Dont Forget About Equipments Costs
Unless you are hosting your event at a restaurant or a venue that has a fully equipped kitchen, its most likely that you will need to hire some catering equipment for your event. If you are working with a completely empty shell, the hire fees can end up costing more than the food itself.
Usually the catering company will arrange all the equipment on your behalf, but you might also need to provide the following:
Event Catering Idea #1: Rolled Ice Cream Parlor
The frozen dessert originally from Southeast Asia is also sometimes called stir-fried ice cream. Think delicious gelato, flattened on a sheet and then rolled into a vertical cylinder. Add toppings, stick a spoon in it, and bam! Youve got yourself a delicious and highly Instagrammable festival treat.
Plan Delivery Routes And Timings
You will need to consider the logistics of getting all the food and equipment delivered for your event. Work with the venue and caterers to identify loading areas, routes and storage. Find out if there are fridges on site that you can use, and discuss the best delivery time for your goods.
At the end of the event, make sure that all your equipment is packed away and removed from the venue by an agreed time. Often venues have a tight schedule and will require you to clear the venue on the same day.
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The Dos And Donts Of Event Catering: Ideas And Hacks To Try Now
Attendees are hungry. Its your job to feed them before they get hangry.
A new Eventbrite and OnePoll survey shows that food matters more to attendees than almost anything when theyre deciding which events to attend. In fact, 74% of Americans are sure to show up to an event if they know the food served will be good, no matter what kind of event it is.
Event catering ideas and planning are critical to the experience your attendees have. Make sure youre serving the right kinds of food, working with innovative catering partners, and managing your event catering budget efficiently.
Here are three dos and three donts for each element of that job.
Planning A Catered Event Read This First
Selecting an event caterer and understanding the role catering plays at an event are both critical components of the event planning process. Since the topic of event catering and selecting an event caterer can be overwhelming for those planning events, we put together this event catering guide to help guide you through the process. In this article, learn the important catering facts to know, questions to ask, and additional tips to consider when planning an event with catering.
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Tips For Delivering A Memorable Catering Event
Jacki Brown
Catering and event managers aspire to exceed planners expectations and create an event guests will rave about. Whether its an elaborate black-tie affair, an intimate party, or a corporate board meeting, numerous elements go into making a memorable catering event. With so many details to juggle, what should you focus on first?
Before we dive in, be sure to visit our ultimate guide to grow events and group business for an all-encompassing rundown of events, sales and catering tips, data points and best practices.
Corporate Event Catering: 7 Tips About How To Plan Catering For A Large Event
By 2028, the events industry in America is expected to be worth $1552.9 billion, so it’s fair to say that we like a good party. Whether you organize a corporate event, wedding, or private party, you want your event to go off without a hitch. This is why people start event planning months or even years in advance!
However, to succeed, you need to cover all of your bases thoroughly, and organizing your catering well is essential. Even before you’ve considered your menu, more than 56 million people across the country have special dietary requirements. So this can feel like an overwhelming task.
This is why getting help from a seasoned professional is essential. Well, you’re in the right place! Read on to find out our top seven pieces of advice about corporate event catering and planning catering for a significant event.
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Invest In Beautiful Serving Tools
Gorgeous serving spoons, forks, tongs, bowls, plates, and platters can elevate the look and feel of even the simplest dishes. Choose a quality set of gold or silver serving tools to bring with you as backup just in case the host or venue needs extra. Pack an extra couple large white serving bowls too while youre at it. Use them to store extra ice and bottles at the bar, flip them over and use them platter stands to add height to a tablescape, or simply fill them with extra portions of food that is overflowing on the table.
Choose A Restaurant To Cater Your Next Event You Wont Be Sorry
Feeding guests is one of the most important elements of any party or business event.
Hiring the perfect caterer for the occasion will reduce party planning stress and make the event as memorable and enjoyable as possible for everyone.
When most people begin looking for a caterer, they tend to unconsciously limit their options to companies that specialize in traditional, full-service catering.
What they often dont realize is that many of their favorite restaurants offer catering too.
Full-service caterers are a great option for larger or more upscale events like weddings, but there can be a lot of advantages to using a restaurant that caters over a full-service catering company, especially if your gathering is going to be small, last minute, or casual.
