When we visit an event, we notice every detail and gather ideas. We notice how they are serving the food, the arrangements made, and how the food is. Be it a large wedding or a business lunch; caterers play a significant role in successfully executing that event. The food service business can be intimidating. When we use the word catering, it involves serving food and the people responsible for preparing that food. The catering business involves front face staff and, behind the scene, chefs who work together to bring the final product to the table.
The catering chefs shoulder the responsibilities of designing the menu, deciding the ingredients, and the working staff that they need to prepare the food. They also overlook the table set up, buffet, and set the serving rules. Every caterer’s job ensures that the event happens smoothly, and everyone savors the tasty food placed in front of them. There will always be a catering manager who regulates catering movements and looking after the guests at the tables.
As a caterer, your online presence should be according to the standards. If someone is looking to plan a bridal shower or a birthday party at his place, he will go for an online search to find a caterer or an event management company located in his city. For instance, if someone has planned an event in the southwest of Florida and is worried about the catering, the easiest way for him to find a caterer is to search online by typing catering near me in Naples FL, to get plenty of options.
As a caterer, if you are new to your business, and you have received your first order, here is what you shall follow and what to avoid.
1. PRIORITIZE THE FOOD
No matter where we go, we look for yummy food to satisfy our taste buds. Even if we attend an event, we wait for the food, and once the food is on our table, its taste regulates our mood. We enjoy the chatter with our friends while having yummy food, even you as a caterer will look for a tasty dish at any event. So, when you are getting ready for your first order, prioritized the preparation of food. Hire the best chefs and let them display their cooking skills to satisfy your customers. Do not stick to preparing what you know the best if your customers are demanding something new; there is always room to explore options and try new recipes. Remember that food will be the driving factor in the success of your business.
2. DECIDE YOUR SERVICE STYLE
Deciding the serviced style streamlines many operations while you are out there serving your customers. Pick one of the three service styles: buffet, tray pass, or plated. Buffet catering entails various self-serving stations. If you choose this serving style, it is not only cost-effective, but it also reduces the utilization of your staff. It also speeds up the refilling process by fill all the large dishes at once instead of preparing food. Tray pass entails servers carrying food displays in groups. In the plated service case, you will have to assign serves at every table to serve the guest’s meals, like that in a restaurant.
3. HAVE A THEME
Giving so many options to your customers will not only confuse them, but it will also increase your workload. Select your thee according to venue and season. In warmer months, you can offer BBQ and other services to your clients. If you are still thinking about what to offer, have a central or main course. Designing your menu around that can alleviate your worry about what to decide. You can also pick a theme according to the type of event and the number of attendees.
4. BE EFFICIENT
If you are going to cater to a large wedding, you do not have to exhaust your workers at the eleventh hour. Choose to work smart than working hard. You can prepare the food in advance, like cold dishes. Make the salads first, and the dressings later. Clean your cutlery before setting it up on the counters. For cold dishes, ensure that there is plenty of room in the fridge to store the cold dishes.
CONCLUSION
Preparing the food and setting up the cutlery is not the only thing that new caterers should consider. If you are not taking care of the hygiene, chances are your business cannot flourish much. Taking care of the knives, wearing gloves, and washing your dishes can prevent food contamination. Cleaning the dishes and picking up the empty ones from the tables can avoid many issues. While you are serving at the table, listen to your guests about the feedback, and plan your next event better than the earlier one.