KEY POINTS:
-Does the caterer use fresh ingredients/produce or do they use canned or frozen ingredients? Will the food for the reception be previously frozen? Most top-notch caterers do not use any frozen foods or anything that comes from a can!
-You will have a hard time finding your event enjoyable if you do not like working with your caterer. Find someone who you can tell is keeping your interest and general peace of mind in the forefront of the event planning process.
-Make sure that your caterer has all the necessary permits and licenses for them to provide services for your event function. Also, make sure they have adequate insurance coverage in case unexpected difficulties arise.
-Evaluate the capabilities of your caterer. Do they work out of a commercial kitchen or is the food produced out of someone’s home? Having access to commercial grade kitchen equipment and supplies will leave the caterer much better suited to handle last minute needs or unexpected emergencies (walk-in guests, severe weather, etc.)
-Often times you see caterers advertise their food for a great low price for example: $10.95 per person. Please always compare “apples to apples”. Is that $10.95 per person just for food, or are you being charged additional for Chef labor, Serving Staff, silverware, plates, glasses, linens, set-up and clean-up? So your $10.95 per person can quickly go up to $35.00 per person.
-No matter who you’re going to do business with, you're going to be spending a lot of money. You are going to be taking 100 people out to dinner that night; and buying them drinks and dessert. That is never cheap. Don’t pick your caterer on just the best price, you should pick your caterer on your current budget and which company is going to make your day special and worry free. You’re not hiring your caterer to just cook your food but you’re also hiring them for their experience. Remember when your having your wedding there are no do-over’s you can’t repeat that day the next. So make sure you choose a company that best suites your needs, goals and expectations.
~We wish you the best of luck with this process and look forward hearing from you in the near future!~
1.
Does the cost-per-person just cover the food, or are charges such as staff, plates, silverware, glasses, charger plates, linens, Chef Labor, set-up, and clean-up included in the price of the meal?
A: The cost-per-person includes all of your Chef labor, Serving staff labor, Real China Plates, Real Forks, Real Knives, and Real Spoons, Real Water Glasses, Colored linen Overlays, Colored linen Napkins, Table linens, Silver Charger Plates, Set-up of the event, and Clean-up of the event.
2.How many events do you cater in the in the same day?
A: Each crew only caters 1 event a day to ensure your event gets all the attention it needs and deserves.
3.Are you licensed? (this means that they have health department permit and have event liability insurance ) Do you have alcohol liability insurance?
A: We ARE licensed and have Event Liability insurance and we also have a 2 Million Dollar Alcohol Liability Insurance.
4.How many hours of service do you include in the overall cost?
A: We include 9 hours of service.
5.How long have you been in business, what experience, background, and culinary schooling do you have?
A: We have been in business since 1972 and have done well over 2000 weddings alone. Our Executive Chef graduated from Johnson and Wells Culinary School and has also cooked in Paris, France under the late Great Chef, Patrick Clark.
6.When is the food for your event cooked/prepared?
A: The food is not even ordered until 2 days before the event to ensure freshness. All your food is cooked on the day of your wedding.
7.What is the staff to guest ratio?
A: We provide 1 Server per 25 guests. Depending on the number of guests, we also provide at least One Head Chef who will oversee all of your catering services.
8.What are my options with any left over food?
A: We consider any leftover food yours. (As long as you sign the left-over food waiver) You have many options; we can box them up for you to take home, we can box them up for your guests to take home, or we can donate them to a Women’s Shelter that we go to.
9.Do you offer a vegetarian option? And are able to accommodate guests with food allergies?
A: Definitely. We have many vegetarian options on our menu and accommodate guests with food allergies quite often.
10.If food costs rise, will my final bill also rise?
A: No. What you’re contracted to pay is what you pay no matter how high food costs rise.
11.Can we see the kitchen our food will be prepared in?
A: Definitely! We recommend that you come see our kitchen so you’ll know where your food is being prepared.
12.Do you recycle?
A: Yes, we do recycle. Brown’s Catering is very environmentally friendly. By using real china plates, real silverware, and linen tablecloths, we do not have to use paper, plastic, or styrofoam items. We also work with a company called General Biodiesel so that we can recycle our cooking oil as well.
13.Will I meet the person who will be cooking my food?
A: YES!
14.If we provide our own wine, do you charge a corkage fee?
A: No we do not charge a corkage fee.
15.Can we see pictures of previous events?
A: YES! We have many pictures of the events we have previously catered.
16.What do the Servers wear?
A: We have causal uniforms or formal uniforms for our servers to wear depending on what you’d prefer.
17.At my event, who will be in charge (does the catering company provide a Chef, Head Server?
A: Yes! The Head Chef at your event will also be your day of catering coordinator. They work closely with the Executive Chef and the Event Coordinators to ensure they know all the details for your event.
18.Do you have set menus or can you customize menus according to the theme or style of your event?
A: Yes! Our Chef loves to customize menus in order to help make your event unique and special to you!
19.How much does an average catering job cost?
A: Every job is unique and the price will depend on the menu that you select. The best thing to do is to come in for a free no obligation consultation. It is very important to go to meet the caterer you are considering and grade them on quality of service, quality of food, and what kind of value you are getting for your dollar. We understand that your budget is very important and we will do our very best to help you stay within your budget. When you come in for a consultation with us, we will give you several different price quotes so that you will truely be able to compare our quote and services to other caterers.
20.What does it mean to be all inclusive?
A: When you pay for the food, you also get, Chef labor, Serving staff labor, Real China Plates, Real Forks, Knives, and Spoons, Water Glasses, Colored linen Overlays, Colored Napkins, Table linens, Silver Charger Plates, Set-up of the event, and Clean-up of the event, for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
