Survival Tips for Profitable Catering

By John Foley
The time to think about how important a catering event is shouldn't be moments before the guests arrive. Thought, planning, creativity and communication between staff, management and client are all important and should begin as soon as someone says, "Sounds great. Do you need a deposit?'"

That of course is the humorous fact about catering. Every company usually takes a deposit, which one would think is the beginning of a contract. Yet, many catering directors and managers pay little attention to a client until just days or moments before the event begins. That's not the way to build a serious clientele and develop a business that will be profitable. Catering is often looked upon as the secondary business, when in reality it is the profit center that promotes business and financial survival.

Here are ten tips to use as a survival guide:

1) Style: Make sure your events have some. If you don't feel as though you can project the right style, ask the guest what they are looking for. If they don't have any taste, buy a book on catering and duplicate the pictures until you get the feel of it.

2) Customer Service: get back to the customer more than you need to. Most catering customers are self conscious about events – otherwise they would do them themselves- so they need their hands held. Plus, that is the way to building repeat business.

3) Creativity: Do something un and borderline spectacular at each event. Keep the crowd talking. It could be something as simple as whole stalks of celery and colorful kale in vases around the restaurant.

4) Value: Don't skimp on food. Make sure that the buffet table is always presentable and the food never looks tired.

5) Pricing: Don't gouge the customer. Be fair. Remember, if planned well there is no waste so you do not have to build that into the price. Also, many items are seasonally on sale. Sell these items. Your profit will be larger while your cost is the same.

6) Ambiance: Don't ever let your restaurant get so worn you don't want to turn the lights on during the day. If something needs fixing, painting, freshening up or painting, do it.

7) Consultation: Make sure to spend time with your customer to find out their needs. Invite them in for a complimentary lunch or dinner to sample some menu items before they make the decision to have you cater their event.

8) Menu: Give choices on the menu. Don’t get too fancy, unless they want fancy. Most catering customers look for well prepared simple that everyone enjoys.


9) Flowers: Don't ever do a catering event without flowers. Add them into the price of service, ambiance, style or whatever, but a room looks naked without them.

10) Staff appeal: Make sure your staff is happy, friendly and customer service oriented. Nothing ruins an event more than a frown from Frederico, the head server.

Selecting a professional Caterer

By Jeff Gundy

Serving food at social events has become a practice that is so common place many take it for granted. Few can imagine attending a wedding, birthday party, or other celebration that did not include food being served. In fact, many people attend these events primarily for the free food that they expect to be served. While enjoying food is a fun part of any social event preparing the food can be a stressful, time consuming process. In order to save time and effort consider hiring a caterer for your next event.
Professional Denver catering companies take the burden off preparing food off of the event hosts. This will give them more time to focus on other aspects of their gathering. Denver caterers are especially useful when planning a wedding or important corporate event. Planning weddings involve a lot of careful planning and organization. Letting a professional catering company take care of preparing a menu, purchasing food, and serving the prepared food will let the bride, groom, and family members worry about other important matters. Corporate events also require a lot of prior planning. Hiring a Denver caterer that specializes in corporate catering will help ensure the overall success of the event.

When the time comes to choose your caterer it is important that you keep your location in mind. Try to choose a caterer that is close to you or the location of the event. This will help avoid last minute timing issues that could affect the caterer or the client. There are several established, professional, Denver catering companies currently operating in Denver, Colorado and the entire Metropolitan area.

Budget is another important factor when choosing a Denver catering company. Before you begin looking into catering companies take a moment and determine how much you would spend on food and serving supplies if you prepared the food yourself. Once you have determined this amount remember it when the time comes to get quotes from Denver caterers. Expect to be quoted the amount you would have spent preparing the food yourself plus a bit extra to cover transportation, set up, serving, and cleaning up. The total amount of various catering packages might surprise someone but it is important to remember all of the services you are paying for and the time a Denver caterer will save you. In many situations using a caterer is more affordable than attempting to manage cooking and serving on your own.

A professional caterer will become a valuable asset when planning any personal or professional event. Some caterers will even assist with seating arrangements, table decorations, and flower arrangements. Once you have chosen your caterer relax and let them take care of all your dining needs.

Denver Wedding Catering

Everyone knows the food is a very important part of a Wedding and hiring a wedding caterer is important in determining the quality of your wedding food. Weddings are very fun and exciting, an event people will remember for a very long time. Make sure you plan accordingly for your wedding and hire a wedding planner who has expertise in both events and catering.

We say this because some event planners out there are very good at getting the location, flowers, decorations but are not very good when it comes to the wedding food. If your looking for someone who has an expertise in all of the above, The Food Guy is a great choice! They have wedding planners who have been in the business for 15+ years and boy do they know their food! They know a lot of people at all of the popular wedding locations in Denver and if you can't get into a place on your own, they probably can get you where you want.

We recommend using The Food Guy catering company in Denver for any wedding. They have excellent food and the experience serving large numbers.

Denver BBQ Catering

Denver is not known for its excellent bbq like some of the other states are but Denver has its fair share of excellent bbq'd meat. Authentic Denver BBQ has came up with an excellent rack of ribs and specializes in Denver Catering.

Authentic Denver BBQ caters all Denver events whether it is a family gathering, business meeting, corporate event or even a Denver wedding. I was extremely surprised to see the capacity Authentic Denver BBQ was able to cater to. They were able to provide a Barbeque style buffet for a group of 300 for under $10. For Denver catering if you can get a plate for $10 a person that is exceptional.

