What are the best Catering Services in Hyderabad

What are the best Catering Services in Hyderabad

Various Catering Services in Hyderabad:

There are a lot of companies offering Catering Services in Hyderabad for every occasion, the question is whether you actually need the catering service for your event or no.

No one understands the weight and excitement of having a party as much as you do, because it is your party anyway. People often underestimate the importance of Catering, they are confused whether to opt for caterings services in Hyderabad from a professional catering company or simply host a DIY Party.

Also read: “Best Catering Option

Some think they are capable of handling the event on own without having to hire a Caterer but end up regretting, while some other think without a Caterer they cannot host the event but in reality they do not need a catering service company for their event.

Let us see some of the occasions where you can omit and where you ought to hire a caterer for your function.

Note: Since our main area of operation is Hyderabad, our discussion here will mostly be considering the local culture and catering services in Hyderabad. This doesn’t mean the discussion is restricted to Hyderabad alone, rather the same can be applied to any other region.

Being a city of food lovers, any event in Hyderabad involves food, and it is important to have proper planning, because it is not just preparing the food and serving but is also:

> How you cook,

> What you cook,

> What you serve,

> When you serve and

> How you serve.

All these factors are crucial in deciding the success of your party. Below are the top 3 instances to help you decide if you need to opt for catering services in Hyderabad or can execute the event on own without the need of a Catering company.

1. Size of the Event:

If the number guests at your event are rather less, you need not consider hiring a catering company. Say you are hosting a birthday party with a guest list of around 20-30pax, considering catering option for birthday party with this small crowd will not be feasible.

Reason => most of the caterers have a setup for catering to large crowds with minimum of 50 PAX, if you are hiring them for your small event will naturally result in more overheads for the caterer resulting in high catering price.

Hence opting to cook on own or taking help of volunteers is a wise idea. You can also consider buying food from restaurants, Hyderabad is host to some of finest restaurants with best culinary delights. Ordering food for 20-30pax will not cost you bomb. 

Ajmeri Naan from Elite Caterers

2. Your Role:

Are you the main person in whose honor the party is being arranged? If so, then handing over the rights of food department to a catering service company is the way to go. You definitely do not want to miss the opportunity of getting the VIP treatment from near & dear ones at your party, these are precious moments you need to live-in in order to cherish, hence our advice is you Hire a professional caterer and save yourself from the stress which otherwise you get by handling the function alone.

Tip: Hire the best caterer in Hyderabad who is known for providing top catering services.

3. Budget:

The number one reason most people decide to cook food by themselves is the “MONEY” factor. You see, people often look at the catering part with a monetary lens. What they fail to see is, it is not just about the money but the time, labor & efforts which also are essential for catering. They think the cost of food is ingredients of the Food + Gas, they compare this cost with the catering price (quote) they received from the Caterer. They immediately see the huge difference there by getting convinced that the Caterer is duping them hence they decide to cook by themselves and save the entire cost (catering quote – ingredients price);

Suggestion: Ask yourself, is saving some thousands, worth the time, effort and labor you put in to buying grocery, cookware, sourcing the serve-ware, hours of cooking then serving and finally cleaning up including the washing? Not to mention the ingredients and utensils you buy will be at retail price while for the caterer these are all at wholesale Price.

Anyway, you need to weigh down the pros & cons of cooking by yourself depending on your budget. If the labor and efforts are worth the saving then go ahead wit DIY hosting, if not then go stress free by hiring a professional catering services company for your event.

All that said, let us now see, what are the functions you can consider taking caterings services in Hyderabad? 

1. Wedding Catering Service:

There is a saying if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. With the way how Hyderabadi weddings have risen up their bar overtime, not hiring a professional caterer is like by default directing your wedding towards a failure. Be it wedding reception or pre & post wedding functions catering is a must.

2. Catering Services For Kids’ Parties:

This goes without a saying that one must definitely hire a catering company to execute the kids’ party, you for sure cannot arrange the fancy foods the kids love. Opting for catering services will ensure loads of catering options can be accommodated at your kids’ party. Also add finger food live station catering. the kids will love it.

Want to know about “live food station ideas?” Click Here

3. Catering Services For Themed Parties:

If you are hosting a themed party, would you want to experiment the food? Hire a professional caterer who is not only competent at arranging themed foods but is also great at organizing the party.

