What Makes A Great Party Catering Team? 5 Things To Look For

Have you recently been planning a party, but the guest list just keeps getting bigger?

For a party, this makes for a great event! For a party planner, it can be a little bit daunting, and, as a party guest list grows, you may need to start outsourcing some of the tasks to professionals.

One example is the catering. For a party with over 20 people, it is worth looking into hiring professional catering staff to oversee the menu, even if it can seem like an additional hassle. With so many catering companies available, how do you know that you have found a good one?

Table of Contents

Clarity

Firstly, a good party catering team will be crystal clear about what they offer.

Check their website: does it have the menus laid out? Does it have previous events that they have catered to? Do they contact you within a set time frame after initial enquiry? Clarity is key, and just to test this, be sure to ask about costs. A great catering team will be open about how much they charge, the different types of catering they offer, and their availability.

Written Contracts

In the world of catering, verbal contracts don’t really go far.

So, if you are looking into a catering team for a private party, always ask for a contract for the event they are catering. Be sure to read it carefully, sign it, and retain a copy for your records. This contract should have the number of guests who are attending the event, what is being provided by the team, the cost, when it will be delivered, where it will be delivered, as well as contact information.

Taster Days

When you are narrowing down your list of catering teams to have at your private party, take note of the teams that offer taster sessions. This will allow you to meet the team, try the food, and get a sense of what is being provided and offered. This is not to say that catering teams that don’t offer taster days are subpar; it is just an interesting way for you to get a feel of what will be cooked for your party.

Communication

The last thing you want (or need) when planning a party is for the catering team to go silent. It’s just bad business. If you are contacting them before the event to adjust the menu, to ask about additional options, or simply to double-check details, they should aim to get back to you promptly. If they don’t and you are left hanging, this does not bode well for your upcoming delivery of party food.

Reviews

When you are choosing a catering team for your event, always be sure to check the reviews from previous clients. Has this team been reliable and trustworthy, and has the food been delivered on time? Aim to use independent review sites, rather than the company page, as this will help you to assess the authenticity of the reviews and feedback. Also, take note of whether the catering team responds to the comments: a good catering team will, even if the comments are negative.

Clarity

Written Contracts

Taster Days

Communication

Reviews

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