In catering, like many other careers, a combination of training, hard work, and carefully honed skills are required to succeed. There are few things in this world that are more gratifying than serving others and making a difference. You may even think “oh please, it’s just food!” but as caterers we know that food is one of the most anticipated parts of any event. But apart from cooking, there are other qualities that a professional caterer should possess. So whether you are searching for an event caterer or hoping to be one, keep reading to learn why each quality is vital:
- Delicious Cooking
Catering is all about the food. Beautifully decorated venues with carefully placed settings are certainly a wow factor but it all comes down to the food. It’s what you and your guests remember and good food reviews lead to repeat clients. A good caterer should be adept at planning menus, safely preparing, transporting and reheating large amounts of delicious food.
- Professional Customer Service
Caterers work in the service industry and should undoubtedly be courteous, diplomatic and adaptable. Your needs should be listened to and well understood to ensure a successful event and your ultimate satisfaction. Caterers should also have good communication skills to advise you during the catering process. After all, this is their area of expertise and you should be able to rely on them to provide guidance.
- Flexibility and Creativity
Food allergies and dietary restrictions are everywhere and a good caterer must be able to make considerations for all preferences, whether personal, religious or medical. In an ideal world information flows freely but in reality a caterer may only be advised of an allergy at the last minute and must be adaptable enough to respond positively to pressure and even triumph, earning your confidence in the process. Creative caterers also adapt your event theme and put in extra touches to level up the menu.
- Keen Attention to Detail
Food preparation is an art and one of the most important characteristic of an event caterer is their attention to detail. When you are planning events, you likely have a vision of how things should be. As events get larger, things get more complex and it’s important to find a caterer who will listen and pay attention to your needs, even going the extra mile to produce a high-quality event. Timely setup, service and breakdown show that a caterer is organized and prepared to make everything run smoothly.
- Investment in Marketing
A caterer’s food may be delicious but you may not be inclined to call if they don’t put themselves out there. To get noticed, a caterer should ensure that they ask clients for referrals and testimonials. It is also important that caterers network to build connections with suppliers, venues and event planners.
- Ability to Motivate
In addition to being adaptable, good caterers are enthusiastic and proactive. Busy periods often require long extended hours, especially on weekends and public holidays. These schedules can easily lower morale and demand lots of stamina from team members so its is important that caterers are able to motivate everyone (including themselves) during these times. On the contrary, there may be slow periods which require the same level of morale building.
- Sound Financial Planning
Fluctuating work is a natural part of catering and money management is vital. While events are happening daily and even hourly, there are periods of excess bookings including weekends, month ends and holidays which are naturally contrasted by slower periods. Catering is a business after all and a caterer must be able to financially plan for slowdowns by employing sustainable business practices.
When looking for a caterer, choose one who takes the time to get to know you and understand your vision for your event. This can only be achieved through discussions, question and answer sessions and diligence. As a client this may seem time consuming but when you and your guests see the final result, it will be obvious that the event was carefully curated for you.
As a seven year old catering service, Simply Delish has acquired each of these qualities and would love if you considered us for your next catered event! Call us at 1-784-532-9767 or email catering@simplydelish.co for more.