4. Catering Services For Small Parties:

If your budget permits, you should definitely hire a catering company with full service catering option to add style & flair to your party. You can take a step further and make it buffet style catering instead of seated meal. Also adding live station catering option will take your party to next level.

Elite Caterers have catererd to a large number of clients for their house-warming party. If you are looking for same, get in tocuh with us.

5. Birthday Party Catering:

There a lot of catering options for birthday party. If you have a guest list of 50plus PAX, you need to have catering services to add a flair to your birthday party.

Also read: “Best Appetizers for a birthday party

In general, if there is no restriction on the budget, regardless of size of event one should definitely go ahead with catering service option, hiring the best caterer in town will make a huge difference to your party no matter how small or big it is whether a small anniversary party or a big corporate event.

Various advantages of catering service option like saving you some time and lots of stress, Style statement at your party, challenge of cooking for large crowds being eliminated, definitely outweighs the major advantage of saving few bucks by DIY cooking. Hence turn to a professional catering company for handling your party. 

With all this said, if you are going to host a party in future and are wondering who provide the best catering services in Hyderabad then contact Elite Caterers who are known for their professionalism and are top rated on google for their catering services in Secunderabad and Hyderabad.

For wedding catering requirements contact: HERE

For Corporate catering services contact: HERE

Catering for small party order, contact: HERE

 

Catering Hyderabad City what is the process

Catering Hyderabad City what is the process

Catering Hyderabad City: 

 

When it comes to weddings, parties or corporate functions, there are a lot of caterers catering Hyderabad city. People these days do not want to occupy themselves in the cooking hitches, hence more and more people in Hyderabad are turning to best catering companies to cater their events.

Whether it is a birthday party, a small get-together at workplace or grand wedding reception, you’ll find lot of catering options to cater at your party.

The City of Hyderabad being famous for its delectable food, has tremendous food dishes in fact it will not be wrong to say has multiple cuisines. Pure South Indian (veg & non-veg), Andhra style food, Pure Telugu food, Mughlai food, dishes from Persian & Middle Eastern regions and what not.

You may also want to know: “what are the best catering services in Hyderabad?

 

 

In earlier times, at functions be it weddings or small parties, the family members used to cook food for the guests during these events. But now, the trend has tremendously changed with Hyderabadi people considering catering services for most of their social functions and there are on the lookout for best caterers in Hyderabad.

Since the people of Hyderabad have special place for the food in their heart, they take the catering very seriously. From the type of Cuisine to selection of dishes, Catering Hyderabad city with a top-notch catering service is paramount importance for the success of any social event.

The ever-increasing demand for new dishes in Hyderabad is becoming prominent day by day, the caterers are coming up with new dishes to tempt their clients.

With that said, catering is not just about the food taste, or fancy dishes, we eat not just for taste but thru our other senses as well we decide whether to go ahead with the specific item or no. How the food is presented, how it is being served, how aromatic the dish is, is the dish served cold or hot. Our eyes first approve the food, then comes the aroma which lets our senses roll on into deciding to try the dish, and finally the taste. Hence whether it’s the presentation of food or the aroma or taste, everything has to be take care of.

There are a lot of caterers and home chefs catering Hyderabad city, key is to find the best caterer among them who will not only focus on the taste, but on the overall satisfaction of the clients and their guests. How you will know you are dealing with the best caterer? There are couple of things you can look for when engaging with the catering companies. The top 3 are the following.

1. Professionalism Matters:

When dealing with you, how professional they sound. Do they have a website registered in their business name, If yes, how is the look of the website – overall layout, design, photo gallery (pics of the food) etc.

2. Experience Counts:

How long they have been in the industry catering Hyderabad city. What are the venues they have provided their catering services at, what type of functions they have catered and of what size?

3. Reviews – not to miss:

Have they got any reviews from their past clients (google their business name and read the reviews), if you like to have a word with any of the clients to know their experience with this caterer, is the caterer willing to provide the reference to talk to? 

For more details you can refer our blogs as follows:

Best Caterers in Hyderabad – how to choose.

and 

Top tips for choosing a Caterer

Once you shortlist the top caterers in Hyderabad from among the sea of caterers, your next step is to share to each of these caterers the specifics of your desired menu. Ask them to make a custom menu meeting your requirements or let them share their standard menus. Most of the caterers have different packages for different occasions & different clientele. You can either choose from their standard menu packages or let them create one based on your requirements.

