What to Expect When Planning With a Catering Event Coordinator

Whenever an important event is approaching, it's a relief to work with an event coordinator that has catering experience so they can help you plan (and realize) every culinary detail you've envisioned. So what should you expect when working with an experienced event planner?

Expert Consultation:





The initial step in planning an event is to understand the client's overall vision and goal for the party. Event Planners should spend time with clients discussing the theme, type of party, and what the client has already envisioned i.e. décor, catering menus, food preferences, alcohol preferences, equipment, etc.





Customization:





A professional event coordinator should be able to take you from the proposal stage to the day of the event, working with you on even the most minute of details. You won't be passed from one person to another; instead, you'll value the undivided attention you receive from a single collaborator. Basically, professional catering event planners should be able to seamlessly lead you through every step of the process.





Familiarity With Your Venue:





Established event coordinators that are familiar with catering events will know the in's and out's of your city's popular venues. They can provide great advice on what works well while suggesting alternatives that will save you money on catering and other associated costs.





Trusted Vendors:





Most of us aren't familiar with the top local vendors or the most popular caterers. Your event planner, however, should be, and their experience grants them the ability to recommend a trusted and reputable caterer.





References:





It's smart to ask for them, and can't do any harm. A good caterer will have plenty of clients happy to give them a favorable recommendation. It is also good to ask for a customer who had an event that was similar to the one you will be having.





Planning the Event Layout:





Professional event coordinators often create a room diagram to scale, allowing you to make sure you're aware of what the room will look like before the event. This ensures that everything (including the food) will fit in your chosen location.





Complete Proposals:





All too often, a hazy or vague proposal can create confusion. What is and what is not included? The best event coordinators make sure that all catering costs are predetermined and clearly defined. Let your event planner create a customized preliminary proposal complete with all possible options including food, labor and rental costs. Are the dishes included? Is gratuity included? Where is the charge for the staff to serve the meal? Make sure you're comparing "apples to apples" when reviewing proposals. You don't want any surprises after you have chosen your caterer. The best event planners pride themselves on giving you a complete quote that leaves nothing to the imagination. This way,you'll never be surprised when the bill comes!





Detail Selection:





Experienced Event Planners will use often utilize catering photos and catalogs to help you gain a visual image of the event. At this point the client will choose linens, and a possible tasting might be arranged to finalize the menu. During this step, the Event Planner and client will also walk through the event location and smooth over the final details and/or concerns.





In the end, the job of your event planner is to take the stress off you so you don't have to worry. True professionals have developed and refined a unique catering event planning process that applies to small intimate parties as well as large events. Experienced event planners will remain committed to a philosophy of value and quality by giving you the event you have envisioned at a cost that fits your budget.

About the Author:

Since 1981, Footers has been the premier Denver catering company, offering a range of special eventcatering services across metro Denver, the front-range, and the Colorado mountain regions. Renowned for our commitment to quality and service, we use nothing but the best, catering the freshest foods cooked on-site and creating specialized

festive atmospheres for any event. As a top Denver caterer, Footers offers full event coordination. Our multi-talented event planners ensure your wedding, private party, holiday, corporate or charitable event that's not soon forgotten.

See our work in Footers' gallery of catering photos.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/what-to-expect-when-planning-with-a-catering-event-coordinator-393514.html

Author: Anthony Lambatos

Sulumits Retsambew

How to Choose the Right Catering Service

Choice of a catering service should be made wisely because food plays an integral role in a party and selecting an appropriate catering service make the entire process effortless. Before you start searching for the catering services, you should get yourself organized. It is better to make notes than storing everything in your mind.

Many aspects should be cleared before you finalize any caterer for the services. Every event would call for different catering services. Like wedding, which is a lavish and a lifetime affair requires someone who specializes in wedding catering.

