When planning your event, always keep in mind the impression you want to leave with your guests...

The caterer that you select can go a long way toward assisting you with transforming an occasion into an event that your guests will remember. At Consider it Done it's our goal to assist you in planning your event and make it an enjoyable experience with a minimum of stress.

Fine food is not by definition, expensive food. An experienced caterer will lead you through the nuances of choosing the right food to complement the occasion, help you stay within your budget, and show you how menu creativity, presentation, etc. can all be brought into play to elevate your event into something truly special – and memorable.

What else should you expect?

• QUALITY – To make your occasion an event, your caterer must exude quality, from the ingredients he/she uses preparing the food, to the people who prepare it, to the people who serve it…. Clean, crisp attire, a smiling face, eye contact, even conversation, where appropriate. As the host or hostess, nothing says more about you and your event, than the quality of the food and service YOU are providing.

• EASY TO WORK WITH, CREATIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC – The selection of a caterer is the selection of “your partner” for your occasion/event. By all means, select someone you are comfortable working with, who you can trust, who takes a personal interest in doing the best possible job for you. Someone who is open to your ideas, but not afraid to express his/her own. Someone even willing to prepare and serve your “favorite family recipe”, should that be your wish.

• ASSISTANCE WITH BUDGET – Believe it or not, a good caterer can actually help you reduce the cost of your event. Careful menu planning, taking advantage of seasonal pricing, even shopping the sales, are all important factors to the overall cost of your event. Buffet or full service; meal vs. hors d ‘Ouerves…. There are lots of choices, and each, of course, impacts the budget.

• ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING - If you have selected a good one, your caterer has had lots of experience with events of all sizes and types. If he/she is creative as well, and takes a genuine interest in what you are trying to accomplish, they can be a valuable resource that will not only make your event unique, but trouble free, as well.

• PRESENTATION – Many a potentially fine event has been ruined by lackluster presentation. Good food…. Fine food, deserves to be presented in a creative and attractive manner. Whether it is the look and feel of a buffet table, or the arrangement and garnish of food on a dinner plate, how the food greets the eyes of your guests can be incredibly important. A good caterer knows how to maximize exceptional presentation.

• FACILITY – Not unlike a restaurant, a caterer is serving food, at times in large quantities, to the public. As the host or hostess for the event, make sure that when you select a caterer, you ask to see a copy of the certificate that licenses the kitchen where he/she is preparing the food. Many claim to have such a license, but few actually do. The license ensures that the food YOU are serving to your guests has been prepared in a certified facility to acceptable standards of quality, sanitation, and health.

Be sure the caterer you select will consider your event the most important thing he/she is working on that day. Also, consider selecting a caterer who will be at your event to ensure that all goes according to plan.

A final word about price. Your job as a potential “buyer” should be to maximize VALUE. … that is to receive the most for your money in food, services, assistance,and support. As with many other things, the “devil is in the details”, so make certain you know what those details are. Examples are: table linens; serving pieces; paper products; rental equipment, tables, chairs, dishes, glasses, (if applicable); delivery; set-up, etc. As you work the pricing process, make certain that you define clearly who has responsibility to provide – and pay for - these items.

We hope that you have found this helpful. At Consider it Done, it is our objective to provide you with the best possible foods and services – at competitive prices – to ensure that your special occasion is a truly enjoyable, delicious, and memorable event.