| Understanding the process of event catering | | | | light refreshment with drinks or a buffet menu |
| Brisbane will enable you to stay within your event | | | | for a more substantial meal. A comprehensive, |
| budget. Event catering ranges from delivery to full | | | | formal full service catering proposal is likely to |
| service catering. Caterers and their staff are part | | | | include hire equipment, food and beverage |
| of the food service and hospitality industry. | | | | packages, wait staff and chefs. Each of these |
| When most people refer to a "caterer", they are | | | | factors affects the catering price. |
| referring to an event caterer who prepares the | | | | Catering clients may have specific dietary or |
| food with their own chefs, then serves food with | | | | religious needs to consider. These may include |
| waiting staff. The service can be to dining tables, | | | | halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan and food allergy |
| set up as a self serve buffet table, or served to | | | | requests. Increasingly, clients are interested in |
| standing guests as they mingle. The food may be | | | | food sustainability and food safety. Finger Food |
| prepared on site being made completely at the | | | | service can be passed around by wait staff or on |
| event, or the caterer may choose to bring | | | | tables for guests to self serve. Most caterers |
| prepared food and put the finishing touches on | | | | agree that three or four passed items are |
| once it arrives. | | | | appropriate for the one hour period prior to a |
| The event caterer wait staff members are not | | | | meal. |
| responsible for preparing the food but often help | | | | Hire equipment may include tables, chairs, tabletop |
| set up the dining area. This service is typically | | | | (china, flatware, glassware, linens, chargers), bar |
| provided at banquets, conventions, weddings and | | | | glassware, serving equipment, condiments etc. It |
| corporate boardroom events. Any event where | | | | should be clear whether table and chair setup and |
| all who attend are provided with food and | | | | pack up is included in the hire costs. Most rental |
| beverages is often called a 'catered event'. | | | | companies do not automatically include setup and |
| Many events require working with an entire | | | | pack up in the rental charges. |
| theme or color scheme guided by the client's | | | | Catering staff requirements varies from caterer |
| event. A catering company is expected to know | | | | to caterer, but generally speaking, an event will |
| how to prepare food, make it attractive, and | | | | have an Event Manager leading kitchen and |
| serve appropriately according to the event. With | | | | service staff including chefs, waiters and |
| the correct atmosphere, professional event | | | | bartenders. The labor on a plated dinner is |
| caterers with experience can make an event | | | | generally much higher than the labor on a buffet, |
| special and memorable. | | | | because a plated dinner involves double the china, |
| Beautifully prepared food alone can appeal to the | | | | and usually a minimum of three served courses, |
| senses of taste, smell, sight, and perhaps even | | | | plus served coffee. Simply put, there's a lot more |
| touch. | | | | to do. To do it properly requires roughly 10 to |
| Catering is often sold on a per person basis, | | | | 50% more staff. On a large event, this can be |
| meaning that there is a flat price for each | | | | substantial. A legitimate caterer will have a |
| additional person. Food volumes and quantities will | | | | business license and a health permit both showing |
| depend upon the client's desire to provide to their | | | | the address of the place from which they do |
| guests at their event. For example, finger food as | | | | business. |