The caterers you hire play a significant role in the success of your event. If you work with a reputable catering company that serves delicious foods and provides professional and trained servers, your guests will likely give you positive feedback.
On the other side of the coin, if you hire a catering company that neglects the importance of good food and customer service, your event can be chaotic. It’ll be remembered for all the wrong reasons. To ensure that the caterer you’ll hire will contribute to the success of your next event, pay attention to the following things before hiring one:
1. Client responsiveness
Usually, most people will hire a caterer based on the taste of the dishes offered and the price. The food is an important factor, but it’s not the only factor to consider. As a future client, you should also examine how the caterer treats you. Let these questions guide you:
- Do they treat you professionally?
When you’re meeting caterers for the first time, take note of how they communicate with you. Competent caterers will be genuinely interested in the project you’re giving them. You should feel that they want to help make the event a success, rather than merely earning from it. If you’re discussing what you want from a caterer and they’re not taking down notes or paying attention, start looking for options. You should only work with a caterer who secures all the details needed for your event. - Do they answer all of your concerns right away?
Consultations with a caterer are important as these can be perfect avenues for both parties to set their expectations. If you have concerns, air them out and examine their reaction. A good caterer should be able to answer your questions right away. In the event that they can’t address your concern during your meeting, the caterer should tell you that they will get back to you in a timely manner. - Do you feel at ease working with them?
You should be at ease whenever you communicate with your caterer, whether in person or through phone calls and emails. You should not feel intimidated or worried in any way.
2. Flexibility
Aside from customer service, the flexibility of the caterer is also an essential factor to consider. Regardless of the theme of the event or the number of expected guests, the caterer should be able to adapt to your needs. Here are some examples:
- If your guests are vegetarian, has certain food allergies, or includes kids, the caterer should be able to accommodate all of their needs. The diversity of your guests shouldn’t hinder the caterer to serve good food or excellent services.
- The caterer should also be flexible to your budget, too. If you have given them the budget for the event, they should be able to play around with this amount while being able to meet the expectations that you both have agreed upon. The experience of the guests and the quality of their foods and services shouldn’t be compromised because of your financial limitations.
- Does your family have a tradition of serving tzatziki during the holidays? Hire a caterer who is willing to fulfill your wish. Give them the following trusted tzatziki recipe.
- 1 cup Greek whole-milk yogurt
- 1 piece English cucumber
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of fresh dill
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl and add olive oil or mint for some extra flavor.
- Serve this with some pita and you’re good to go.
Meeting the needs of all your guests should be on top of your list – and the caterers you hire can make or break your chances of reaching this goal.
3. Past events
If you’re hiring Westchester caterers for the first time, you might see yourself being directionless with your efforts. Having too many options can be overwhelming at times. You can narrow down your search by looking into the caterer’s past events. This information can determine whether or not the caterer you’re eyeing to hire fits the bill.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations. Get the caterer’s contact details, if possible.
- Do your own homework by searching for online reviews of prospective caterers. Online forums and the caterer’s official website and social media profiles can give you valuable information.
Aside from expediting the selection and hiring process, seeking recommendations and reviews can also help you avoid illegally operating caterers.
4. Contract
It’s easy for a group of people to pose as caterers, market their so-called catering business online, and promise to deliver exceptional services. You entrust your money to them and later on find out that you have been scammed. Situations like these do happen.
If you want to steer away from this direction, choose a caterer who provides a valid contract. As a smart client, this should be one of your requirements before saying “yes” to a caterer. A contract has the following functions:
- A detailed contract provides information on all the inclusions of the catering services, such as the menu, pricing, number of servings, time and duration of service, and number of servers and personnel This information will help you better prepare for the event.
- This document will safeguard you if ever the caterer doesn’t keep their side of the bargain. Reputable catering companies such as https://eliataverna.com/ ensure that all of their transactions are done with legal and written contracts.
Take time to review the contract. Go through all of the pages carefully and ask questions whenever certain clauses are unclear to you. Remember that contracts are legal documents, and neglecting responsibilities as a client may result in legal troubles in the future.
Always Make Careful Decisions
Food catering is a huge industry, and finding caterers operating in your area shouldn’t be a problem. If none suits your preference, you can make a quick search online for more options. As your hard-earned money and reputation as an event organizer are on the line, careful decision-making is required in the process. The more time and effort you exert in choosing caterers, the better results you’ll experience!
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