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Stay Away From Boxed Lunches
Years ago, bring their own lunch or boxed lunches were popular at corporate events. While this is cheaper, youll never go back to boxed lunches once youve held an event with catered service. Clients and attendees are more impressed by a nice food spread and are more willing to pay attention to your event if theyre having a good time and are fed well. Hint: They will remember the food.
If youre planning a corporate event in Dayton, Cincinnati or Columbus, Ohio, The Roberts Centresevent planning staff can handle everything from start to finish. Our catering packages include beautiful buffets, perfect plated dinners, lavish luncheons and unbeatable breakfasts to pair nicely with all of your corporate events and functions. Contact us to discuss catering tips and review our catering menus.
We also offer an on-site restaurant and have lodging available for conferences with our on-site Holiday Inn. Contact us today at 283-3272 to schedule your business meeting and other special events today.
Opt For Simple Dishes
Simple, hearty fare can fill tummies without emptying pockets. Stews, braised meats, curries, pasta and rice dishes can provide a homely taste that people love. It can be helpful to pick a theme for your menu, such as A Taste of India or American Diner to bring it all together.
Where you can, swap expensive cuts of meat for cheaper ones, such as chicken thighs or beef brisket both delicious and full of flavour when slow cooked. Sticking to ingredients that are in season can also reduce food spend.
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Hire A Dependable Caterer
When hiring a caterer, here are some things to check for:
- How long have they been in business, and are they in good standing with the Better Business Bureau?
- Is your caterer fully insured? Do they have all appropriate food-service licenses?
- Are they operating from a kitchen facility or out of their garage?
- If providing alcoholic beverages, is your caterer fully licensed to provide and serve alcoholic beverages? Do they have a California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Caterers Permit for your event, if necessary? Do they adhere to the guidelines of the Responsible Hospitality Coalition and observe the laws of the County of San Diego and State of California? Are the bartenders LEAD certified through the Responsible Hospitality Coalition?
- Does the caterer have references? In what industry and community business associations do they belong to and actively participate?
- When is the final guest count due?
Now that youve run through your checklist for a successful catered event menu and venue, youre sure to have a successful event that your guests will enjoy and remember for a long time.
Make An Impeccable First Impression
Before the wheels are set in motion for an event, its vital to remember that first impressions matter. How quickly did you respond to the planners request for proposal ? Was your response at all customized to the information they previously provided? By focusing on the details planners need up front and incorporating them into the venue showing, it will not only have them excited to sign immediately, but make everyones job and expectations easier. Being attentive and thorough will establish the tone between you and the planner from the get-go.
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Catering Ideas To Make Your Event Menu Stand Out
For many attendees, substandard event food can ruin the whole experience. Knowing what types of food will appeal to a large group of people might seem like an impossible task. You want great catering ideas that are delicious and definitely not ordinary. It cant be too messy, and the fewer utensils needed the better, right?
What makes it even more of a challenge is that food trends change all the time. Will those in the know say your events offerings were on the cutting edge, or yesterdays news? We went looking for unique catering options and trendy catering menus for you, taking a peek at Instagram and other social media and reviewing the top chefs best catering menu ideas.
Its always the trend to include seasonal flavors, with hearty chicken pot pies or hors doeuvres featuring preserved meats served in winter months, and more herbs, fruits, and vegetables served in the summer months. But you also want to keep in mind presentation as much as flavor: since the pandemic, many chefs prefer individually packaged items that limit touching and exposure to germs for their special events catering.
We think weve found the most mouth-watering ideas to keep your guests wanting more, no matter your budget. Browse by meal type to get the planning process started.
Know Your Budget So You Can Manage Your Costs
Its really important to know your budget when briefing your catering company so you can guide them on how much you want to spend in total, or per person. You dont want to brief a party caterer and have them come back with a ridiculous quote that blows your budget and then have to start all over again.
Think about what your total budget is, and how much food you want to serve each guest. Do you want canapes and mains, a big grazing table for everyone to pick and choose, or mains and desserts? Provide some ideas and work on a brief together with the caterer to find the best solution.
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Types Of Special Events That Can Be Professionally Catered
If you have a special event coming up, food is most likely a central part of it. Making great food that everyone will enjoy is a huge responsibility, though. Often, when the hosts decide to prepare the dishes themselves, they miss out on the fun, or because theyre preoccupied with the big task of feeding everyone, they stress out way too much, which takes away from what should be a happy, enjoyable occasion.
