Entertaining 101 - The Caterer

The holidays are upon us and it's time to start thinking about your holiday party. The advantage of hiring a professional caterer is that the stress typically associated with hosting a holiday celebration should be greatly reduced, since the caterer will take on the important tasks from small to large, especially if you are hiring for full-service catering!

To make sure you have everything you need for your event, it doesn't hurt to ask your caterer a few questions prior to booking. Depending on how elaborate your event will be, some of these questions will apply, and some of them may not. While your list of questions may be a lot longer than 10, here are the top 10 to get you started:

1. Does the caterer specialize in certain types of food or service? (They should provide you with sample menus to review.)
2. Can the caterer arrange for a tasting of the specific foods you're interested in prior to hiring? (They should.) Schedule a tasting if you get a good vibe. Ask for referrals.
3. What is the caterer's average price range? Are costs itemized depending on the foods you choose, or is there an all-inclusive flat rate? What would that include (linens, tax, and gratuity)? Does the caterer have printed price sheets for food selections?
4. Will the caterer provide tables, chairs, plates, table linens, silverware, salt and pepper shakers, and more? Ask to see these items to make sure they're acceptable. Do you have to rent tables, place settings, or other equipment? Or will they arrange for the rentals?
5. Who is the main contact? Will the same person you work with when planning also oversee meal service on the day of the event?
6. Will the caterer provide wait staff? How many would they recommend for the size of your event? What will the waitstaff wear? (Top caterers say they always use their own serving personnel, even if the site's staff is available, because they understand the caterer's way of doing business.)
7. Will the caterer be willing to include a recipe you provide, like a special family dish, or an appetizer with some sort of sentimental significance? Can they prepare vegetarian, kosher, kids, or halal meals for just a few of your guests?
8. Where will the food be prepared? Are there on-site facilities, or do you, the caterer, and the site manager need to make additional arrangements? If the caterer must bring in his own equipment, is there an additional fee? Does the caterer use fresh or frozen food? Are their recipes made from scratch?
9. Does the caterer have a license? (This means her business has met health department standards and has liability insurance – make sure this includes a liquor license if you're having a bar.)
10. Can the caterer provide alcohol? Or can you handle the bar separately? If you can provide it, is there a corkage fee? How and when will you get the alcohol to the caterer? If the caterer will provide it, do they have an flexible wine list, and can you make special requests? How is this list priced?

Selecting the perfect caterer is the secret to effortless holiday entertaining. Be sure you select a caterer who has a reputation for not just meeting their client's expectations, but exceeding them.