Caterers -- Five Tips for Avoiding Disaster

Caterers are people that work for you but finding one you trust to hire for a special event can be tough. After all, you have to trust that this person will be able to craft fabulous tasting food, make enough of it for your guests and deliver it on time. That's a tall order but for the right company, with the right staff, it is possible to pull off a stellar evening everyone can be proud of being a part of afterward. How can you hire the right people to handle the food at your next event?

Get References and Talk to Them

One of the best things to do is to get references for caterers. You can talk to these professionals and ask for personal references with contact numbers. Give them a call and ask about the service. Was it on time? Was the service hot and fresh? What hang ups, if any, were there? Getting an honest opinion from people these professionals worked with in the past is one of the best ways to avoid problems of your own.

Sample Foods

Don't rush through the sampling of the dishes the professional chef can offer to you. Be sure you sample each one and know what to expect. If there are execution problems at the sampling, you know there will be problems later, too.

Hire Someone That Specializes in Your Cuisine Choice

Another important step to take is to talk to caterers that specialize in the type of cuisine you plan to have. This may be in Italian foods or even BBQ. This way, the professional is not learning to do something new but is delivering dishes they already are pros at making. You'll feel more confident about these dishes, too.

Find Out Who is on Staff

Who is working to help the caterer do his or her job? If it is a small dinner party, you may not need to have anyone else helping them. However, it is more common that you will need someone or numerous people to be working hand in hand with this professional to create the meals.

Like the Chef

It pays to get to know the chef so that you really can understand personality traits that can play a role in the success of your event. For example, if you trust him or her, you are more likely to trust their cuisine. If you know the person rushes and is late, you know what to expect there, too.

The more you know about the caterers, the more likely it is that you will choose one that is right for your event. It is possible that the event will go poorly but you reduce that risk significantly by spending a bit more time choosing the right professional for your food preparation. It may take a bit more time, but you'll feel better allowing this person to serve your important guests.