Top 10 Tips for Hiring a Caterer

Hosting an event at your home can be stressful. You know what should not be stressful? Choosing the food you are going to serve! The best way to take the stress out of the food so you can more fully enjoy all of your party details and not worry so much about this major aspect of your event is to hire an outstanding caterer. Here are 10 great tips for finding the best home catering in Atlanta.

Gather Recommendations

Chances are you have friends or a family member who has had a party and hired a caterer for the event. Talk to them about who they hired, what kinds of food they had, and what their budget was. Start collecting intel on caterers as far in advance as you can.

Schedule Tastings

Once you have a shortlist of prospective caterers, hit the phones and start calling around. Schedule a few tastings with some of the caterers on your list.

Take Lots of Notes

When you are calling caterers and scheduling taste tests, many important details might start to get fuzzy. Make sure you take pictures of the food that you taste and jot down specific notes. If one caterer is rude to you over the phone the first time you talk to them, make a note of it so that you do not make the mistake of working with someone who is unprofessional and disrespectful.

Take Specialties into Account

Many catering companies will have specialties, which you should take into account when you are calling around. Your menu may be completely dependent on the type of event you are hosting. For instance, traditional pig roasts are popular with luaus but may not be as appropriate for a classic, sophisticated wedding or garden party.

Identify a la Carte Services

You might need the whole package, from table and linen rentals to post-event cleanup and packaging the leftover food. You might just need a caterer to provide the food, and you provide everything else. You might be able to save money if you can choose services a la carte, so make sure you know the company's policy on this.

Ask for References

Every company out there that you hire for anything, from a landscaping business to a wedding caterer, should have references. Before signing any agreement with any caterer, make sure references check out first.

Think about Freshness

You should make sure that the food is as fresh as possible. Fresh food will look better and will likely taste better as well. Ask the caterer what fruit and vegetables are in season and try to incorporate these foods into your menu.

Call the Proper Authorities

Check with your local health department regarding the prospective caterer you are about to hire. Every company out there is subject to certain licensing regulations. These regulations are important to ensure that the company is compliant with local health code so you know that the people you hire handle food properly.

Get Some Quotes

As you would with hiring any contractor, make sure you get a number of quotes from potential caterers. This will help you be sure that you got the best price. Make sure that every estimate you get is comparable and includes all of the same items.

Get It in Writing

Never hire any company for home catering in Atlanta without first getting an agreement in writing about what their costs do and do not cover. Make sure before you sign any agreement with a caterer that you understand all of the fine print and know exactly where your money is going. Hiring the right caterer can really make your event shine, so doing a little bit of extra research will definitely be worth it. 

 

Source : articlesbase.com