They prepare food for your event. When considering how to select a caterer, look at many factors. [...]]]> Now that you have decided it’s best to have a professional caterer provide the food for your party, here are some tips and questions on what to look for when hiring a caterer.

What Does a Caterer Do?

They prepare food for your event. When considering how to select a caterer, look at many factors. You should consider the nature of the event, how formal it is, what sorts of foods you wish to serve, and how much you can afford to spend.

Finding a Caterer

• Personal Recommendation

The ideal way to find a caterer is via personal recommendation. Ask friends, family and colleagues if they have catered an event, and who they used. Personal recommendations can help you select the right caterer

• Internet 
   

  

  Searching for a cater for her wedding reception

• Telephone book
• Event planners
• Reception Hall
• Favorite Restaurant

Questions to ask Prospective Caterer

• Do they serve the type of food you want to serve your guests
• Are they available for the date of your event
• When and where will the food be cooked
• Do they serve it or is it buffet style
• Is there an event they are doing that you might attend
• Can you taste their food prior to your event
• Is there a deposit required
• What form of payment do they accept
• Is there a contract to sign

If you are satisfied that this is your caterer hire them and get all the necessary paperwork done. Then you can kick back and relax. The only thing left to do is give them your final count and enjoy your party! Have a great day!

Welcome to our new and improved website.

The season has started with a bang. We have been busy since the snow melted. Even though we are having trying economic times fundraisers are still going strong. Over the 13 years I have been BBQ’ing I [...]]]> Rolling Out the Welcome Carpet

Rolling out the Red Carpet

Welcome to our new and improved website.

The season has started with a bang. We have been busy since the snow melted. Even though we are having trying economic times fundraisers are still going strong. Over the 13 years I have been BBQ’ing I have never seen so many people wanting BBQ for their wedding reception as I have seen this year.We are going into graduation time and invite you to give your graduate the best. They worked hard for 12 years so give them the Best BBQ in Port Clinton.

Read about how we came to be under “About Grandma“. Check out the articles we have written to help you have a better BBQ in your own backyard. The BBQ Tips may be of interest in that it will help you pick out what meat is best for your event.  We’ve included a few tips we use in our everyday BBQ’s that may assist you in your own backyard.  The neighbors will be jealous when they smell that good aroma coming from your yard.

Lots more photos have been added for you to view.  Please find my granddaughters in the photos-they will be the cute ones.   I am so very proud of them, I have to share them with you.

Our newest addition that truly brings us into the internet age is our “blog”. Everyone is doing it these days and we are no exception. As summer is a very busy time for us I will try my best to blog at least once a week. We want you to keep track of us so follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

New articles will be added as they are developed. Not all will be about BBQ we’re planning some on other subjects that apply to us in one way or another.

So sit down, click, read and enjoy your visit.  Good BBQ’ing-  Keep the smoke rolling!!

This article will help you cook in your backyard just like we would if we were there. We follow these tips but on a much larger scale. You can produce the same good BBQ in your own backyard. Try our tips and see. Be sure to use your [...]]]>

Normal man grilling in his backyard

This article will help you cook in your backyard just like we would if we were there. We follow these tips but on a much larger scale. You can produce the same good BBQ in your own backyard. Try our tips and see. Be sure to use your favorite spices.

• Tip 1 Selecting Your Meats

Only buy the freshest and best quality of meats for your BBQ. If possible buy your meat at a meat market so you can select the exact piece of meat that will work for your BBQ. Choose meats that are  naturally tender.

Red Meat

Good cut of steak to BBQ

Buy your red meat several days prior to your cook out. This gives the meat time to age and also softens the muscle.

Most tender cuts would be sirloin and porterhouse. T-bone and rump are tougher meats that require marinating. 

Poultry

Poultry is a healthy food but can be a little bland if not flavored in some way. Pick your favorite seasoning.

Pork

Pork is the easiest to cook

Pyramid stacking of charcoal

• Tip 2 Preparing Your Meat/Poultry

If you’re cooking chicken, wash the bird or parts prior to cooking. Since poultry is naturally bland use a flavoring especially made for poultry. There are many to choose from. We use a custom seasoning made just for us.

If  ribs are chosen we have found no difference in removing the membrane or leaving it on.

What ever type of meat your cooking use your favorite dry rub or marinate prior to cooking.

• Tip 3 Preparing the Grill

Always clean your grill from the prior use. A clean grill produces a better flavor and quality.  Remove the old ash from your prior cook to guarantee good air circulation.

• Tip 4 Preparing Your Charcoal

Although all charcoal will light and burn -to get the job done the best,  Kingsford by far out weighs all others.

It burns longer and does the best job of any we have tried using. When starting your charcoal place the briquets in a pyramid in the bottom of your grill.

Use liquid lighter fluid(we suggest Kingsford). Never use gasoline. Wet the coals from bottom to top without soaking them completely. Light and let fluid burn off.

You’ll know when the coals are ready when they are grey or white ash in color. This process should take about 25 to 30 minutes. Do not use charcoal in confined spaces.