You can also request them to share photos of those items which are common in your menu from their past orders. This way you can gauge how the food in your function is going to be.

Tip: “How to avoid mitsakes in a wedding?

Menu with Pricelist:

Next is their turn to respond to your needs either by submitting their quotation / price list for their catering menu. Most of the caterers have price handy with them so in the first call itself they’ll provide you with their catering price. Note, A professional caterer in Hyderabad, before giving you price then and there will inquire about your event like the type of event you are hosting, number of attendees, what type of catering service you are looking for is it full service with cutlery & serving staff or a petite take-away catering or is it an on-site cooking with food service only.

Side Notes:

1. If you have booked a hall for the wedding, almost all the wedding halls have their own serve-ware (cutlery & crockery), this should be communicated to the Caterer so that there is no room for any miscommunication & the price they’re supposed to quote is only for the food, cookware however is the Caterer’s responsibility. 

2. If the food is to be cooked at Site, a site visit prior to the event is encouraged. If you are dealing with a professional caterer, they’ll from their end will visit the site or request you to take them along & would discuss with you further regarding cooking and handling at site. If needed they’ll talk to the wedding hall management regarding the arrangements – kitchen facility, dining hall etc.

3. You can indicate to the caterer, what is that you are expecting from the event, first and foremost the type of catering 1. Sit down dinner, 2. Buffet style, 3. Live station Catering 4. Combination seated & live station. Secondly, Do you like to have any decors at the dining table (individual tables or across the dining hall), Thirdly, if you are looking for special items for the main tables at Bride and Groom side ask them if they have this provision. The caterer should be able to view your vision and turn into reality. 

Once the caterer have enough input, you will receive a formal quotation with menu & price along with the summary of their scope. Some Caterers even send along a Catering service Contract for your reference enlisting technical & commercial terms & conditions. Seeing the series of TOC should not put you in surprise, this is a formality, like many other businesses, top catering companies also prefer to keep things transparent.

Side Note:

1. It is highly recommended that you deal with a caterer with terms & conditions clearly put on paper. This is to safeguards the rights of the Client and the Caterer and will be helpful when any discrepancy arises.

2. Now, some caterers prefer to give the price directly over phone and in the first enquiry call itself, this should not put you into suspecting their credibility as a professional Caterer as to why they have not enquired about your event or didn’t ask you xyz questions or why no forma quote & contract.

Please note, some catering companies are highly experienced they’ve been into business for years catering Hyderabad city, their experience makes them confident about your event, hence they may not ask questions, or that they have previously catered at the same venue or similar crowd size and menu, so possibilities are many. Simply rejecting them is no wise, you have to draw parallels before taking the decision.

Finalizing the Caterer:

Now you are with multiple quotations, carefully going through each of them, including the terms & conditions, will help you eliminate some of the caterers. Shortlist 3-4 caterers from the list who are in-line with your requirements.

Fix-up a meeting with each of them, get the numbers of their references call these clients ask them their experience with the caterer, how did they perform at their function. Ask their advice for anything you need to take caution etc.  Based on these references you will be in a better position to decide who to go ahead with and who not to. Try to eliminate all but 2 or max. 3 caterers.

Fix up a meeting with each of them again, and discuss all the points you have in mind.  If required discuss with you family members but don’t give in, we repeat DO NOT give in to the suggestions of your relatives/family/friends merely because it is coming from someone you can rely on. Decide based on your gut feeling, eventually it is your function, you want to make it memorable with kind /sweet memories, so finalize the caterer where your heart is inclined to.

So this is how a catering process looks like. We suppose this article was helpful to you, if you have liked it, please share in your comments in below. You can also list your points which we might have missed here, and after your comments, we will update our post by including your suggestions.

Suggestion: Also read “Ideal Menu for Valima Dinner”

Get on call with us to discuss the best catering service for your Catering Party.

Live Food Station Catering Ideas

Live Food Station Catering Ideas

Live Station Catering Ideas: 

Live Food Stations’ Catering has become quite popular these days. From small parties like birthday parties or housewarming parties to Wedding receptions, more and more people are opting for live food station catering because they want the best catering service for their event.