After understanding your event and choosing your venue, sit down to make a list that contains all the details like date, time, location, kitchen availability, alcohol needs, serving needs, number of guests, dietary concerns, your expected budget, etc. of the event before you start researching for the caterers. Bidding online for your event is also a good idea because this opens doors to various catering services to bid for your event by saving your precious time and with this list you can receive accurate bids for your event on various gourmet websites like BidGourmet.com

Discuss the menu and understand the area of specialty of the caterer service. Some catering services are little ridged in their menu choices so it’s better to ask them whether they have set menus or welcome any customized menus according to theme of your party? Are they open to accommodate guests with food allergies? Do they use fresh, frozen or canned food?

Also see the color photographs of the food and decoration done by the potential party catering service in previous parties, and whether catering service will supply decorations, linens, tables, chairs, etc. for your event and clarify with them what all your event needs and the cost for the supplies.

Good service with good food makes your event great so question the number of waiters and bartenders that would be provided by the caterer service and get a commitment from them. Also ask for the ratio of servers to the guests and if taxes and gratuities are included in the final bid. Ensure the catering service also take care of the leftovers.

About the Author:

Myself webmaster of http://www.bidgourmet.com, an online resource to find a caterer, catering service, food catering, party catering, culinary professionals for various types of events and parties.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/how-to-choose-the-right-catering-service-431129.html

Author: Synapse India

Sulumits Retsambew

Buyers, Manufacturers and Sellers of Catering Equipment

Who requires catering equipment

The users of this equipment are as diverse as the equipment themselves. The buyers may range from hospitals, pubs, schools, bars and local authorities to countrywide chains of restaurants, takeaways, caterers and domestic cooks for families or dinner parties. Many businesses also need catering equipment of some kind even for just mugs for the office and tea trolley.

Who manufactures catering equipment

Catering equipment is manufactured in almost every part of the world. Some are made for ordering in undersized workshops while others are produced in large amounts in factories and are distributed around the world. As is the case with all other industries, the manufacturers produce catering equipment in different degrees of price and quality. Many fabricate different types of equipment, and some are now sourced from manufacturers in China which has led to great reduction in their prices. The buyers of this equipment must buy only from reputed dealers as we all know that price of the product can be well-reflected through its quality.

Who sells catering equipment

Traditionally, catering equipment was usually sold by the local dealers having showrooms and warehouses in the industrial and trading estates. Salespeople are always there for showing off products and giving suitable advice. Now, the rapidly expanding outlet of catering equipment is available online. Selling through Internet greatly reduces the costs and eliminates the need for moving equipment and showrooms. The savings that the suppliers make in this way is reflected in the prices of equipment available online and they can be bought through online at much reduced prices.

Catering equipment not only enables the caterers to prepare the food but also makes sure that all the possible safety and health standards are met, as it prevents any risks of cross contamination. This equipment includes all items such as knives, serving trays and chopping boards to ice bags and bowls.

Without the right catering equipment, there is no other way that any caterers can do their job effectively and efficiently. Catering is not limited to making food but it reaches to a huge array of components needed for completing any kind of job to higher standards. The users of catering equipment are not only limited to individual caterers who travel for providing food to weddings, conferences, funerals or parties but also extend to other users in the food industry. These users include supermarkets which provide fresh food items to the customers and retailers that specialize in specific types of food like confectioners and bakers. This equipment is also used by restaurants, sandwich shops and coffee shops and any other place where fresh food items are served.

About the Author:

Caterequipment is the author of this article on Catering Equipment. Find more information relating to Commercial Microwaves, and Second Hand Catering Equipment here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/buyers-manufacturers-and-sellers-of-catering-equipment-557779.html

Author: Caterequipment

Sulumits Retsambew

Catering Miami, High End Catering in Miami

A Alexander Event is the high end , yet affordable caterer in the Miami Area. With over 25 years of experience in the field, each and every event is handled personally by Chef Alexander, owner and operator.

