How Catering Works

Over at How Stuff Works.com they've put together the 411 on what catering is all about! Check this nicely presented article/presentation and learn how catering works!

Presentation: How Catering Works

How To Choose A Caterer!

Most people have never thought of entertaining on a grand scale, and the thought of providing food, alcohol, entertainment, etc. for a large number of people can be daunting for the uninitiated! When throwing a party, it should reflect your tastes, personality and sense of adventure, and selecting the appropriate caterer can make the entire process effortless. Tales of nightmarish events are plentiful, and you don't want to be remembered as one of them! However, do not fear. The catering industry in Toronto rivals those in other large U.S. cities and the services we offer are world class. But how do you decide which caterer is best for you?

Research!
When polled, event professionals agree: word of mouth is the best way in which to find your caterer of choice. When doing your initial fact-finding, ask friends or business associates whom they have used in the past. Large companies often have an in-house event planner who will be in the know. Ask your florist, DJ, or rental company for recommendations. Industry professionals tend to associate only with organizations who excel at what they do. Also, venues in your area are a great source of information. Call them and ask for their lists of approved caterers. You can be sure that venue-approved caterers have been qualified and meet the high standards of the venue. When attending events, ask questions: Who is catering the event? How is the food? Are the service staff friendly and polite? Did you have to wait for service? Moreover, bend the ear of your host/ess and inquire about the caterer's service during the planning process: Was the planning enjoyable? Was the consultant enthusiastic? Remember, the experience of a party is not simply how it appears at the actual event, the planning process should be enjoyable as well. Web-sites allow you to get a quick introduction and feel for the company, but be aware that the skills of the web-designer may actually enhance or mask the company's actual abilities. Finally, consistency is one of the cornerstones for your selection as it is your assurance that you will get the best service time after time!

The purpose of all this preliminary research is to narrow the field to those caterers you wish to interview for your event. Decide on a select few who seem to fit your needs. Asking for too many estimates creates an avalanche of unnecessary work for yourself!

Caterer Styles
Understanding your caterer's area of specialty and his limits is paramount to ensuring a successful event. Caterer expertise can be divided into the following three categories:

Luncheon Caterer: Providing good, simple food, with a limited selection of cuisine.
Gourmet Caterer: Increased knowledge of food , more creative, able to provide cocktail, sit-down and buffet meals, somewhat limited in coordinating and providing related services such as consultations, rental equipment, wait-staff, etc
Full service event caterer: Specialize in a vast array of foods and services, coordination, décor and can handle large number of patrons with ease.

By selecting the caterer in the right category for your event, you will ensure yourself a higher chance of success.

The Initial Contact
Once you have decided upon the caterers you wish to interview, you should assemble some information: First, you should be able to communicate to your potential caterers your goals for the party. Are you celebrating a special occasion in a warm, intimate style? Do you want a funky, fun atmosphere? Are there important clients you would like to impress? Second, have some sort of a budget in mind before approaching your caterer. This is not easy to do, but developing a range is paramount. The cost of a reception varies wildly by caterer and type of event, but ultimately it is the size of the party, venue choice, type of food and service that will determine the price. Your catering consultant will discuss your budget with you and let you know if your expectations are realistic. A good caterer will make your money work for you. Third, be ready to answer some specific questions related to your proposed event. Your caterer will need some details so they can prepare an accurate estimate for you. Make sure that all potential caterers are given the same information so that you can compare equally. Questions they may ask you will include: What is the venue for your event? Is it an elegant black-tie affair or a fun filled birthday celebration? Is there equipment available for the caterer use at the venue (i.e. tables, chairs, kitchen amenities)? Will you require a tent? What kind of bar do you wish to have? Are there any guests with specific needs, allergies, or tastes? All these will affect your budget. Most caterers will (and should) provide you with a detailed estimate, which will outline the breakdown of services and clearly state the costs that can fluctuate. Once you have the estimates, you can determine which organization has understood your ideas for your event. Remember that the initial estimate is simply a preliminary proposal, and may be altered in any way to suit your individual needs and budget.

Keep in mind, though, that catering is a very seasonal business. During certain months, caterers are extremely busy working on events. Caterers do their utmost to provide the best service and they require ample notice to develop a custom proposal with your unique needs. Frequently, they have to gather information and estimates from other suppliers in order to give you an accurate estimate. For obvious reasons, December is every caterer's busiest month and while we have good intentions of getting you the information you require with speed and accuracy, a little patience goes a long way…

Your Consultant
Your entire experience should be a positive one, beginning with the first contact with your catering consultant. Are your ideas received with enthusiasm? Are they asking relevant questions? Do they provide alternative suggestions and ideas? Are they excited about your event? A lot of your time will be spent with your consultant, and you should feel at ease and most importantly, LISTENED TO for your ideas to be properly interpreted and to ensure a successful event. A consultant worth his or her salt will have a personal stake in the success of your event. You should have full confidence in their abilities.