In live stations, one can opt for live food stations or live drink stations or a combination of both, and there can also be stations for live fun food like popcorn candy stalls, Ice cream stalls, etc. There are a ton of options when it comes to catering with live food stations for weddings & parties.

For the Indian crowd, you can include famous street food, for the foodies who relish non-veg, Kebab Counters, Grills, and Barbecue Stations are a great choice. For veg & south Indian food lovers, South Indian food stations like Dosa counters, and for the guests who love Chinese or Italian food, starters, noodles, and kinds of pasta are the go-to items.
Though more & more caterers in Hyderabad are offering live station catering, it is still considered an expensive affair. Having extra staff dedicated for each station with live cooking counters are the major reasons why live station catering is expensive.

Live Kabab Station

Chargrill live kabab station

Live Chargrill kabab station
Live Chargrill Sunehri kabab

Why should you have Live Food Stations?:

The question now is, should you consider Catering with Live Food Stations at your wedding reception or party? We at Elite Caterers suggest- No & Yes.

As it costs you a little higher, If you are on a limited budget then you better opt out of live stations for small party orders. However, if it is your wedding reception, we highly recommend you add 1 or 2 live food stations to your wedding party & make it a memorable affair.

Below are the top 5 reasons, why should you consider live station catering at your function:

  1. Live Food stations bring Creativity & adds culinary affair to your party
  2. Interactive food stations tend to be more social and allow the guests to mingle while enjoying the food
  3. Having a live station at your party will make your wedding a talk of the circle even after the function has ended, and will make those invitees who did not attend your wedding reception, feel regret.
  4. Live fun food stations, will add life to your wedding reception, with young and adults enjoying thoroughly and will keep them hooked to the food stations.
  5. Adding unique or innovative food dishes to your live station catering menu will bring some personality to your wedding menu.

Luqmi kabab in wedding dinner menu

With all these attractions, how can one not have this live station element at their Party? Be it a corporate function, a social party, or a wedding affair, people are looking to add some live action to their events through live stations. Live station catering carries other advantages too like dietary preferences can be taken into account, dish/item can be designed to suit one’s taste, Veg, spicy, tangy literally any preference can be accommodated and the right amount of flavors, one loves can be achieved.

So if you are one who likes to make your wedding reception a truly memorable experience for you and full of kind memories for your guests to take home then live station catering is the way to go.

Chargrill live kabab station

Live Food Station Ideas:

Now let’s discuss, some food station ideas you can consider at your wedding reception which will not put a hole in your pocket.
Hyderabadi weddings are more famously family-style seated dinners, and No wedding dinner is without Salad, Appetizers, and desserts. Now instead of serving these items on the dining table, allocating a corner of the dining hall for live food stations like Salad station, Kebab station & Desserts, will not cost you much, in fact, will add a flair to your dinner party. Let the guests turn around and fill their plates with a choice of salads (mix and match style), create their own platters, go back to their seats and munch, the main course can be served as usual, and when it’s time for desserts the guests are free to go tor respective dessert station and fill their bowls with the sweet delicacies.
If this idea of the part live food stations and part sit-down dinner does not fascinate you, then having regular food stations not costing much can be considered in addition to a regular seated dinner menu. Read on the following suggestions by Elite Caterers from their experience with the Clients.

1. Popcorn Stall:

Popcorn has always been a fun treat & a favorite of all. Adding Popcorn Stall as a live station to your wedding party will not cost you a bomb but definitely will draw crowds to the station. This can be served with different flavors & delicious toppings and is sure to be a hit among the young crowd.

2. Chaat Live Station:

From the streets of Mumbai and Hyderabad, you can add some chaat to your wedding reception. Who doesn’t have craving for Tangy chaat? These delicious & tempting savories do not cost you big, adding Papdi chaat or Dahi Bhalla & Pani Puri should be enough.

3. Candy Floss:

For people with a sweet tooth, candy floss is the best choice. Light like a feather, candy floss will not only be a hit with the kids but is sure to impress your adult guests too.

