WHEN you attend a wedding and a male caterer is in charge, we know that our stomach is never the same again. When men are in charge of food, whether trained or untrained, they make sure they meet the guest’s stomach needs and call for a second round to those who need more.
Women operating in this department at a wedding always complain as they give food that is not enough, murmur among themselves that just a little should be served so that all the guests have a share and yet they hide a lot for their homes.
They pretend to their husbands that they cooked the meal at home, so they love to pack some for home at the expense of the invited guests. No one knows what has happened to the belief that a woman’s pride is in the kitchen.
Men don’t go home with a cooked meal in a lunch box; society believes that when a married man goes home with cooked food then he is having an extra-marital affair. The nature of men from childhood is that they do not love to carry cooked food stuffs. Boys prefer to starve at school than carry a lunch box.
Two caterers are better than a dozen. My grandmother was against so many hands cooking one meal or chatting while cooking, she said the meal will either be raw or over-cooked or tasteless. She was putting across a very valuable lesson.
The first question we are all asked after attending a wedding is how was the food? The luncheon arrangement at your wedding constitutes one of the biggest decisions you can make. Food helps set the tone of the wedding and menu variety, quality and presentation all contribute to the culinary experience.
Choosing the right caterer to manage your wedding food is one of the most important decisions in your wedding planning. When interviewing caterers you need to ask them what packages they offer? What is needed, are they flexible, and is there a vegetarian alternative?
Can they accommodate special dietary requirements? Are the serving staffs included in the price? What is the ratio of staff to guests? How soon can you have a menu tasting and are they able to work creatively within your budget? Establish a budget before meeting with a caterer and stick to it, if it is a buffet, how many options you will be giving your guests and the quality of food. Every weekend there are so many weddings, when you attend these functions make it a habit to take business cards from the ones you are interested in.
Get recommendations from friends and colleagues for their feedback. No one knows better than the customer whether a caterer does a good job, so ask friends whose taste you share if they have any first hand recommendations.
Know what the caterer supplies. Be sure to ask what kind of rentals they supply, such as china, silver glasses, linen and sometimes the reception venue or decorator provides these items. The best caterers are in greatest demand, so book as far in advance as possible to ensure that you get your top choice.
A caterer might present him/herself as a jack-of-all trades that can give you whatever cuisine you envision, but every caterer has their own specialty. Find out what they think is terrific on their menu, and decide how well that melds with your own sensibility.
The word of mouth is very helpful. A personal recommendation or your own experience of a caterer’s work is always the best guide. If the caterer runs a restaurant or not you need to sample a meal on the premises before making your decision.
In some countries, caterers offer a schedule tasting for wedding parties throughout the year, mainly twice or three times during the wedding expo but if one misses out, they can request for one privately. The private tasting is charged, but alternative may be worse. Never commission a caterer without sampling the menu that you are planning on offering.
Decide on 5 or 6 potential caterers, as any more than that will just make the process confusing and overwhelming. Save some time by calling your list of potential caterers as you want to narrow your list down to 3 that you can visit.
Ask some questions over the phone, such as their availability on the day of your wedding and whether they have a menu that meets your budget.
It’s important to base your final choice on which wedding caterer is willing to give you want you want. Stay away from the company that insists on trying to sell you above and beyond what you had originally planned. Choose a caterer who understands what your personal needs are and who is dedicated to making that happen.
The cost of the meal is usually the biggest expense in the budget. Your caterer will need to know the date time of your reception, number of guests, level of hospitality you wish to provide and your limit on charges per head to supply you with ideas and quotations.
Costs are usually quoted per “head”. Always ask for quotes and confirmation of everything in writing and file your copies carefully. It’s important to give yourself enough time to get estimates and compare catering services, facilities and costs if necessary. Remember that caterers tend to get booked up months in advance.
The catering and refreshment will very much depend on the venue type of the reception you have decided on. Many venues recommend caterers, or may even insist that you use their in-house chef or use a particular one.
Important things to put into consideration are when the final guest list is due can they accommodate unexpected guests and what is the additional charge? Is there a charge for breakage and how much deposit is required to secure the date and when is it due?
If the charge is per plate and few guests show up demand the remaining food stuffs to be packed so that the guests and family members can take home, every cent should count, do not leave food for the venue. Their rule is if more people show up than the number submitted they charge penalty fee so you have every right to carry your food stuffs.
At the end of it all make sure you review the contract fully before finalising your decision. Make sure you are getting everything you want within your budget and that there are no hidden charges.
From the mail box,
Hello, Sunitta,
I enjoyed reading your article in the Sunday Times urging for the discontinued used of mosquito nets for bridal veils. Well done.
Chando Mapoma
Snr. Development Outreach Communications Officer
USAID/Zambia.
For comments and contributions:
Cell: 0966665468
Email: sunittasyabeene@yahoo.com