What is the one thing every successful event has in common? Proper planning, securing the right venue, and getting the right people together are all important, but the MOST important aspect of any successful event is having GREAT FOOD!
You’d better believe your guests will be talking about the food, whether it's really good or really bad. Having an excellent, memorable meal will contribute to the event's success. So, how are you going to make that happen?
For today, I’ll focus more on catering for parties, as opposed to catering for meetings. I've put together a list of things you should know as well as some questions to ask your caterer. It will assist you in selecting the ideal event menu that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations!
Two things you should know when starting to plan:
1. Know your guest count and your budget. The number of people you'll be feeding and your budget are obviously where you should start when planning an event. You'd be surprised how many people try to order when they don't know how many people will attend. Knowing your guest count before calling for an estimate will help you budget more effectively and avoid last-minute menu changes that are confusing and unnecessary.
2. Have a specific date and time in mind. This may seem obvious, but event dates and times are sometimes subject to change, putting both sides' schedules under stress.
Here are six additional questions to ask your caterer:
1.What are their menu specialties? Consider planning your menu around your caterer's customer favorites or specialties to ensure you get the best your caterer has to offer.
2. Ask your caterer what they would recommend. They might have some great suggestions based on your budget, guest count, and event style that you wouldn't have considered otherwise.
3. Ask your caterer if they allow custom menus, or do they offer a preset menu? While many caterers offer preset menus with popular platters and menu favorites, some caterers allow their customers to customize meals to better suit their individual needs.
4. Ask if specific dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Some guests may have special dietary needs, such as kosher, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, so make sure your caterer is prepared to handle these requests. This is easy to overlook but it’s very important due to the serious health implications of food allergies and intolerance to certain ingredients.
5. Ask how their food is presented. Remember, visual appeal is critical. We also eat with our eyes, so it’s useful to see some examples of what this particular caterer has served in the past.
6. Don’t forget to ask what additional items the caterer provides. For example, does the caterer provide napkins, silverware, plates, condiments, chafing dishes, etc.?
Thanks for reading my blog post, and I'd love to hear from you about your events. You can email me at contact@rainbowasian.com
