Everyone knows that one of the most important aspects of your event, whether it be a wedding, graduation party, or corporate event, is the food. Great food can ensure that your guests have an amazing time at your event while poor-quality food will be talked about for a long time in a negative manner. The whole appearance and environment of your event can hinge on who you hire as a caterer. A great caterer can salvage even the most boring and underrated events while a poor one can send people to the bathroom, make people ill, and turn a happy and upbeat atmosphere into one that is full of anger and upset.
Most event budgets have a fair amount of money that is set aside for the caterer but this doesn’t mean that you have to choose the most expensive caterer you find. In fact, working with a caterer that offers a reasonable budget can free up money for you to use for other parts of your event. If you are in the market for an expert caterer and want to be sure to get the best deal for your money, remember these tips when interviewing and you are sure to hire the best possible person for your event.
Ask About Flexibility
Any quality caterer will have a standard menu of items for their clients to choose from but will also be able to accommodate some changes in the menu and ingredient list. Additionally, the caterer that you choose should be constantly updating their menu to change with the season as well as any major trends. This ensures that your menu will be fresh and delightful, not outdated and stale. If you are going to be having any guests who deal with food allergies, then you will want to make sure to discuss this with your caterer.
If the caterer that you are considering hiring is not willing to make changes to their menu, then that should be a sign to not hire them. Each caterer should be willing to make reasonable changes to the menu that will better reflect the theme of the event, accommodate personal preferences, and include any dietary restrictions that you request. This may mean that they have to create vegan, vegetarian, kosher, or gluten-free meals for you but that shouldn’t be a problem for most catering experts.
Schedule a Tasting
The only way to know for sure the quality of the caterer that you are hiring is to schedule a tasting where you can test the food that the caterer makes. You will never be able to be sure of the different styles and types of foods that they offer unless you have tried them. While some people are intimidated by asking to try the various foods that they want for their event, without tasting them, they will have no idea what they are buying. It’s standard to have a tasting before signing a contract so if the caterer that you are considering is hesitant to provide this service, then it may be a good idea to look elsewhere.
When hiring catering in Dubai, you want to be sure that you are getting the best possible food for your budget. Find out how the food that you are ordering will be presented as the presentation at your event can have a major effect on how people perceive your event and how much they enjoy the food.
Experience with Your Type of Event
While this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker if you love the food, taste, and presentation that a specific caterer offers, it’s a good idea to ask about how much experience they have with the type of event that you are planning. With so many different types of events needing catering all of the time, it makes sense that certain caterers will gravitate towards certain types of events and feel more comfortable providing food for them. While the caterer you are considering most likely provides food for a wide variety of events, chances are good that they feel more comfortable working on menus for specific events.
A caterer that specialises in large-scale corporate events may not feel very comfortable providing food and drinks for a smaller, more intimate gathering such as a wedding or birthday party. Make sure that you are open about the type of event that you are planning and what kind of presentation you expect. Since different types of events call for different menus and presentation, you want to make sure that the caterer you hire is the best possible match for you.
Food Safety
While this won’t be as much of a concern if you are hosting your event at a location where the caterer can set up and use a commercial kitchen, if you are off site somewhere, then you will want to ask about how the caterer plans to keep the foods at a safe temperature. This is especially important if your event is in the summer when it will be very hot as food can quickly spoil and make people sick. The opposite is also true as keeping certain foods warm will stop the growth of dangerous bacteria. If the caterer you are considering does not have a well-defined plan on how to keep the food safe and delicious while at the event site, then you need to find someone with more experience.
Planning an event is a lot of fun but also requires a lot of work. To ensure that you have the best possible event, your guests have a great time, and everyone enjoys the food without risk of being sick, you need to take your time and be picky when hiring a caterer. Great catering can change your whole event while bad catering will be all that people remember and talk about. A reputable, quality caterer will provide delicious food and drink for all your guests.