4. Assorted Fries Station:

For clients on a restricted budget, we suggest them have assorted fries stations. It doesn’t cost you much but having this in the live station will make your guests not miss the Kebabs counter. Kebabs can be served as a starter in the seated dinner. Fries are liked by kids & adults alike. Serve these fries in variations – deep-fried, air-fried, normal or spicy, and with a couple of dips. Your guests will simply love it. 

5. Paan Counter:

Most loved item at any wedding is the Paan, Paan is a staple item at Hyderabadi wedding being served for decades now. Why not add the Paan as a live station at your wedding? Guests after having their meal can go to the Paan Station and custom order with flavors as desired. Saada Paan, sweet Gulkand Paan, Fire Paan, Ice Paan and even chocolate Paan are most preferred at weddings.

Live Paan Counter

6. Milk Shakes:

Another addition to your live counter can be different milk shakes along with or without mocktails. Having mocktails at wedding parties has become common nowadays, adding shakes & smoothies will be a new attraction at your reception.

Now let’s discuss some of the high end stations you might want to consider at your wedding reception. 

7. Barbecue & Kebabs as Live Food Stations:

Barbecue & Kebabs undoubtedly rule the live food station/counters. From Paneer Seekhs in vegetarian catering to succulent chicken or meat kebabs in Non-veg, every kebab is like a heavenly delight in itself. Since having live kebab stations, instantly adds value to your wedding reception catering, it definitely is a costly affair.

Prices can highly vary depending on the choice of meat and type of Kebab. For example, a Gosht Seekh will be highly expensive than a chicken sizzler and a prawn starter will be costlier than the Seekh. Considering the cost aspect, most people opt for serving starters at the main course than having live stationed.

Pathar Ka Gosht Live Station

8. Assorted Fruit Station:

More & more people are turning to healthy food these days. Adding a station of assorted fruits / cut fresh fruits should be on your list if most of your invitees are health conscious. A colorful spread of fresh-cut fruits will definitely light up the eyes of your guests and is a great idea to add to your wedding.

9. Dedicated Live Food Stations for Children:

We are sure, adding a food station dedicated for kids with a mix of finger foods cheesy sticks, corn sticks, potato twisters or French fries, mash potatoes, etc. are going to be hit at your wedding and will make you an instant favorite of the kids.

11. Ice Cream Station:

Lately very famous in Hyderabadi weddings is the famous Turkish ice cream & Stone Ice cream. We all know, ice cream is one such thing which no one can easily refuse. Young or adults have a sweet tooth for ice cream. Adding a Turkish or Stone Ice cream station will definitely add class to your party. But again, it’s a costly affair. 

Add some of these fantastic delicacies as Live Food Stations will ensure you are going to entice all the appetites at your wedding party. Let your guests leave the dinner party with and grateful belly and a beaming smile.

Get on a call with us to discuss the best catering service for your wedding reception.

How to choose best wedding caterer

How to choose best wedding caterer

Who are the best Caterers and how to choose one?

In our earlier post, we shared some tips on how to choose a caterer like budget, testimonials, style, etc. Now once you have shortlisted some of the caterers, from among them let us tell you how you can finalize the Best wedding caterer. But before discussing this, let us first know why is it even important to have your wedding catered by the best caterer in town.

You see, when it comes to weddings, the single most important thing which will make the wedding a success or failure, is the experience your guests witness at your wedding. Just ask yourself, if you are invited to a wedding reception; as a guest would you be concerned with the décor or entertainment or bride & groom’s attire or your thoughts revolve around the food which you will be eating in while? Be honest. We all know the answer, of course, people come to the wedding to bless the couple no doubt in it, but they also accept the wedding invite mainly for the food treat they’re going to get at the dining table, not even on Groom or Bride’s attire.

With that said, know, the good food at your wedding party can outweigh a poor ambiance but the bad food will definitely leave a bitter impression on your guests and will overshadow the perfect décor or other entertainment.

In summary, great food can rescue your wedding from small mishaps that may occur at your wedding but a bad catering will send your guests to the doors or in the worst case send them to the restrooms. Needless to say 10 other issues like food shortage, food low on taste, low-quality food, type of serving whether quantified limited portions or unlimited portions till the guests are satisfied, etc., Hence opting for the best wedding caterer is very crucial for your function.