Whats the solution? Professional catering services, of course! Here in Miami, Bella Personal Chef, Catering & Event Design handles event catering for groups of many different sizes, from small and intimate to large and metropolitan, and in todays blog, wed like to list a range of special events that can be professionally catered by a reliable full-service catering company like ours to take the pressure off of you!
Start Marketing Your Home
How will you get the word out? If you plan to cater to an older crowd, you may want to go with traditional marketing methods, like taking an ad out in a local publication. If your ideal customers are younger and tech-savvy, social media is probably a better place to focus your efforts. Focus on high-end photography.
Youll also need a website. A website makes you findable online, and it can be your home base to display menus, testimonials, photos, and pricing. Its also where you can share your story and credentials, like your culinary school degree or diploma, and what is special about your cuisine.
For me, having access to the school online means it is now possible to receive the culinary education I have desired, while still being able to grow my business and take care of my family, without even having to leave our valley. It is awesome that in my lifetime, we have developed the technology making this educational venture even an option. I am grateful for the opportunity, to say the least.*Kirsten Douglas, Online Culinary Arts Graduate, Owner & Catering Chef at The Main Event
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Tip #: Dont Run Out And Buy Extra Dinnerware And Displayware
Most professional caterers also have their own smallware, which consists of glassware, flatware, dinnerware, bar supplies, and utensils. Caterers that do lots of off-premise catering also have beautiful display ware such as platters and serving bowls.
Want to use your own? Thats fine too! Maybe youve been dying to use your wedding china for a special dinner party. Or maybe your Spode Christmas plates have been hiding in the attic for too long.
Up The Ante With Ethnic Foods That Fit Your Theme
Planning a catered menu event with a specific ethnic or international cuisine is a great way to engage your guests and treat them to a unique catered menu experience. Your event planner and executive chef can work together to bring regional and international foods to your event, making the catered event stand out from the standard chicken dinners usually served. Some of the most popular ethnic catering menus are Asian/Chinese/Japanese, Mexican, French, German, Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern. They arent just different catering event menu options, but also can be more versatile when planning a menu for people with food restrictions.
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How Much Food Does Each Person Need
The first thing you need to consider is the time of your event. As you can imagine, there is a big difference between hosting something during lunchtime, which is traditionally 12pm 2pm, and an afternoon event, say from 3pm 5pm. People will be expecting and requiring a lot more food at regular mealtimes than they will for afternoon tea. Likewise, for an evening celebration, something from 6pm 8pm is going to require a more substantial meal than an event starting at 8pm, as people will naturally eat before attending.
So, how does this translate to portion size?
For a lunchtime event , we suggest choosing a two or three-course option for a seated event. For a cocktail style function, we recommend anywhere between 6 8 pieces per person to satisfy guests.
For an afternoon event , consider one light course or perhaps a grazing table. An antipasto option is a great choice or if you really want to treat your guests, consider a decadent dessert grazing table with fruit perfect for afternoon tea allow approximately 3 4 pieces per person.
In the evening, if you are aiming for an all-out dinnertime extravaganza , three courses are a must to fill hungry tummies. For a cocktail style event, you should be looking at 10 12 pieces to keep guests fuelled for an evening of festivities.
Tips For Hosting A Party At Home Using Caterers
During the pandemic, weve all gotten a lot more used to doing things at home. And many of us have been spending our time at home renovating and updating our homes. Now that many of us are back to entertaining, some may still prefer the comfort and familiarity of home. And some may want to show off their newly renovated/redecorated homes! Sure, you can invite people to a restaurant or to a beautiful event space to celebrate a special event, but sometimes, having it in your home is the way to go. And while an in-home party can be warm and personal, it can also be overwhelming to plan and execute.
Stay calm, take a deep breath, and reach for the phone to call a full-service catering company like Messinas Catering & Events. Hiring a New Orleans catering company to cater your party is the best way to get the best of both worlds to have your party at home, and have someone else do the setup, cooking and service. This way, your guests feel the warmth and comfort of your home, and you can avoid missing the whole party by spending it in the kitchen. In-home catering is the perfect solution to carefree event planning.
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Tip #: Where To Put Everyone
For intimate sit-down dinners, you can use your own dining room table to give your event a personal feel. Larger guest lists may require renting dining tables, cocktail tables, chairs, and linens. If this is the case, your caterer can help make recommendations as to what you will need, and can recommend a reputable rental company.