Self Catering Tips

When it comes to any situation, there are always two kinds of people; those that are able to take on the given task, and those who prefer to hire a catering service in Toronto, or elsewhere, to do it. Neither choice suggests that someone is wrong, in fact, a lot of the time it can be good to hire someone else to do a job where your own skills aren't particularly strong. Catering is one of those jobs that some might find intimidating, and quite rightly; at any event, food is a big deal and will probably be one of the factors that people base their opinions of the event on. So, if you aren't comfortable with the idea of getting large amounts of food out to large amounts of people on time and hot, then you probably shouldn't take on a catering job yourself. There are lots of chefs for hire out there, and they might not be as pricey as you think. If you are confident with your abilities in this area, though, here are a few tips that can help you make sure the occasion is successful.

Make sure you have some basic food awareness. The food at the event is not the only thing you need to be worried about; you also want to make sure that the food is well received after the event. Food borne illnesses are quite common, even though they are very easy to prevent. Know which foods (such as seafood, chicken, and other meat) are more likely to carry harmful bacteria than others, and how to prepare them properly. Arm yourself with a good sanitizer and make sure you wipe all surfaces, knives, and so on before using them again! Whether it's someone using what's available in their Erin Mills home or someone renting equipment, everything should be washed before using.

Take care of everything. When you cater, more often than not you have more than just the main meal to worry about. You also need to make sure there are plenty of drink options for everyone; that means tea, coffee, soft drinks, ice tea, and so on. You should also remember dessert; many caterers will even take care of place settings, dishes, and tables and chairs. If you're doing all of the cooking for an event in your Lindsay, Ontario real estate, for example, and then transfering the food to a different location, make sure you have the supplies to do that safely and easily.

Know the flow of the meal. The last thing you want is to get the food out too early or (maybe even worse!) too late. Sometimes, such as with a company lunch, this is not a problem and you only have to worry about 12 o'clock. However, if you are going to act as a wedding caterer or similar event, you have to be aware of what the program looks like and time the food accordingly.

Encourage buffet type meals. Buffet dinners are the easiest to cater, by far. They also tend to make more of the attendees happy; everyone likes the idea of choice and the option to go back for more. Whenever possible, make your catered event a buffet one (it will cut down on the amount of help you need too!). If you have some efficient heating trays, you don't have to worry about running around with a temperature calibrator all night to keep all the food warm.

More help is not always better. Since we brought up help, let's face the facts: you will need help to get a catering job done right. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the more hands on deck, the better. Too many people start to get in each other's way and worse, messages get lost in translation. Stick with a few reliable helpers. This could be easier said than done if you're catering a community event, but try and be polite if you choose to turn down help.

With some good strategy, confidence, and a little bit of skill, you can cater any event yourself. In fact, you might find that it's something you could make a career of.