Catering Ideas That Will Take The Stress Out Of Self Catering | Food and Drink

By LeeDobbins.
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No matter how organized you may be, hosting an event is not only challenging but can also by overwhelming. One of the biggest challenges is food - do you hire a caterer or provide it yourself? If you choose to supply the food you have to plan which types of food to serve, how much needs to be purchased, asking for assistance with the preparation and cooking, and coordinate the serving of the food. But don't think hiring a caterer is the easy way out. While they might have a few catering ideas, they will expect you to make all of the decisions and coordinate the activities.

Organization is key to any project but particularly when planning a party or event. Always consider your guest list first so you can plan appropriate space for the group. Choose your menu based on the specifics of the event. The style of the event will dictate the menu in many cases. For example, a sit down meal would be more appropriate for a wedding but a casual barbeque may be just as successful for a graduation or anniversary party.

Parties require many details: plates, utensils, glasses, serving dishes, linens, and so on. Hot food will need warming plates, candles need candle sticks. You even need to decide if you buy silk flowers or order centerpieces. A professional caterer will provide the linens, dishes and serving ware and may also be able to provide decorations as well as come up with some good catering ideas for how to decorate and setup. If you're putting everything together yourself, a trip to a party supply store is a must.

Prior planning is a necessity whether you are using a caterer or doing it all yourself. Many caterers are booked far ahead so the more advance notice you have about the event, the better. If you are doing the work yourself you might have to think about hiring servers or asking friends and family for assistance on the day of the event.

Adequate preparation is crucial to creating a successfully catered event. You will need to make yourself a schedule of when certain things need to be done. You can make use of a calendar and start planning a month or so in advance and note the tasks that need to be completed each day. You will start with the mailing of invitations. Next you will have to purchase the food and determine what items can be prepared ahead of time. As you get nearer to the day of the event, it is likely the number of tasks to be completed each day will increase.

The preparation for a large event can be demanding, but being well-organized and methodical can help things run smoothly and ensure that the affair will be a big hit. Keep these catering ideas in mind and you're sure to succeed!

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