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!

Different Kinds of Steak

There are many fine cuts that are available for grilling. We prefer three specific cuts when we grill at home.

• Rib steaks
  • The rib steak is cut from the rib region of the beef. While it will still retain tenderness this cut is in the moderate price range.
  

  Marinated steak cooking over charcoal

• T-bones and porterhouse steaks
  • Are cut from the tenderloin region and will produce a very tender steak. However, with tenderness comes price increase.
• No matter which cut you may choose we have found that you can retain that tenderness no matter what marinade you use.
• The key to retaining the tenderness is the length of the marinating. A good overnight soak will allow the steak to fully absorb the liquid and aid in tenderness no matter what doneness. Make sure to reserve some of the marinade to use during grilling. However discard any unused marinade after grilling; do not use for consumption. Any sauces you may wish to use can be applied when you first put the meat on the grill.

Other types of Beef

• Roasts done over the grill
  • Our method of grilling a roast does not involve a spit or hours of grilling
  • We usually take a roast and cut it up into chunks.
  • Then we soak the roast in a marinade for at least 24 hours.
    

    Rump roast cooked on the backyard grill

  • By soaking for an extended period of time we are able to avoid restricting  ourselves to a leaner cut of meat. An economic way to do this would be to purchase a few chuck roasts when they are one sale and freeze them.
  • After soaking we then make a foil bowl to put the meat in and grill. You can use a grill basket if you want a little more of a flame grilled taste.

Less Common Types of Beef

• Liver
  • Now we have only done liver once but according to Grandma, whose taste runs to liver it was very good. The only real suggestion we have is to cook it thorough on a lower heat.
• Beef Ribs
  • Beef ribs are very different from pork ribs. Short ribs are the common term for beef ribs. Simply grill with barbeque sauce as you would pork ribs.

Different Stages of Cooked Meat

Well that about wraps up our tips for beef. Don’t worry we didn’t forget hamburgers. They will be included in our picnic tips article. Subscribe to be notified when we have posted new tips. Happy grilling!

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!!