Catering Tips For Sucessful Events
January 6th, 2009Catering is a great industry but to be successful you need to be aware of the many event catering tips and tricks that can help you on your way. The home enthusiast can also use some of these tips but they are mainly for the catering professional. Catering is time consuming but can also be very rewarding particularly if you love cooking. It can also be very profitable if you are smart and have a head for business.
You need to determine what type of catering you want your company to focus on. Many times this will change as your company grows, as beginning caterers do not have the staff and resources to cater very large events. There are a few types of catering you can choose from, corporate catering, school catering, event catering, and home based catering. After you have built up your business then you may want to start to take on some larger events.
Your food prep area is important for a caterer and this area must be spotlessly clean. You want to offer the best food possible but you also don’t want to be shut down by the health inspector. The food prep area must be as sanitary as possible and there are specific guidelines you may have to follow. To run a catering business you must have all of the certifications, permits and authentications current before you take on your first job.
You always need to be thinking of the budget whenever you are catering an event. You should have some menu options that cater to different budgets as examples for potential customers. You will need to determine the quantity and quality of the food for each price range as well as preparation costs. Buffets are always a great way to get the most from your money as buffet can focus more on the food as you don’t need a serving staff. Buffets can serve both hot and cold food dishes and can have many cuisine options.
Cocktail receptions are also very popular as they can be used as a bridge over meals or as a meal itself. Cocktail receptions can also be done at any time of the day and fit almost any occasion. Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres are elegant and filling. Besides all of the above you should be aware of what services you are providing for each event. Are you only providing the food or is there serving involved. Are you needed to be involved in any other planning for the event? As the caterer you should make sure the customer knows exactly what services have been agreed upon. Planning out as much as you can will help make the event progress smoothly and will minimal mishaps.




