• Tip 5 Getting the Best from your Charcoal

When coals are hot, take a small fire place shovel and spread them around the bottom of your grill to fill the grill completely. Good coverage means evenly cooked meat. Keep air circulating in your grill.

This helps keep all coals white hot which means they are at their optimum for cooking.

• Tip 6 Grilling your favorite cut of meat

Poultry

Legs and thighs take longer to cook that breast and wings. If cooking pieces, start legs and thighs first. Place those pieces on the grill and baste with your favorite marinate. Baste regularly to retain moisture and give maximum flavor.

Cook for 12-15 minutes on one side then turn for another 12-15 minutes.  To prevent charring or burning do not baste in the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Breast and wings place skin side down on the grill first,cook 10 minutes then turn and cook until done (about 8 minutes)

Red Meat

This is the only meat that can be safely cooked in different lengths of time based on a personal preference.  Steaks take different lengths of time to cook based on their thickness and type.  Sirlions and porterhouses usually take the least amount of time to cook. Again cooking time will be based on rare,medium rare or well done. The same thickness of a T-Bone for example will take a few minutes longer than the same thickness of sirlion. Normal cooking time shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes.

Pork

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you haven’t quite decided if you want to prepare your own food or if you want to hire a caterer. Only you can make that decision. The article is written in an effort to help you make [...]]]>

The definition of catering is-”Supplying of Food for a Social Event”

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you haven’t quite decided if you want to prepare your own food or if you want to hire a caterer. Only you can make that decision. The article is written in an effort to help you make the appropriate decision for your particular situation and what you then need to do next.

Making the Decision

• How many people will be attending?

• Can you cook the food required to feed the amount of people who are invited?

• Do you have grill, oven or stove-top space to do all of the cooking?

• Do you have enough serving dishes for all of your food?

• Do you have enough dishes to serve the food on for all of your guests?

• Do you have enough silverware for all of your guests?

• Do you have the tables needed for placing the food on for serving? (We are assuming potluck style here as if you decide to do a sit-down event with servers that is another whole area that would need to be addressed.)

Let’s say you have given this some thought and you still want to do it yourself.  Next thing to think about is the food. 

Type of Food

• What type of food do you want to serve? Here you need to think about your guests.
  • Consider whether the majority of people can eat chicken if that’s what you choose.
  • Do you need to add another main entree?
  • Will you have vegetarians attending?
  • Will there be children?
  • What kind of sides will you have?
  • Will you serve desserts?
  • What will you have to drink? Alcohol?  Soda?  Water?

You  have now decided that you still want to do it yourself.  Good for you.  But we aren’t done yet.

The Budget

The are many things to consider when working up a budget for your event.  You certainly don’t want to be caught off guard without enough money.  Price this stuff in advance so you can prepare a complete budget.

• How much meat or poultry will be needed? PRICE?
  • Don’t’ forget that if you need a lot you will need to have a place to store it.
  • If you are buying at the last minute be sure that your source has enough for your needs.
  • How much for your sides?  PRICE?
  • Make a list of all ingredients needed for each side.  PRICE?
  • Again, make sure you have a place to store everything until needed. You have to consider the health risks of leaving food out too long.

• Desserts
  • If you have determined the type of dessert and you are going to make it yourself,   be sure to develop of list of all ingredients needed.  PRICE?

• Drinks (Check your local laws regarding liquor licenses)
  • Liquor   PRICE?
  • Beer?    PRICE?
  • Soda Pop   PRICE?
  • Water?   PRICE?
  • Ice?    PRICE?

• Other Costs Not to Be Forgotten
  • If you are doing a barbeque, how much charcoal will be needed?  PRICE?
  • Do you also need to rent a barbeque?  PRICE
  • If using paper products to save money, how much is needed?  Don’t forget paper plates, glasses, plasticware, napkins, etc.  PRICE?
  • If you are using paper products, do you have enough of your own dishes for all guests? If not then you need to consider rental.
  • Do you need to rent tables?  For serving food or guests?  PRICE?
  • Do you have enough chairs or will you need to rent them also?  PRICE?
  • Do you need table cloths.  Paper or rent are options.  PRICE?
  • Do you have enough servingcontainrs or do you need to rent them also?  PRICE?
  • If you are using people to serve the food…PRICE?
  • Do you need to hire a bartender?  PRICE?
  • Do you need to rent coolers?  PRICE?
  • Trash bags for all litter  PRICE?

If the above does not break the budget and you still want to cater it yourself, be aware that there is another hidden cost.  One that may make you think twice. Ask yourself these questions.

• How much time will it take away from my time with my guests? Are you willing to give up that time?
• If you are using friends to server and help you, can you count on them during the party to be there for you?
• Is it fair to ask friends to take time away from a party they were invited to work?

If you can answer positively on all fronts then you are ready to move forward.

If you think it might be better to consider an outside caterer, then now is the time to start looking.  You’ve done much of the work already regarding the menu so it won’t be as hard.

Regardless of your decision, please enjoy your event and good eating!!