How Cater Food

Two Weeks Out:

  1. Decide on location[s]. Oh hey. Specific Catering Tips

Week and a Half Out:

  1. Send out dietary restriction survey
  2. If order is over ~60 people, tell the location[s] you’re planning on placing a large order

Week Out:

  1. Review their menu, and investigate catering procedure
  2. Peek at survey, and chalk up an order
    • round up when ordering for dietary restrictions –better to be safe with these people.
  3. Visit location, ask to speak with a manager about catering
    • have a number in mind, but to not finalize anything at this point
    • ask for an idea of general distribution of food (portions of meats, etc.) –they have a good idea on what people usually order, and what the average person wants
    • review payment options, phoning in with credit card information is common
    • discuss final order date, usually 2-3 days out
    • discuss what amenities are provided (napkins, plates, silverware, etc...)
    • depending on how payment is, you may want to let them know someone else will pay

Half Week Out:

  1. Finalize order
    • keep in mind the dietary restrictions
    • round up, but a perfect scenario involves running out of food at the end
    • possibly a good idea to run it past other members for blaring mistakes
  2. Place order
    • phone is common, but email provides assurance it’s taken correctly
  3. Secure transportation: a car and a second person

Day Of:

  1. Pick up
    • sign receipts, leaving a tip: 15% doesn’t necessarily apply here, use best judgement.
    • SAVE THE RECEIPT, photograph once you get the chance
  2. Serve
    • dietary restriction stuff on a different table, or at the end of the line
    • signs indicating what each item is/contains is nice
    • putting all the food out at once causes people to take more, keeping boxes under the table makes it last longer.
  3. Clean up
    • don’t leave a mess.