Tips for Catering Events
When you're prepping for an event, it's often a matter of convenience for prepping a great deal of food ahead of time. This makes it easier to setup at the event but unfortunately not every item can or should be pre-cooked and transported to the event.Starting a Catering Business - There are a number of foods that simply don't transport or hold well, which requires a fair amount of on site cooking. Here are some things to consider when it comes to food prep and transportation, and prepping your menu and food on site.
Exhibition Cooking - Exhibition cooking is popular with a lot of guests because it really engages their interests. This can include things like pizza tossing, flambé, sushi rolling and more. The major benefit beyond the entertainment factor is that a menu utilizing exhibition cooking keeps the food hot and ensures that everything is fresh.
On-site Grilling or Smoking - When you're grilling on site, just about any large outdoor grill will do the trick. If you are expecting a lot of guests, then the larger the grill is the better.
Catering Supplies - Note that with grilling, especially over hot coals, timing is extremely important. Meats need about 30 minutes before the event for cooking and slow cooked or smoked dinners or meals should be started hours before the event - sometimes the night before.
DIY Desserts - Desserts don't always transport well once put together so you have to do them onsite for the best presentation. If you want to save a little time and labor, you can setup stations that allow guests to create their own desserts. The most popular type of DIY dessert station is a chocolate fountain with various items for dipping Storage and Transportation Starting Catering Business
With large events, the best way to handle the food is to prep some and cook the rest on site.
Chafing Dish - When you're transporting food, you'll have a number of large containers designed to hold hot and cold foods at a specific temperature. To extend the life within the transport, especially for a longer travel time,
Transporting drinks or beverages is a little trickier and may be necessary depending on the event and what you'll be serving. For mixed beverages that can't be mixed on site, transport them in a 5 gallon beverage container or in the original boxes and packaging until they can be open and transferred on site.
Outdoor Catering
If you'll be doing an outdoor event then consider the specialty items you'll need for the event to be a success. It's important to have all the equipment you need to not only perform properly but also to meet health and safety regulations. You might be outside but it's still a commercial cooking environment. In addition, get portable ice caddy's for food and drinks as well as prep food.Catering Supplies - A portable sink is also necessary to prevent cross contamination while cooking. To cover any last minute cooking emergencies, make sure you have a secondary tailgate grill or electric chafing stoves to compensate for open flame restrictions.
Exhibition Cooking - Exhibition cooking is popular with a lot of guests because it really engages their interests. This can include things like pizza tossing, flambé, sushi rolling and more. The major benefit beyond the entertainment factor is that a menu utilizing exhibition cooking keeps the food hot and ensures that everything is fresh.
On-site Grilling or Smoking - When you're grilling on site, just about any large outdoor grill will do the trick. If you are expecting a lot of guests, then the larger the grill is the better.
Catering Supplies - Note that with grilling, especially over hot coals, timing is extremely important. Meats need about 30 minutes before the event for cooking and slow cooked or smoked dinners or meals should be started hours before the event - sometimes the night before.
DIY Desserts - Desserts don't always transport well once put together so you have to do them onsite for the best presentation. If you want to save a little time and labor, you can setup stations that allow guests to create their own desserts. The most popular type of DIY dessert station is a chocolate fountain with various items for dipping Storage and Transportation Starting Catering Business
With large events, the best way to handle the food is to prep some and cook the rest on site.
Chafing Dish - When you're transporting food, you'll have a number of large containers designed to hold hot and cold foods at a specific temperature. To extend the life within the transport, especially for a longer travel time,
Transporting drinks or beverages is a little trickier and may be necessary depending on the event and what you'll be serving. For mixed beverages that can't be mixed on site, transport them in a 5 gallon beverage container or in the original boxes and packaging until they can be open and transferred on site.
Outdoor Catering
If you'll be doing an outdoor event then consider the specialty items you'll need for the event to be a success. It's important to have all the equipment you need to not only perform properly but also to meet health and safety regulations. You might be outside but it's still a commercial cooking environment. In addition, get portable ice caddy's for food and drinks as well as prep food.Catering Supplies - A portable sink is also necessary to prevent cross contamination while cooking. To cover any last minute cooking emergencies, make sure you have a secondary tailgate grill or electric chafing stoves to compensate for open flame restrictions.
