Tips for Catering Events


In most cases, the more food you can prepare ahead of time before the event then the easier service will be once things are underway at the client event. There are however a variety of reasons to wait and prepare several menu items on-site once you get to the event. Chafing Dish - A good example is fried foods, which don't hold and transport very well. They overcook in a warmer and get soggy in transports. On site cooking also engages guests depending on the type of event. Here are some tips for menu prep site.


Exhibition Cooking - There's a lot that can go into exhibition cooking like flambé, pizza tossing, rolling sushi, etc. This provides a great deal of entertainment for some guests and keeps them engaged and interested in the food process. People tend to enjoy it as well because they know their food is fresh and hot.


On-site Grilling or Smoking - Just about any large grill outside can do the trick. The larger the better since you have a lot to cook up. As with cooking in many venues, timing is critical with cooking over an open flame. For most meats, start cooking about 30 minutes before the event. If you're slow cooking or smoking different meats then you need to get started very early; perhaps even the night before.


DIY Desserts - There are two ways to save money on desserts; do it yourself and spend hours putting everything together or make a DIY cart for guests of the client to make their own. The most popular type of DIY dessert station is a chocolate fountain with a variety of items for dipping that include fruit, cake, brownies, candy, pretzels and more.
Storage and Transportation

When you're catering for a larger event you'll need to bring a large number of food pans as well as carriers to hold all the food.Chafing Dish - Some top load or front load carriers will contain cold foods while others contain hot foods. For obvious reasons you should never mix the two. Keep in mind travel time to the event so you may want to pack in some cold or hot packs with the food to help generate some heat.


Transporting beverages may be necessary as well depending on what you're service. You'll more than likely need a 5 gallon beverage container for each beverage. Starting a Catering Business - This depends mainly on the types of drink you're serving. Many drinks can be brewed on site while others come in pre-measured portions in pouches, bags or boxes.

Outdoor Catering
If you're catering an event outside, you'll need to bring some specialty items to ensure that you perform properly but also that you're meeting health and safety codes.Catering Supplies - When you're setting up for an outdoor event you'll want to always put a tent up. Additional, get a portable ice caddy and a place to prep that includes a portable hand sink. To ensure you can take care of any food emergencies, get yourself a tailgate grill and electric chafing stoves (in case there are open flame restrictions).