5 Essential Tips for Hiring a Private Caterer for Your Event
Over the past ten years, the revenues of the catering industry have doubled in size.
Everyone loves food. But the worst thing that could happen to you is that you get a bad caterer for your event.
Make sure that when you’re looking for a private caterer, you know how to get the best deal for what you need.
How to Get the Best Private Caterer for Your Event
You could be using your caterer for a wedding, a corporate function, a family event, or a whole number of things. No matter what, food is at the center of every function, so you’ve got to make sure it’s good.
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Pay Them a Visit
Every catering service will have a kitchen somewhere in a brick and mortar location.
You can visit the kitchen before choosing a service. Take a scan of the area to see if it’s clean and if the staff is professional. If you see any red flags, it’s not the private caterer that you want to go with.
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Narrow it Down
Life is full of options. When you’re presented with too many options, it psychologically makes it more difficult to choose just one.
Use a strategy to narrow down which caterers you’re considering. Start with five, and then start to narrow the playing field even more after doing more research.
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Know the Hidden Details
Everyone’s always looking to save money. When you’re looking at the cost of your private caterer, make sure that the price you’re looking at is all-inclusive.
Before you sign that contract, make sure that there isn’t an additional breakdown fee, staffing fee, or other specific fees that you didn’t know about. Clear communication is key to making sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.
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Check That Portfolio
You can get a fairly good gauge of the professionalism of a private catering company by the layout and the information on their website.
If their website isn’t aesthetically pleasing, it’s safe to say it’s less likely that their food and presentation will be pleasing as well.
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Taste it First
Tasting food before you hire a caterer is like going for a test drive.
You can sample the menu and work with it from what you’re given to sample. If the company doesn’t have the option to schedule a tasting, you might take that as a sign to find a company that does.
Plan Ahead
When you’re planning an event, the number one important thing that you can do is plan ahead.
Don’t just go with the first private caterer that you find. When you take your time to plan and research, you’ll be the most satisfied with your choice. But you have to carve out the time to do so as a part of the time you’ve budgeted to planning your party.
The more prepared you are, the more successful you’ll be. Get out there and pick the perfect caterer for your special event.
