Everyone loves a good meal. But not everyone loves to make the meal. This is why people are crazy about the catering business. Good caterers can not only provide a stellar menu for a wedding reception, for example, but they will also work closely with the bride and groom to ensure that their special day tastes exactly like they want it to.
Event planning and catering is an enormous industry, and for good reason. When you throw a party, you want everything to be on point, and chances are, with all of the planning beforehand, partying during, and cleanup after, you are going to have trouble finding the time to prepare food for everyone. Hiring a quality caterer takes some of the pressure off of you as the host, and gives guests a chance to sample the cooking style of someone new.
All about the catering business
When you think about the catering business, you generally think of good food. But there is so much more to a good events and catering company than the dish that ends up in front of you at a party. There is quite a lot that happens behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the guests and sometimes even to the hosts who hired the catering team.
A good caterer has a lot going on in the preparation and serving stages of the job. First of all, there is the management of the staff, which depending on the company, can be quite large. From servers and cooks to dishwashers and cleaners, there could be a lot of people that the head caterer is overseeing. And each of these members of the team need to be on the same page. The head caterer is in charge of managing the schedules and expectations of each of the staff members, and must also keep everyone up to date on food safety regulations and serving customs, which could be different in different locations or at different parties.
More than just the food
On top of knowing and complying with the applicable food safety laws of any given location, caterers need to pay attention to the needs of the guests, particularly if there are allergies or dietary restrictions. If this wasn’t enough to deal with already, many caterers are also in charge of the aesthetics of the meal as well. This could range from food presentation to table arrangements and place settings to some of the surrounding decor. The job of a caterer is not easy, so it is a good idea to keep that in mind when you are working with your hired professional for your party or event. They are working hard to feed your guests so that you can enjoy yourself as well.
The job of a catering company is much more involved than most people realize. Open communication and respectful interactions will go a long way!
