Guidelines to choosing a best catering service for events
Friday, September 10th, 2010Food makes or breaks any event. Be it a corporate conference or an informal wedding ceremony or an outdoor picnic. No occasion can be complete without good party catering from a trusted caterer in town. With a little research it is not too difficult to find Philadelphia” href=”http://www.cateringbymarios.com”>caterers in Philadelphia as there are several around which would fit your bill for any budget, event size and type.
If you follow our step-by-step guideline on how to choose the right caterer then a good one is just a block away:
Event type: This is the first question to ask – is it a corporate seminar or conference? Or is it a wedding or cocktail party catering? Does the occasion demand an elaborate outdoor setting which could be the case for weddings and holiday parties or is it a small indoor affair? The number of guests too would differ accordingly.
Budget & Menu: After the event type the budget is the next most crucial step. The pricing will also depend on the number of items in the menu. Again, if it is a classic sit-down dinner you will have an elaborate menu planned with fancy cutlery and party trays to go with it. This would scale up the costs. If it is a standard corporate catering menu it is open to negotiation. You should be clear on the planned menu and the theme of the event in question. It is better to find out whether there are any hidden or extra charges for catering services. Like, are the taxes inclusive or exclusive and is there a way to bring the costs down.
Coordination: After you take a decision on which caterer to hire the next important step will be to chart out a plan for coordination and execution. This will involve the real task of coordinating with the caterer, giving him the details of the event. Make sure there is no confusion about date, time and place. This will help in eliminating any misunderstandings at the last minute. To prevent shortage of food or extra leftovers you need to confirm the total number of invitees at least a week or 3 days in advance. Statistics dictate trends towards a 75% attendance out of the total number of invited guests.
Also, an ideal caterer would take in account food preferences or trends in concept cuisines prevailing in Philadelphia at present. The wind is titled toward vegan and diet stuff, so ensure that the caterer is capable of meeting the popular and specific needs of the invitees.
Staff: Verify whether the catering company offers wait-staff or serves. You can request staff to serve the guests at an additional cost.
Wastage of food: Many caterers are strict about not leaving the prepared food leftovers to you. In such a case, you can request and show your tie-up with organisations which take care of the leftovers and provides it to the needy. This would serve a philanthropic purpose as well and play up to your advantage if it is a corporate event.
Lastly, you should verify their previous track records and testimonies. It is also advisable to go for a food tasting session to one of the events catered to by your chosen one.
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Find a Wedding Catering Service at affordable prices
Friday, August 13th, 2010Planning a wedding is a mammoth but a very exciting task. The highlight of the ceremony is the party catering. Though, wedding catering can get very expensive it can be scaled down to your budget by keeping a few steps in mind.
Firstly, you need to find a caterer who will function within your budget. The food should also blend with the wedding theme, décor and scale of the ceremony. There are many good full service caterers available in and around Philadelphia. The wedding could have an outdoor theme which would call for a picnic catering or it may be a destination wedding demanding holiday caterers.
With some negotiation and smart menu planning you can easily get your desirable wedding caterer to deliver in your chosen budget. The thumb rule is wise selection of menu items which will make all the difference to the price strategy. Like for example, choose items keeping seasonal fruits and vegetables in mind so as to bring the cost down per item. This way the caterer does not need to use expensive canned ingredients which are not available in a particular season.
The way a meal is served can also make a huge hole in your pocket. A classic sit down dinner has many more elaborate menu items as compared to other arrangements like food stations. A food station is a popular concept serving a particular type of world cuisine. These could be limited in number and they serve full meals which are quite filling. Like, a pasta station is a must-have by all caterers in Philadelphia.
You may cut your catering bill by requesting a simple set up for the food stations and sitting tables. By using a single color for tablecloths, usually white, will cut down on hiring expensive upholstery. Also, no need to order for expensive dinner services and party trays, the caterer can use the standard cutlery available.
Even the time of the post wedding reception can make a difference. If you’re planning your wedding reception for 7 pm, your guests will be expecting a dinner set up. You can consider a morning reception, brunch, or an afternoon cocktail reception. This would make it a smaller affair in terms of an elaborate menu and require less food.
If the catering contract allows, buy your own liquor and ask a friend to be the bartender. Generally, they are stringent only for a certain amount of liquor which you have to purchase from the wedding caterers and the rest can be brought by you. Limiting the guest alcohol choices to wine and beer will bring down cost further.
The wedding cake can become an elaborate affair and good things don’t come cheap. Choosing one flavor instead of several and decorating it with fresh flowers will cut back costs. Instead of a fancy designer three – tier cake you can go for a sophisticated but smaller cake for the cutting and have a general cake laid out on the table for consumption by guests.
So it is as simple as this to get wedding catering of your choice in your preferred budget.