When you are planning your Florida wedding, there are many things that you need to consider before hiring a caterer. Catering in Miami varies in style, venue, cost and even the amount of guest that are able to be accommodated. The catering company in Miami you ultimately choose can either make or break your event. It is important that you find a service catering in Miami that can meet all of your event's requirements.

The primary feature to consider when you are looking for a caterer is the actual cuisine that they serve. Food is at the heart of every affair and if the food is bad it will leave you guest less than impressed with your wedding. Request a tasting with each catering service or venue that you are considering to ensure that their food meets your standards.

Another important feature to consider when you are looking for catering in Miami is staff. You want to ensure that your wedding is adequately staffed so that your guest can be properly served and your reception flows smoothly. Ask how many staff members they will have working your event and when they will arrive and leave.

It is also important to find out what type of bar set up each catering service offers. You want to find out when the bar opens and closes, along with whether or not they charge an additional fee for adequately staffing it. Additionally, ask about the bar options with each catering service including, pay bar, open bar, along with if they offer both top and bottom shelf liquors.

Naturally, there are many other things to consider when you are looking for catering in Miami. It is important to make a list of the features that you are looking for in a catering company prior to beginning your search. Making a list will make it much easier for you to narrow down your search to catering services and venues that meet your requirements.

A Alexander Event is the most high end affordable caterer in town; give them a call for a free quote.

About the Author:

For more information on Wedding Fort Lauderdale and Miami Catering, please visit our wedding events website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles/catering-miami-high-end-catering-in-miami-605149.html

Author: Gen Wright

Sulumits Retsambew

Mobile Catering Services

Mobile Catering is the business that provides or prepares food from some type of vehicle in a remote site. Thus, good service rendered will satisfy one's customer in the emerging world of mobile catering services.

Mobile Catering is common in outdoor events such as workplaces, downtown business districts, and concerts. Mobile catering events range from a box-lunch drop-off to a full-service catering.



A catering company or specialist is associated with an events planner. Part of the food service industry would include the staff who sets up a self serve buffet and dining area. They actually prepare the food and put finishing touches to it. Companies like this commonly charge not only for food and drinks but also for other themes that include decorations, lighting, and table settings.



Catering has a flat rate for each additional person, which means, it is sold on a per-person basis, although, this practice is not the case all the time. In order to make good profit, the food cost and supplies should be below a price margin.



Here is a list of elements shown on a formal and comprehensive catering proposal:



• Business license and health permit



• Time-line is important. Such as: staff arrival time, meal serve time, rental pickup, rental arrival time, out-of venue time, bar opening and closing time.



• Considerations on menu servings such as specific dietary or religious foods for client needs. Includes: Kosher, Halal, Vegan, food allergy, and vegetarian.



• Food safety and sustainability



• Three or four pass around items should be appropriate for the one-hour period prior to mealtime.



• The meal itself



• Rentals of chairs, tables, tabletop, plants, glassware, dance floor, serving equipment etc



• Labor staff - Event Manger/Lead, Assistants, Chef, Wait Staffs, and Bartenders. About 10 up to 20% more staff will go in order to do a large event.



• Quotes that include fire permits, floral arrangements, lighting, valet, coat check, and draping



• Sales Tax



• Service Charge/ Catering Bill



A mobile caterer uses a vehicle or cart in delivering the food. Types of vehicles are as follows:



Street cart - or a food cart is a motorless trailer that often uses a hand, bicycle or automobile that can be seen on public sidewalks and parks. Carts have an onboard heating device or a refrigerator for keeping the food ready for consumption. Beverages and foods include - tacos, hotdogs, and sausages, Mexican food such as burritos, frozen treats like ice cream, donuts, sandwiches, bagels and Halal food such as chicken or lamb over rice.



Food Truck - the truck carries stocks of prepared foods that enable the vendor sell a large volume. Examples are the ice cream vans.



