subject: Things To Consider In A Food Catering Business [print this page] For cooking enthusiasts and hobbyists, a business in food catering may be most appropriate. But this is just the initial prerequisite to entering a food catering enterprise. There are other important aspects to making a catering business succeed and grow. Aside from being able to cook and prepare food well, the prospective caterer must also have intrinsic qualities in relating well with the clients and providing them with good and conscientious service.
These days, catering services appear to be one of the more popular endeavors. The reason appears to be that food is an important part of any event, occasion or gathering. Another reason is that the event organizers do not want to be disrupted with their events and choose to hire a caterer to take the cudgels in food catering.
Food catering not only covers the food and beverage preparations, but also entails the peripheral aspects of the catering such as the provision of dining tables, chairs, decorations, and even the waiting crew. Even the cleaning and packing up after the event is also included in the caterers scope of services.
The catering business covers an array of services and not just in providing food and beverage. It could also include somewhat distant items like event emcees and hosts, ushers and usherettes, and even showgirls and character performers.
Intense coordination and communication with the client is a vital responsibility of the caterer. It is very important that the caterer knows all the requirements of the client through exhaustive communication and feedback. The specifications of the client for the event, the number of expected guests, the length of the party, and the specific dish selection, are some of the items worthy of discussion in the close coordination between the client and the catering company.
When the caterer first meets with the client, he should have at least three menu selections for the latter, and better yet, if the caterer could provide the client a food tasting session for his food preparations.
With the growing specifications of people, such as those who observe special diets and regimen, the caterer must be prepared to address the different requirements of the client by way of having a bigger array of food options. While there may be the usual dishes, there should also be a menu for vegetarians.
People who are sensitive to food like diabetics should also have a place in the caterers menu. In catering, the cooking of food should have alternative methods to address these issues. If a caterer is able to properly meet these peripheral requirements then his customer base would effectively grow and multiply.
The cooking and kitchen equipment are important things to consider in a food catering business as well. These include the electrical appliances used for cooking and food preparation and the silverware, utensils, serving dishes and chinaware, which are good investments for the caterer.
