10 Questions to Ask Your Caterer

Whether you are hosing a dinner party, a New Year bash, or a corporate or office get-together, it is very important to hire the right catering company. The perfect caterer can not only provide the right cuisine and food for your event, but he will also make sure that the entire event is properly planned and organized to make it successful. Apart from the quality of food, the food presentation, and overall ambiance are the other things you should be looking for from your caterer.

In order to select the right caterer, it is important to do some research about them; and while researching about them, it is important that you are ready with some basic questions that will provide you with enough information about the potential contractor.

1. What are your specialty food items? If you are looking for a specific menu for you event, it is important to ask them whether they specialize in a certain type of food. A good caterer should be able to supply you with sample menus to look over.

2. What is your average price / range? Find out whether the prices offered by the caterer are itemized depending on the food you select or if there's an all-inclusive rate. Also check if the prices include gratuity, taxes, and other additional costs?

3. Also ask them whether the caterer provides table linens, chairs, silverware, tableware, salt-and-pepper shakers, etc? Check whether the caterer provides these non-food items and if they do not, check if they can make the arrangements for rentals. If they do provide rentals, ask them beforehand to ensure they are acceptable as is.

4. Who will be the main person for contact? Find out who will be the main person you will be working with throughout the planning and execution of the event you are hosting.

5. Who will handle the table setting – you or the caterer? Check with the catering company whether it will set up the place settings and place name cards and favors or if you are in charge of doing that.

6. Do you provide wait staff? Ask the caterer whether he will provide the wait staff for your event; and if does, ask how many wait staff they recommend for an event of your size. Most reputable catering companies will have their own wait staff even if the site has serving personnel available.

7. Where will the food be provided? Check with the caterer if there are any on-site facilities or will the caterer need to make additional arrangements? Find out if the caterer charges additional fees to bring in their own equipments.

8. Do you have proper insurance and valid license? A valid license ensures the catering contractor has met health department standards and has liability insurance which protects you in case of an accident. Make sure the license is also valid for liquor if you plan on serving alcohol.

9. Do you provide the liquor or I have to arrange for it? If you can handle the bar separately, check if there is a corkage fee and determine arrangements to get the caterer the alcohol.

10. Can you arrange for tasting samples? If you find the caterer to be good, ask him whether he offers a tasting to sample their cuisine.

For more information on caterer in NYC and New York City catering refer the link.