When you want to hire a Denver caterer you also want the option for a custom menu. Authentic Denver BBQ is able to provide a custom menu and can cook onsite if needed. They can create a menu catered to your Denver Event or you can create a custom menu yourself, they can cook anything!

For more impressive options they can cook:
Rib Eye Steaks, Crab Legs and Steamed Corn on the Cob Proscuitto Wrapped Grilled Scallops with Garlic Butter, Maple Glazed Pork Chops with Pierogis and Sauerkraut, Fresh Grilled Marinated Fajitas with Green Chile, Mixed Greens w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette, Au Gratin Potatoes, and even an Ice Cream Bar with Toppings for Dessert.

Or for more affordable options:
Burgers & DogsBratwurst & KrautMinnie BBQ SandwichesBaked Potato BarFresh Sliced WatermelonLet us know your Budget

If you are looking for a Denver Catering company who specializes in Denver Barbeque, make sure to check out Authentic Denver BBQ's website: http://www.authenticdenverbbq.com/ They can work with any size party whether it is a family of 4 or a wedding of 300, no job is too big or small.

I strongly recommend Authentic Denver BBQ

5 tips for Planning a Corporate Event

You have been placed in charge of planning your next corporate banquet and you're scared silly. Here are 5 tips to make that corporate banquet planning go smooth and the event an amazing success and to have your boss smiling ear to ear at you for a job well done.

The first step to corporate event planning is to determine an approximate budget. Some considerations are location of event, meal expense, corporate entertainment expense, and awards or recognition costs. Keep in mind this is to be approximate so you have a rough idea of what management is at least minimally going to agree to spend. This can always be negotiated with them down the road once your ideas are in place.

The second step is to survey the people at your company to find great ideas of what they'd like to see or have at your upcoming corporate banquet. Simply send out a short email blast with a survey form asking your fellow employees what they'd like to see in the event.

Some typical categories for a survey are: banquet location, meal choices, corporate events or corporate entertainment. By soliciting ideas from all employees from the top to the bottom, you've given everyone a chance to take some ownership over the event, which can help boost attendance.

The third step is to select potential locations. Most banquet and convention centers will have package pricing with a variety of meal choices to choose from. Some companies have outdoor events that require a Denver catering company to provide the meals onsite. Whether you choose an outdoor location such as a park or an indoor convention center, talk to past clients of the service providers to ensure you go with a location, and a Denver catering group that has a track record of successful events under their belt.

The fourth thing to procure is corporate event entertainment. Some ideas to consider are djs, bands, and live entertainers such as stand-up comedians, magicians, comedy hypnotists, or motivational speakers. Budgeting in this area can sometimes be tricky. Many planners think you can get by with spending a few hundred bucks on this area. Some will even make the disastrous mistake of trying to have all the corporate entertainment be done in-house. Nothing spells a bored, disappointed group of mumbling and upset employees than when a convention planner tries to skimp in this area. You should plan on spending at least $2000 - $5000 in this area to ensure you get quality entertainment.

Another mistake is to do the same thing every year - such as having the same dj or band every year. Try something new, such as a corporate comedian or a corporate comedy hypnotist - mix it up to help ensure you always keep your events fresh and exciting to attend.

To find a good live entertainer can also be a challenge - especially if you think you have to get the local guy or gal. You may have to bring an entertainer in from another state if there are no good local choices available. You must also make sure the entertainer is squeaky clean and politically correct. While you can't always make everyone happy in every audience, do your best to find someone clean and funny. It can make your job simpler to work with an entertainment agency that has many years of helping companies just like yours bring good entertainers in for events.

The fifth and final tip is to make sure you present the choices for your event to your final budget approval team correctly. Never simply go in and pitch your ideas simply on price - especially if you think management may balk on the total event price. Always sell your ideas with the benefits to the company. This can be especially true when it comes to corporate entertainment.

Common benefits for brining in good quality entertainment are:
1) an entertained crowd is a happy crowd
2) exciting events boost attendance - because people like to go have fun
3) it's a lot easier for management to make employees feel good about their jobs and companies, when they've seen that management actually cares enough about them by letting them know it's not all about working together but they can actually play together too.

Denver Catering

Submitted by: Kathy Larson

Every year I host a party for my Lead group and I had been trying out different Denver Catering companies and I no longer have to look anywhere else. This past spring I hired The Food Guy who I found on his website www.thefoodguy.net and it was absolutely a fabulous experience. They helped me pick out the perfect food, create a fun theme and help with invitations and decorations. Of all the Denver caterers out there, I feel The Food Guy is the best.

My party was a total success because of The Food Guy and I will definitely be giving him another call come this spring! They created a wonderful experience for me and my guests.

Authentic Denver BBQ

When looking at all of the Denver Barbeque places out there, one comes to mind as being the best. Authentic Denver BBQ has been creating delicious meals since 1993 and going on its 15th year in business.

"Authentic Denver BBQ is catering The Finest Hickory Smoked BBQ to Folks who prefer Superior Flavor, Service and Value" is there slogan and from my experience they have the best barbeque in Denver.

They cater for any party, lunch, dinner, work function,corporate event, or even just for a family dinner. Denver Catering is getting to be a competitive field but only a handfull are as talented and professional as Authentic Denver BBQ. If you are interested in having barbeque catering for your party, you should give Authentic Denver BBQ a call at 303-232-4038 or visit their website at www.authenticdenverbbq.com