There’s a lot to plan, various balancing acts, and a huge checklist when organizing a successful corporate event. If you’re in the throes of it or have an upcoming event, you probably have a thousand things on your mind – and catering is one of them.
A successful event requires top-notch catering, which means you need to choose suitable and professional catering services for your event.
Check out these top tips for choosing the best catering services for your next event.
1. Choose Services that Offer a Variety of Food Options
The last thing you want is mundane catering that feels like an event in the 1990s. Stay away from the classic beef, chicken, and veggie entrees with prawn cocktail appetizers.
A fantastic catering service will design an exciting menu with a variety of food options that are not only delicious but cater to the needs of your guests’ dietary requirements.
Take into consideration the gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan requirements and allergies of your guests—spice up the menu with exotic items like carne asada tacos alongside more traditional options.
2. Know Your Headcount
This is fundamental for choosing catering services and for organizing your budget. Of course, guests will cancel, RSVP late or ask to bring their partner at the last minute. But it would be best if you had a realistic headcount with some wiggle room.
The headcount will affect your choices of catering services as some caterers cannot accommodate large groups while others are experts.
3. Budget for Catering
It’s a no-brainer that your budget will heavily determine your catering options. It’s important to know how much you can spend before wasting time researching and meeting with catering companies.
When speaking to catering companies, make sure that you understand all the hidden costs that may pop up. Caterers should send you a detailed quote of all inclusions. Be open about your budget so catering companies can create custom packages according to your needs.
4. Look for Expertise and Experience
It’s best to find companies that have corporate catering experience. Companies with years of experience will be able to deliver outstanding food and services without blinking an eye.
Do your research and look for references and reviews that reiterate the catering service’s expert claims.
5. Request a Menu Tasting
It’s imperative that you feel confident with the food and drinks you’ll serve to your guests. If you have a large-scale event, it is pretty standardized to expect a menu tasting beforehand.
A menu tasting will give you insight into the quality, presentation, and style of the food. This way, you can change things you don’t like and feel safe knowing that the catering will be excellent on the day of the event.
6. Are You Providing Drinks?
Depending on the type of corporate event you’re hosting, a bar service is often a must. A fundraising event or evening gala requires a drinks service, while daytime meetings can do without.
Speak to catering services about their drinks services. Do they offer bespoke cocktails, for example?
Choosing the Best Catering Services
Catering can make or break a corporate event, and choosing a catering service should not be something you rush into. Take your time to figure out what you’re looking for and the best company to do it.
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