Here are 3 important steps to do when hiring a caterer!

When executing an event, food is a vital thing to remember. After all, everyone who goes to one will almost always look forward to the food they’re going to be served, whether it’s as casual as a barbecue or as extravagant as a five-course meal.

But we all know planning an event can be exhausting and time-consuming since every little detail is begging for your attention. When you’re already panicking and on edge, cooking your own food may not be the best course of action. This is why hiring the right catering service is important.

There are many options for catering in Las Vegas, and we’re sure you’ll find the one that fits your event the best. Finding your perfect match can be as easy as typing ‘catering near me’ on your phone and evaluating the results.

Another option is to look for restaurants that cater, especially if your guests have a particular taste or if your event’s theme requires a specific menu.  Whatever you choose, there are steps that wouldn’t differ. Here are the three most important steps you need to do when looking for a caterer.

1. Finalize Your Details

When talking with your caterer, it’s best to have your event details already in order. By details, we mean setting your final date, time, and location. This is so the catering service you hire would know when to pencil you in their schedule.

Plus, this will give your caterer the chance to visit the events place and learn the layout. Most event locations also have a set of rules that every catering service needs to follow, so it’s in everyone’s best interest if the caterer gets to see the place before the actual event.

 

2. Set a Budget

Not all events need the same thing. Likewise, not all catering services come at the same price, and the budget highly depends on what your function particularly needs. Setting a limit on your spending will help you look for the right catering service to partner up with, from reducing the catering services you need to choose from to planning what additional services you can get.

When creating a budget, here are some things to consider:

• Will your food service be buffet style or a sit-down?
• Will it have a particular theme, be a specific cuisine, or will a set menu be enough?
• Will you need additional services like a mobile bar etc.?

Knowing what your event needs before even hiring a catering service will most likely help you save more money in the long run. Additionally, setting a budget and sticking to a plan will be crucial if you want to avoid wasting food.

3. Plan with Your Caterer

Lastly, always talk about your event with your caterer. Let them in on the plan as they’ll be a huge part of it as well. Tell them what you expect of them, from the actual food service to the cleaning up afterward. A good way to spot a wonderful partnership is if the catering service you’re talking to seems genuinely interested in your event. It’s a nice plus if they also answer your inquiries promptly, whether you do it by phone or email.

While you’re at it, ask them if they offer additional services like event styling and organizing. Many catering companies today are branching out into full-scale event planning, and you might be lucky to find one that works well for you. That’s like hitting two birds with one stone!

 

These are the most fundamental steps you need to consider when hiring a catering service. There are a lot more decisions to be done, but if you do these three well, everything else will be smooth sailing.

Remember food can make or break your event so make sure to get only the best catering service for the job. Once you find them, you can stop worrying about the food you’re going to serve and worry about the other event details you need to handle. All that’s left now is to Google ‘catering near me’ to look a the catering vendors available.

In every event you handle, the food that’s served will be an important factor that can make or break it. It might not seem like a huge deal, but mouthwatering dishes can sometimes salvage an event on the brink of failing. However, you can also lose major points if the food isn’t up to standards even though everything else is smooth sailing. That’s why choosing the best catering food service is the best idea to ensure you have a successful event.

Although convenience will be an important factor, going with only choosing a ‘get the catering near me’ attitude would only result in a disaster. There are other things you need to think about before picking a caterer for your event.

 

1. Fast Response & Genuine Interest in Your Event

 

Most caterers would tell you they serve scrumptious courses, and you wouldn’t want it any other way. But not all caterers would take the time to familiarize themselves with your event and its specific needs. There’s nothing entirely wrong with that, but if you want the best for your event, a great caterer would often ask questions about your theme and style so that they can serve you better.

One early indicator that the catering food service you’re talking to is worth taking on would be their quick response to inquiries, whether it be made through calls or email.

 

2. Ability to Handle Specific Events & Venue Familiarity

 

Although catering food services handle a broad variety of events, some companies handle specific events better than others. Some would thrive in small and intimate celebrations, and others work better for large, corporate gatherings. So, it’s a great idea to ask about the types of events they’re more comfortable working for to find the right fit for your own event.

It’s also good to have an idea of where your party’s going to happen, as most venues have their own set of rules. Finding a catering food service that has already done events in your location is a bonus since they already know the place’s do’s and don’ts.

 

3. Flexibility with Menus & Food Tasting

 

All caterers have a standard catering menu in place so it’s easy for you to gauge the food they’ll most likely serve you. But there are cases where your party has a certain theme or the guests will be attending adhere to a certain diet (like vegan or something specific for kids). A great caterer will be open to negotiations and can change their catering menu to fit your needs specifically.

Plus, you can also book an appointment for a sample tasting. Just be open to additional fees. This is a good idea since you can judge the food first hand and you can see if the caterer will make an extra effort to plate the food excellently.

 

4. Complete Explanation of Contract and Cancellation

 

This is a very important tip, and you need to make sure that when talking with the caterer, they will fully explain the contract to you (what are included, what might need additional fees, and what they do not cover). Even simple things like setup, cleaning, and what to do with leftovers are topics you need to discuss.

Although reputable caterers would rarely cancel out on bookings, make sure that there’s a clause in the contract specifically for this. Ask for a refund and a referral to other caterers so you won’t be panicking if they cancel out a few hours before your event.

 

5. Credentials of Chef and Kitchen Staff

 

Lastly, check out their chef’s credentials. Even if the catering food service you want to get doles out an amazing service, the experience would be spoiled if the food isn’t up to par. Knowing the kitchen staff’s skills would assure you that the food you’ll be serving will be memorable and excellent.