Event Catering Basics - Tips for Hiring a Caterer

If you are hosting an upcoming event, you may want to consider hiring an event catering company to handle the food preparation and service. Catering companies can save you a lot of worry and frustration enabling you to focus on other aspects of the event. Here, we have compiled a list of helpful tips that will assist you in making the best choice for you and your event.

References - it is always in your best interest to ask for and check references prior to hiring any event catering company. This will ensure you choose a reputable caterer who has satisfied customers and who is knowledgeable in sanitation, food handling, and safety procedures.

Visit - when narrowing your list of prospective caterers, you should plan to visit their establishment. Simply taking a tour of the facility and asking some questions will give you a better idea if this is the best caterer for you and your event. During the course of a visit, you will find out valuable information such as the dishes they offer, available side items, and more importantly if they prepare their meals using prepackaged and canned foods versus preparing the dishes from scratch. In addition, you can ask to sample some of the dishes you would like served at your event to ensure taste and quality meet your approval.

Plan and Hire Ahead - many of the best caterers are booked up to a year or more in advance therefore, when hiring an event catering company, it is important to plan ahead and hire the caterer of your choice six months or more in advance of your planned event.

Contracts - many catering companies have signed contracts outlining their services. A contract is good for protecting both you and the caterer however, you should reads the entire contract carefully before signing to ensure you fully understand the terms outlined within. For example, many caterers require a 50% deposit upfront and should the need arise to cancel your event, you may not receive some or any of your deposit back.

Hosting an event can be a stressful time however, by employing the services of a reputable event catering company, you can put your mind at ease knowing that food preparation and service will be handled professionally and smoothly. Use these helpful tips and hire an event catering company for your upcoming event today.