In addition to this, you also need to look at it from the budget aspect, because catering often shuffles between #1 & #2 spot in terms of cost, the other being the venue. The caterer you choose will leave you with the balance amount from your budget in to deciding other elements for your wedding celebration like décor, entertainment etc..

In fact, the food cost will vary dramatically between the caterers for the type of food, quality and services they offer, and in literal terms it is like comparing apples to oranges. (written with pun fun intention). 

We often have to deal with clients, who bring a quote 2-3 times lower than our quote and tell us to reduce the price. What they fail to see is, in the market you find all the types ranging from low-cost, budget friendly to high-end caterers simply because there is a market for  client of all budget types “low cost, budget and high end”

A high-end client would approach a high-end & more sophisticated Caterer, because to them Guests satisfaction is of importance & they don’t mind paying high price to these caterers, because they know they’re getting value for money. While people with limited budgets opt for budget caterers since for them budget is the criterion.

Never mind, what category of client of client you fall into, the following tips will definitely help you in choosing the best wedding caterer for your reception. Regardless of the occasion whether a wedding or any other function, you can follow the same checklist for choosing the best caterer for any of your function. 

So let’s dive into some of the points you need to consider when deciding for the Best Caterer: Ask yourself these questions for each of your shortlisted caterer from the following checklist:

  1. Is the Caterer prompt & responsive
  2. Is the Caterer showing personal interest
  3. Is the Caterer flexible and accommodative of my needs
  4. Is the Caterer able enough to handle my event
  5. Has the Caterer previously catered at the same venue
  6. What is included in the catering service
  7. How does the caterer work
  8. What is the experience of the catering company
  9. Is the Caterer having enough testimonials
  10. Is the Caterer open to provide references to talk to
  11. Is the Caterer professional and have a proper contract
  12. Is the Caterer registered in the local area to run catering business

1) The best caterer is the one who is Prompt & Responsive:

There are many caterers in the city who claim to be professional but when it comes to responding to the inquiries they often lack this professionalism. If the caterer is slow in responding to the inquiries; it means they do not take their clients seriously, which also mean they’re not so serious about their business . If the caterer is prompt in responding to your mails/calls take this as a note they are serious having business with you.

Tip: The best caterer is the one who is very responsive at every step, from onset of your 1st wedding inquiry to order finalization until the order is executed.

2) Is the Caterer showing personal interest:

Prompt responses are not the only thing you should see in a Caterer. Is the caterer showing personal interest is of equal importance too. Often the good caterers provide timely responses with specific replies to specific queries. As if doing the job. But the best caterer goes a step further and shows interest in your event making you feel as if it’s their family event.

On an average, 20-30% of communication should be from the Caterer asking you the event details and the balance 70-80% should be by you answering those queries of the Caterer.

Tip: The questions to anticipate from the caterers are:

>> Purpose of the event ie, occasion,

>> Details of the Venue,

>> Your Budget,

>> Your goal out of this event (what’s your vision for this event)

>> Is there a theme for your wedding event. Etc., these questions will help the caterers serve their clients in a better way.

Note: Showing personal interest and asking as many details as possible sets the best wedding caterer apart from the rest of the caterers.

3) A flexible caterer is the best and is accommodating of Client’s needs:

Usually, all caterers have their specific menu basically a standard menu which their team/chefs are good at. But a standard menu cannot be considered as a perfect menu which will suit the tastes of everybody. Hence, the caterer should be flexible enough to adapt to clients’ needs.  Like if you are hosting a theme wedding then the food you serve should complement the theme of your wedding.

If your caterer isn’t adaptive, the charm of your wedding is lost. So when choosing the best wedding caterer you cannot afford to miss this point. Ask your caterer if they have prior experience into catering such events or serving specific menus; if the answer is NO, check are they willing to be flexible to accommodate your requests?. This is not restricted to themed weddings, special requests can also be for dietary requirements or omission of specific ingredients, etc. the caterer should give in to your needs.

Tip: If they sound rigid then back off and head to the next caterer who is willing to accommodate your requests.

 The best Caterer should be able to handle the event:

Most of the Caterers specialize in large scale events however some caterers’ expertise is only smaller events like birthday parties, housewarming ceremonies or wedding receptions with a lesser guest count. You should get the facts right before finalizing the caterer. If you have shortlisted on the caterers ask them if they have expertise in catering to events of same or around similar capacity/guests count. If they affirm in yes, ask for references and talk to their previous clients and ask the questions you might have in your mind, like:

>> How well did the caterer execute their function,

>> Did the caterer deliver what they promised?