Mobile Kitchen - a large modified van with built-in cooking equipments such as grill and deep fryer. The vendor can prepare food inside the van. Examples are fish and chips vans in UK and taco trucks on United States.



Concession Trailer - like a mobile kitchen, it has equipments for preparation but it cannot move on its own. Trailer is suited for lasting events such as funfairs.



Mobile catering services can also be used to feed people in areas of natural disasters and in places where the infrastructure is destroyed.



Requirements for Mobile Catering Vehicles:



Commissary - it's a place where all mobile units must report for the daily supplies, servicing and cleaning. A commissary approval form must be submitted and notarized if the owner is not present for signing.



Requirements for commissary: (1) Facilities must have a storage of food, washing and sanitizing equipments, single service articles, disposal of waste and washing and storage of vehicles. (2) Facility must be inspected by the health authority. (3) City permits.



Construction - (1) Vehicle must be a commercial type with enclosed, smooth, cleanable floors, walls, and ceiling with no carpet inside. (2) Proper temperature of equipment must be NSF approved for maintaining hazardous food. Provides and checks thermometer reading for each holding unit of food. (3) Liquid waste must be collected, put in a holding tank, and disposed into a sanitary sewerage system at the commissary. (4) Firm name, address, and contact numbers must be on both sides of the vehicle. (5) Empty vehicles are not permitted.



Operation - Health code: Foods cannot be sold from a mobile catering vehicle, cleaning and good repair of the interior and exterior part of the vehicle, food containers must be stored properly. Proper temperature maintenance at all times - cold foods - 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below, hot foods - 140 degrees Fahrenheit, transported food must have insulated units and notify the Neighborhood Services Department for the rented vehicle.



Permit requirements - payment fee for the mobile food permit and vehicle inspection permit.

About the Author:
For more information on Mobile Caterers please visit our website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/mobile-catering-services-608623.html

Author: Jayesh Bagde

Sulumits Retsambew

Event Catering Business

Now it is completely accepted fact that catering is a very good and profitable business. But the business is not so easy for the starters. People often face some problems in the initial days since this business is all about planning and 'market reputation'. The 'market reputation' is responsible to receive the catering orders. Since the market reputation is nearly nil in initial days, it becomes a real problem to get the catering orders. So now in this article we will discuss a little about the procedures to start the business of catering.

Let me tell you about the basics of the Hawaii private catering service business. If you are fond of cooking, planning and group activities, then catering is undoubtedly a great career option for you. You can precede this business from your home too. Hawaii Catering services are of two types in general. First one is called the mobile catering and the second one is known as the event catering. Of them, the event catering is more popular and the profitable to 'catering business persons'. The 'event catering' includes the catering services in various conferences or parties in purpose of the birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and some other private parties. Even it is not always necessary to go for each and every type of catering services in the initial days. It is always better to go for the wedding caterings only in the initial days. Since wedding is full of entertainment and joy, and food is a vital component in joy and entertainment, a good wedding catering service can lift you 'market reputation' a lot in a single day. Even if you wish you can be recognized as the 'wedding catering specialist' in future too.





When you are opening a catering company, the business plans are very much vital. Without the proper planning, you will not be able to be successful in this business at all. You can have a 'business loan' to expand your business. Expansion of the business means that you buy all the necessary catering equipments and own them. But I will suggest you to not to go for the loans in the initial days of your catering business. In the initial days, you should tie up with any good catering equipment supplier and use their equipments in the events against some money. If your business starts go through the right way then you will be able to buy the catering equipments by your own within some months with the money of your profit. The planning also includes the ways to make your brand name popular to the people. You can use the newspapers or the audio-visual media as the component of advertising your business along with the Internet. In these days of tough competition, the proper advertisements can do wonders for your business. Along with the mentioned basics, you should appoint some modest and workaholic people as the 'food servers' and the 'catering guide. Immense importance should be given to the cook of your catering company. Lastly, you and your people should be polite and modest to the guests of the particular event while working.

