Choosing The Right Caterer

As 2020 begins, you may be considering a catering company for your next event. Whether you're planning a wedding, festival or conducting a business meeting, choosing a caterer can be a slippery slope. As well as allergy and hygiene considerations, the food supplied should be of quality and desirable to all guests. Supplying your event with tasty & appealing food promotes a positive image to your guests, visitors and clients. 6 Tips for finding the right catering companies for your business 1. Before you start looking, put together a detailed brief covering what your needs are. (Number of Guests etc) 2. Identify potential catering companies that have the capacity, relevant experience & qualifications to deliver a quality service for you and your guests. 3. Ensure they have access to equipment and techniques for whatever your event entails 4. Ask other event hosts in the area for referrals, and often internet searches for suppliers can provide good research and a list of companies to contact 5. Seek out testimonials and online reviews from their customer 6. Ask for a pre-event visit and quotation in advance

Almost every caterer has a basic menu or menus to choose from, and many do provide some level of built-in flexibility to adapt these menus to your needs by substituting specific items and/or customising recipes. A professional caterer should also be willing to consider special dietary requests. But how will you ever know what a caterer can do unless you sample their food? And more importantly, how will you know what the menu items you are considering will taste like unless you specifically try them? Some people don't like to ask to sample the specific items they want for their event because it seems like a hassle for the caterer, but it is standard to ask for a taster of what you are intending to order before you employ their business. Of course you will need to check up on the caterers you are considering, and it's always good to start online and check out sites like Yelp, Wedding directories and google for their reviews and ratings. However, don't stop there, as online reviews are not always reliable, for example, a good caterer may have had a few nightmare/hater clients who skew their ratings, while an average caterer may have padded their online reviews. So see if you can contact some past clients of the caterers you are thinking about using and reach out to them. Generally, how long a catering company has been in business may not matter as much in selecting a quality caterer as you may think. So make sure you ask about the chef's resume and CV because they will probably be the most responsible for the outcome of the meal and whether your guests enjoy it or not. With all these things considered, it is essential to be prepared even before employing a caterer for your event as there are so many factors that can make or break your special day. Just remember to do your research and enjoy your day!