Professional catering is a good business to pursue. More than culinary and presentation skills, however, there is a lot more going on behind the business. If you are looking to throw a catering event, here are a few basic steps that you need to accomplish:
Plan—but be flexible
Planning is paramount when it comes to hosting parties so that you can be on top of everything. Aside from checking the commercial catering equipment, also ensure the little details like name cards and the guest list.
Of course, as with any event, there are bound to be some changes. In times of catering especially those done off premises, there are possibilities for improvisation just to get the party going. Remember, planning helps, but being creative and being able to solve sudden problems are just as important.
Create an event suitable for your audience
An event is only successful with a satisfied audience. As such, part of the entire preparation is to make sure your event is catered towards winning the attendees. The biggest question to ask is what exactly the audience will get from the event. Since there are several catering events—be it fundraising, a celebration, or a company gathering—it is important that you plan around your attendees and the goal of the organizer.
Make a master list of supplies
Next to a detailed setup, the supplies are the most important aspect of any catering event. And as the caterer, you need to make sure that everything is loaded up and included.
It is crucial to create a master list of things that you need to pack. That includes the food, the catering equipment, and all the utensils that will be used at the event. It never hurts to have a spare set in case of surprise visitors so that you can impress even your most spontaneous client.
Catering events can be a hassle to plan and execute, but the satisfaction it brings when one delivers a party to remember can be unmatched.