About the Author:

Author Bio:

George Walker private caterers Hawaii offers Hawaii private catering, Breakfast catering, buffet catering, catering equipment suppliers, corporate event catering, wedding catering events, catering for special events, catering guide, planning your event, catering menu, catering party, catering services, catering supplies, dinner party catering, full service catering, private catering.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/event-catering-business-407723.html

Author: georgewalker

Sulumits Retsambew

Catering Supplies and Related Services

One of the extremely vital equipments for a caterer is their capital equipment that includes ovens, fryers, grills, and microwaves. These come along with the finest chafing dishes and warmers. Catering establishments serve drinks and meals of two general types of catering, on premises and off premises.

The food serving industry also known as the catering industry consists of establishments largely involved in delivering food assistance for single events. Catering firms commonly service events from small, intimate gatherings to more prestigious ones such as birthday parties, wedding receptions, housewarmings, product launchings, graduation bashes, corporate luncheons, and gala awards.



This industry has over 10,000 firms with joint yearly returns of 5 billion dollars. Abigail Kirsch, Along Came Mary, Catering by Michael's Family of Companies, and Jackson and Co., (Jenna Bush's wedding caterer) are among the catering companies of today that provide food service to big events. Caterers typically have catering equipment and supplies as well as automobiles to carry food and beverages to the venue.



One of the most important tools for catering establishments are their capital equipment that includes convention ovens, fryers, grills, microwaves, pasta boilers, coffee machines, as well as food making equipments such as mixers and juicers.



Caterers also have to invest in the finest chafing dishes and warmers such as chafer and accessories - oval flats, platters, soup tureens & ladles, relish servers, sauce boats, shakers and pourers, condiments and grinders, as well as cake stands and plates.



Beverage Service and barware equipments like tumblers and pitchers, juice dispensers, wine buckets and stands, are a must-have too for caterers serving for large celebrations. They also have to provide for utensils, trays, serving trolleys and table runners.



Catering establishments supply drinks and meals for clients for on premises and off premises catering. On premises catering involves preparing meals and beverages at the same event setting while off-premises catering means preparing meals and beverages away from the venue where it's being dished up. Food for on premises services are usually provided in the buffet style. Off premises may comprise of fingered food, packed meals, seated food, and buffets. Some caterers supply food and beverages only whereas others supply assorted blends of waiter services, seating space, and supplementary facilities like entertainment.



A moveable kitchen complete with equipments is normally needed for big off premises events. Depending on the services rendered or occasion types, kitchen amenities may be small or big. And for bulk amount of food, caterers generally buy food from the wholesalers. They may also obtain specialty food such as cakes and desserts from other sources. Caterers also offer ready to serve (or pre-prepared food) of good quality.



Catering for an occasion would generally begin with a discussion with a client to evaluate details such as how many guests, site, and particular meals request. Some clients may normally require caterers to not only provide food but manage venue rentals, entertainment, and decorations as well. The catering firms create a proposal and price quote for the menu, rental, and the like. And they would typically make every effort to provide for the wishes of the clients.



Catering chefs and cooks play an extremely significant role for the success of an event. Their job involves preparation, cooking, and transferring meals. They also help serve food at chef stations.



Waiters or waitresses are important for a catering occasion to do well. They are the ones that generally arrange the event setting, dish up meals, and clean up everything from tables to equipment as soon as the affair is concluded. Ideally, the ratio of waiting crew to guests is one for every 10 to 15 guests to ensure best possible service.



Special time of the year such as spring and Christmas days are considered the peak seasons for the caterers. Catering establishments have the standard policy of preparing for approximately ten percent food spare to ensure that every guest goes home contented and full.



Caterers can leave their clients delighted by combining sophisticated service with great food.

About the Author:
For more information on Catering Supplies please visit our website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/catering-supplies-and-related-services-599071.html

Author: Christa Kowalczyk

Sulumits Retsambew