Ten Tips to Hire the Best Catering for Your Event

ten-tips-to-hire-the-best-catering-for-your-event

As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” This is especially true of food services—you can find excellent caterers on any budget, but you must know what you’re paying for and what value they provide. Caterers are essential to event planning, but if you don’t know what to look for, you might have a difficult situation!

If you want to hire caterers this year, you’re in luck! This article will provide ten tips for hiring the best catering for your event. With these tips, you will be sure to choose the right service provider so you can have a spectacular event for you and your guests.

1.      Check References and Reviews

When finding a caterer, your first step should always be to ask for referrals. Next, you can search for online reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and other social media sites. When reading reviews, look for those that mention specific details about what the client liked best about their experience with the company—this will help guide you toward deciding whether or not to hire them yourself!

2.      Make Sure Your Caterer is Flexible

Make sure the caterer is flexible with the menu and food options. Are you looking for a sit-down dinner, or are you thinking of something more casual? Do you want to serve a buffet or plated meals? Will vegetarian guests be in attendance, or do you have other dietary restrictions that need to be considered?

Most importantly, you want to find a catering company that can offer you options to meet your guests’ desires. When you pick a caterer, find something that fits your vision and your guest’s needs!

3.      Prioritize Experience

The most important thing when hiring a caterer is their experience. Experience can make all the difference in your event, so spending more on someone with a proven track record is worth spending more.

For example, if you want to hire sushi catering, you want to hire a private sushi chef, or someone with vast experience in sushi catering. You always want to go for someone who has experience making the beautiful dishes that they will serve your event!

4.      Consider Your Venue Location

When choosing a caterer, it’s essential to consider the location of your event. If you plan on having your reception at a venue far from the catering company’s kitchen, you’ll need to ensure they can transport all their equipment and food without any issues.

Some venues may be too far away for specific caterers to deliver food in time for set up before guests arrive at an event. Consider hiring a conveniently located caterer or someone willing to make the trip to serve your event!

5.      Don’t Forget Your Budget

Finding a caterer that fits your budget is necessary. The best way to do this is by asking yourself how much you can afford to spend on the food for your event and then asking the caterer what their packages are. You should also ask them how they could work within your budget.

For example, sushi catering could be offered as an appetizer instead of the full, premium package a private sushi chef might usually offer his catering clients. Bottom line is, if a caterer does not fit your budget and cannot be flexible with your event needs, they likely aren’t the right caterer for you!

6.      Check Certifications and Insurance

Check if the caterer has food safety certification. Your caterer should also have liability insurance, as this would cover any damages or injuries due to their work. This saves you from paying out of pocket if something goes wrong! If your caterer does not have certifications and insurance policies, hiring them could be a risk.

7.      Ask Friends and Family

If you have friends or family who has experienced the services of a catering company, ask them for their recommendations. They can tell you about their experience with the vendor, including what types of food were served and how much it cost.

If one of your friends recommends a particular caterer, but another says he wouldn’t use them again because they weren’t punctual at an event or something else happened, consider this information when deciding which company to hire.

8.      Schedule a Tasting

A tasting will help you narrow down the options and find out if their food is what you want for your event. A good tasting should last an hour and include at least four dishes: appetizer, salad or dessert, entrée, and side dish or starch.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about ingredients! You want to be sure that everything is perfect for your event. Even for catering like sushi catering, your private sushi chef should be able to provide you with a full explanation of what ingredients are used.

9.      Ensure the Contract and Policies Are Agreeable

Before you sign a contract, you must ensure the terms and conditions are agreeable. A good caterer should be willing to send you their agreement before you hire them. If they still need to write up one, ask if they can email or fax it to you, so there’s clarity later. You want to ensure the contract is clear and specific and includes cancellation and payment policies. This protects both of you when you conduct business together!

10. Trust Your Instincts

When you book a caterer or any service, you likely have a gut instinct about who you should go with. Trust your instincts. If the catering company you’re considering doesn’t feel right, there are better fits. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the gut instinct that tells you which would be best for your event’s catering!

Hire Us for Your Next Big Event

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new to help you with booking your catering this year. Yakitori, hibachi, and sushi catering are all fantastic ideas for your next big catered event. If you’re looking for an impressive, healthy, and simple option to excite your corporate or wedding guests, why not book sushi catering for your next big event?

Mr. Fresh Catering is Southern California’s top-rated yakitori, hibachi, and sushi catering service. We offer an unforgettable experience with our experienced private yakitori chefs and high-quality food. For more information about booking your next event catering with us, please call us at (323)-250-2460 or submit a contact us form, and we will get back to you soon.