By Savoury CIty Catering – 2010 Award Winner for The Best Hors D’Oeuvre

Finding a local catering company is easy, but finding one that understands your particular needs and meets those needs can be another matter altogether. Catering is a deceptively subtle art that when done well, looks effortless and meant to be, but if it’s done poorly…well it can be an unmitigated disaster. While most people have trouble remembering what they had for dinner yesterday, we all remember our best and worst meals. It’s also important to understand that great catering extends beyond the taste of the food, and includes everything from presentation and accompanying décor, to the efficiency and demeanor of service staff. So, with this is mind here are the top five things to look for from your prospective caterer.

1. Are you experienced with my venue?

While it’s not strictly necessary that the catering company you’re considering has worked in your chosen venue before, they must be willing to do a site inspection with you. This is key as it will give you a chance to draft a floor plan laying out seating arrangements, food stations, bar placement, etc.  Make sure you address things like adequacy of power supply if you’re using coffee urns or portable convection ovens, as they draw huge amounts of power. Make sure there is access to the electrical panel in case a breaker is accidentally tripped.

2. What level of Insurance do you carry and what does it cover?

Make sure your chosen catering company has adequate insurance for any mishap. Chances are, if something does go wrong, it’ll be something relatively small like a burnt counter-top, but will your caterer be willing and able to fix it? A good catering company should carry insurance coverage of at least 5 million dollars.

3. What am I paying for?

Having an accurate budget for your event can save you a lot of headache. While it goes without saying that everyone wants the best for the least, you really do get what you pay for. If for instance, you’ve asked four companies to bid on your job and one quote is a lot lower than the others, a bell should go off. What are they not promising and what corners are being cut for them to deliver their service that still allows for profit?

4. Can you plan all aspects of my wedding?

Unless you’ve hired an event planner (or you’re one yourself) it’s best to work with a caterer that does it all, from the obvious menu planning, to things like organizing rental contracts, liquor licenses, decor, staffing and entertainment. Having one point of contact insures that nothing gets missed and there is someone assuming total responsibility.

5. How flexible are you?

How much time will your caterer devote to your event? If you’re planning a large and detailed event like a wedding, the correspondence could fill a book. Everything changes, guests list go up and down, weather might affect rental lists, so is your caterer prepared to work with you?

To read more about Savoury City’s Award Winning Hors D’Oeuvre click here.

Images Supplied Courtesy of Savoury City