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How to hire a caterer
The most important thing to remember when hiring a caterer, or any professional, is that the relationship must be based on trust, honesty, and open communication. Whether you are planning a wedding, a Bar Mitzvah, or a business meeting, you hire a caterer for very important events in your life. The details must be handled by a professional organization with the resources to accommodate you effectively and on budget.
Begin your search by talking with friends and family, taking recommendations. Your opinion of a company should start to form based on the initial phone contact. Did you get a person or a machine? Was the person polite, knowledgeable and able to answer general questions? Is the caterer enthusiastic about your event? Quite a lot can be determined about the company from the initial call. The person who pledges to attend to every detail of your daughter's storybook wedding surely can answer the phone professionally
For your business:
Ask for a tour of the caterer's commissary. Is it clean and organized? Is there activity? What type of on-time guarantee do they have? Try some food and talk with the chef, you cannot have too much information when it is your business on the line.
Planning a wedding:
You bought all the Martha Stewart books and magazines; you have your list of questions she insists you ask. Does the caterer have insurance? How do I know the caterer will not run out of food? What happens to the leftovers?
First, let me assure you, a reputable company will not run out of food. Period. There are formulas that give basic guidelines for amounts of food to prepare based on the number of guests but more importantly the caterer should have experience with events similar to yours.
All catering companies are required to have insurance. Make sure that this includes workers compensation or you may be on the hook in case of an accident at your event.
In conclusion, it is important to establish a rapport with the key people planning your party. Go beyond the event planner or salesperson. Ask to talk with the owner. Who is the chef? These people have an important roll in your event and are glad to speak with you. They are in catering because they love serving, and they want you to get the party that you plan.