The Interview
At this stage of the game, you have probably gathered estimates from your chosen caterers. The next step is to meet with your consultant to get an up close and personal feel about their services. From the estimates, you will be better equipped to ask detailed questions. Don't be shy about asking for client references and request photos, if they have them. Is your consultant confident, personable and enthuastic about planning your party? Your meeting with them should be a positive one, if you leave feeling doubts or apprehension about the caterer, then keep looking.

The Tasting
Caterers have mixed feelings about tastings. Some offer them, and some do not. It is widely held, though, that a tasting is offered only once your party is booked and you wish to taste the menu that you have confirmed with your consultant. The tasting is more of a finalizing of the event, not a sales point as it is very expensive to produce, as well as time-consuming. It is not meant as an "evening out", so please do not invite your family, friends, co-workers, etc. You should keep your decision-making team to a minimum, or it turns into a catered party that will be charged accordingly.

Once you have met with the various caterers, you can make a confident decision about who will be best able to cater for you. Remember that catering is an art. Going to unknown venues, working in ill-equipped kitchens, being creative, dealing with weather conditions, etc., all of these factors requires good organization, skill and talent. Toss in time AND budget restraints... this will demand someone who has experience and knowledge, as well as a love of food and parties!

Once you have chosen your caterer, listen to their ideas. They have done this before and can offer beneficial advice on creating a successful party. They are professionals who take the "Art of Partying" seriously. Finally, execution of a catered event does not rest solely upon the quality of the food served. It is the successful fusion of planning, service and food.

Bon appetit! And good luck choosing the right caterer!

Catering Trends - Whats Hot!

I found this great article on Catering Trends, hope it can be of help!

In a world where "everything old is new again", and the latest fad is old next week, how do we keep up, much less be innovative and cutting edge? Unlike the restaurant industry, caterers must have style and flair but must do it on a grand scale, which poses certain logistical problems…what may be presented in a restaurant may not work for a party of 800! In the following article, we will examine Toronto's food, drink and décor trends.

Read More HERE

How to Start a Catering Service

Want to know how to start a catering service? Keep reading.

Starting a catering business from home can be a great career for people that enjoy planning, cooking and working with customers. The job of a catering business from home is to ensure the meal, appetizers, desserts and drinks are perfect for the client’s event. Catering services are used for conferences, birthdays, anniversaries, and, of course, weddings.

In fact, you can specialize by doing only wedding catering and keep yourself busy and your catering service growing. You need to be creative and have a great deal of knowledge about food. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Catering can be hard work.

The first step in starting catering company is to create a catering business plan. This plan will be needed if you try to get a loan to help your catering business get off the ground. It will also help you organize yourself and your business, by answering questions, and ensuring your services are professional and dependable.

When you start a catering company you will be required to have many licenses and certifications, and must adhere to Health Department regulations. You will need to contact your local Health Department for the specific regulations, certifications, licenses, and insurance information for your area. The Health Department also usually requires an inspection of the area to be used for your catering business.

With your catering business start up, you have to decide what types of food you are going to offer. Once you have decided on the food, you need the equipment to prepare the food and a way to transport it. Some places you will be working will have a kitchen that you can use for final preparation, but the majority of work will be done at your location.

If you don’t have a background in cooking or if you want to be able to get more creative and exotic, you may want to look into cooking classes at a local community college or even a culinary college. You may be able to find a culinary college that offers classes in catering business management. Being able to attend those types of classes, as well as cooking classes would be beneficial and relieve a lot of stress.

Once you have your training, certifications, insurance, and you have complied with the local Health Department and any other government regulations, you are ready to finalize what catering services you will provide and the associated fees. The best way to get this information is to contact some local caters. Find out what they offer and their fees. Do the same with any restaurants that offer catering services.

Marketing of any business can seem almost impossible. However, you have many options. You can write a press release for local newspapers and radio stations. You can offer your catering services to fund-raising events. You can invite wedding and event planners to a tasting of some of your food. If they know your work, they are more likely to hire you. Once you get your catering business name into the community, your best advertisement will be word of mouth.

Now you know just a few things about how to start catering. If you’re still interested then your next step is to get more information about the industry and the training required. There are plenty of books, such as the Complete Idiot’s Guide and other similar series that can help you get started. You should also subscribe to industry magazines to stay ahead of the trends and your competition. The internet is another great place to find information, recipes, trends and other issues of catering services.

The last step is to do it. Whether it is just part time or full immersion, remember that through all the hard work that in the long run it will be worth all the effort. People will always need catering services. The potential for growth in this industry is unlimited. There is always room for one more catering business to share the wealth.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Catering to the new NHL

The rigours of NHL travel have forced some Western Conference teams to change their approach.

In the past, they would leave town in the late afternoon, getting to the destination city in the early evening.

The team bus would take the players to the hotel, then most of them would go out for dinner -- invariably to a steak house.

But now, in order to give the players more time with their families or to allow them to get more rest, the catering is sometimes done on the plane.

The flight leaves in the early evening, rather than late afternoon and, as soon as it's at cruising level, first-class food, catered by one of the best local steak houses, is served.

The players get the same type of high-quality meal they would get on the ground, but they get it in a much more convenient fashion.