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Hiring the Right Caterer for Your Next Party

Which Company to Choose When Planning Your Big Bash

Jun 28, 2008 L. Marie Dubuque

Leave the cooking, cleaning and waitressing to someone else and hire a caterer for your next party. What to look for and how to choose the best people for the job.

Whether it's a huge wedding reception or an intimate birthday party, hiring a caterer will make your job easier. But if you contract with the wrong company, your night to remember will be more like an evening you'd rather forget.

How to Hire the Best Caterer for Your Party:

Interview at least three companies. Often restaurants offer catering services. So if that's the case, have dinner there a few times and make sure you sample the food you'd consider at your party. Talk to the waiters or waitresses that will be working at your event. Make sure they are on the same page when it comes to politeness and enthusiasm. Remember, they will be the ones serving your guests so you don't have to. If you aren't crazy about a person's demeanor, move on to someone else.
Make sure the prospective caterers come to your location. You want them to get an idea of your party setting. They may even have some ideas as to which area of your home will accomodate the most guests and why. Also, let the caterers show you a sample menu and find out where and how the food will be prepared. If you are having a buffet, what is the plan for keeping the hot food hot and the cold food cold? What is the clean up procedure? You don't want the staff to be running the dishawasher and clanking pans around while your guests are sipping their after-dinner drinks.

Read the fine print in the contract. Find out what the deposit amount is, and when the final payment is due. Who is responsible for extra tables or serving dishes, and what happens if they are damaged? Make sure you get a 24-hour contact number for the company manager in case the crew is late or doesn't show up. And remember, don't pay by check. Use a credit card so you have some recourse if any mishaps do occur.

Get references! Whatever you do, don't blindly hire a caterer, even for a small event. Ask around and find out who friends and family used for their last party. If you don't know anyone who has hired a caterer recently, at least ask the companies you interview for references. Even if those customers give you glowing reports, you can usually glean a little information by reading between the lines. Ask pointed questions about the service. And if there is even a little hesitation in their voice when answering certain questions, you may need to investigate further.

Finally, if you can't afford to cater your next party, simply order sub sandwiches from a local deli or warehouse club. You won't have a mess, and there isn't much clean up involved.

The copyright of the article Hiring the Right Caterer for Your Next Party in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Hiring the Right Caterer for Your Next Party in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Hire the best caterer for your next party.