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Caterers
A caterer is someone who professionally cooks and prepares food for
parties, weddings and other events. If you’re planning on choosing a
caterer for your event, you may want to consider several factors.
First and foremost, what type of event will you be hosting? This is
important because you wouldn’t select a caterer who specializes in
children’s birthday parties for a wedding. Different caterers have
different areas of expertise. Hiring someone famous for deli platters
is fine for a casual backyard deck party, but probably not what you
want for an elegant dinner party. Decide on your event’s theme before
you begin to look for a caterer.
Your second consideration should be budget. Not only do you want to
hire the best caterer around, you want the best caterer you can afford.
Don’t go over budget though; you’ll find there are good caterers
available in all price ranges. In order to get a fair estimate from a
caterer, you’ll need to provide the following information: date, type
of event, type of menu you have in mind, and approximate number of
guests.
Most caterers will let you sample some of their specialties so you can
choose the one whose food you like best. While being a good cook is
probably the main reason to hire any particular caterer, your work
still isn’t done. In addition to being able to adequately prepare food,
your caterer has to be a stand-up business person too. It's a good idea
to ask for references, and not just one or two.
It’s important to receive recommendations because you want to make sure
the caterer you choose will show up for your event, especially if you
will be leaving a deposit. It’s also important to check with the local
department of health and make sure there haven’t been any complaints
regarding unsafe handling of food. The caterer should have all of the
proper permits and be able to produce them for your scrutiny. She and
her staff should dress in a manner appropriate to your event and behave
as professionals. Lastly, you’ll want to check with the Better Business
Bureau to ensure there haven’t been any complaints.
It may seem like a lot of work just to hire someone to provide food for
your event. However, considering the health and enjoyment of your
guests as a major factor, it’s time well spent. |