events. It should be based on the number of guests and the type of the event and service being provided.
- Let me know in the comments below if you would like more in-depth details on the standards of staff numbers.
These questions are all very important to ensure your event goes smoothly and for you to understand the logic behind certain numbers of staff. And it goes without saying that as a paying client you deserve to know what you are spending your money on.
Catering Tips on Tastings
For almost every event a tasting should be organised at some point in the planning. Which I definitely recommend to avoid any surprises.
If you are having a dinner or a lunch you will be invited by the caterers to come along for a tasting of the menu, to help you decide what to choose. This should not be avoided as it will help you choose, but also give you the opportunity to make any alterations and to ask any questions about menus, staff and drinks. (Plus try some tasty food)
Tastings can be provided for:
- Main meals
- Buffet meals
- Canapes
- Bowl food
To conclude, a tasting is always recommended and should always happen to help you make your final decisions. If it is not offered always ask for one.
Plan Ahead And Be Specific
The earlier you plan your event the best results you can expect on the day.
So before you start getting in touch with a venue or caterer, you should have certain information already decided to make your booking experience easier. Knowing exactly what you want from an event, what type of event you are planning and knowing your budget are the three main topics you should know from the start.
Once you know this information the easier it will be to get what you want from your caterers.
One of my extra catering tips is to have everything sorted at least a week prior to your event. This way you can relax during that last week and only have to deal with minor changes that can sometimes happen.
Sort out these items at least 1 week before the event:
- full guest list
- dietaries
- any special requests
Important: Catering Tips About Contracts
This is an important topic. Not just for catering contracts but any contract you sign.
You should always check the policies of each contract you sign. Simply put you need to check if you are protected in case of something happening. Caterers have the right to request a cancellation fee/deposit fee. However, you should check how late you can hold off cancelling if you suddenly need to without being charged.
And you should discuss this date and have it written in your diary; especially at times like these when there is a lot of uncertainty when hosting events, due to COVID. It is better to be clear & upfront with your suppliers about this sort of thing as you will all be keen to ensure a win-win situation and have a great event.
So when you next sign a contract, please read it carefully and make sure you are protected and you have policies that work for you.
Event Catering Food Safety
Food safety is a simple one: every catering company has to follow it.
When you book your event, just ask about it. Ask what are their policies on food safety. The caterers will be happy to share this information with you. Because at the end of the day they will have to follow them and at least you will know from the start what to expect.
Food safety simply put is the routine the food will have: from the preparation, to the handling and the storage of it. Food safety policies are implemented to prevent food illness or injury to the consumers.
Catering Tips Conclusion
To conclude, when booking a caterer please take these catering tips into consideration so that your event runs as smoothly as possible.
If you would like any more information on any Event topics do let me know in the comments below or just email us on our Contact Page.
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