>> Were there any surprises in the event?

>> Will they consider taking the same caterer again in future etc.?

Caution: People have a tendency of getting easily influenced by others’ feedback, if the person is talking negatively about the caterer ask him/her on what basis is s/he telling this, is it their personal  experience or is their opinion influenced by someone in the guests or relatives, chances are the negative remark came out from the person because he wanted to do the catering on own or wanted to arrange one of their acquaintance to this function and because the client did not entertain them and went ahead with a caterer of their choice. They had to say all but good about the caterer.

5) Has the Caterer previously catered at the same venue?

Hiring a Caterer who has previously catered at the same venue as yours will save you from quite a few surprises especially when you choose a venue having a clause of “certain rules to be followed”. For example, some venues do not allow charcoal / cooking on wood for the reason of avoiding the smoke.  when the caterer all prepared reaches the venue only to find wood ain’t allowed, you’ll be in a shock as to how the gas cookers & cylinders need to be arranged, or if the cooking is to be on induction how is that going to be done.

Even at Elite Caterers, we have found it a lot simpler and easier carrying out catering orders at the venues we had previously catered as compared to the venues we are catering for the first time. Hence, it is best to ask your caterer if they have prior experience, additionally, a site visit is highly encouraged even if the caterer is familiar with the venue.

6) What is included in the Catering Service?

Food catering usually covers only food. Serving staff, serve-ware, dining tables, etc. are mostly supplied by the venue management. However, it does not harm you if things are clear from the beginning, ask your caterer what is included in the price they’ve quoted. Comparing the price for the given service with other caterers will give you a fair idea about where each caterer stands, if the price quoted seems too high or too low compared to average of others, ask the caterer the reason of this difference, are there any services included in it other than food, if not ask them the source of the ingredients, raw food items etc., because the quality of food is the single most criterion to decide on the price of the quote and how the final outcome of the cooked food is going to be.

Like we mentioned at the beginning of this post, price of the catering quote varies from caterer to caterer depending on the class of the caterer. Another aspect could be the serve-ware, if your order requires the serve-ware from the Caterer, you have to see whether all caterers are supplying the same, otherwise the comparison would be meaningless if you are questioning a caterer with highest price with fine china serve-ware because the other caterer’s quote is too low – you might have overlooked this caterer is supplying plastic serve ware.

So you will need to carefully review each quotation so as not to compare the price of a sophisticated caterer delivering 5-star service with a budget Caterer who may compromise on the quality of ingredients & cooking methods.

7) How does the Caterer work?

You definitely need to ask your Caterer about their action Plan if you award the order to them. 

The professional caterers like other businesses have Quality plan, strategy plan, business plan etc. which they follow in their business. If your caterer provides this, meaning you can relax as they can be termed as professional catering company and that they’ll follow what has been communicated to you, whether it is procuring of material, logistics, cooking, food handling or serving.

Tip: Like wedding planner is to the décor of the venue and other elements, a caterer is to the dining table, a good caterer will take great care in designing the décor of the table matching the food presentation.

8) What is the experience of the Catering Company?

People learn from their mistakes, this famous saying fits every business or an individual. The more experience you have the more you grow, when deciding on the caterer, you should definitely see how old this business is. Minimum of 3 years and comfortably 5-6 years of experience should be the criterion when you are looking for a caterer for the wedding reception with high guest count. You definitely do not want to get surprises at the most memorable event of your life.

Besides years of experience, you also need to check if the catering company has rich experience in catering different occasions like Weddings, corporate, small parties, indoor, outdoor catering, catering in banquet halls to huge function halls, catering for small crowd to large crowds. Look at their business website for photos of their catered events. These parameters will ensure your caterer is having vast experience and chances of your wedding reception being a huge success will be higher.

Tip: Know that a professional catering company with rich experience will deliver an exceptionally inspired wedding.

9) Is the Caterer having enough Testimonials?

Online reviews, client testimonials on Caterer’s website, and personal recommendations are something you shouldn’t ignore. Look online at oogle reviews, or other platforms where your caterer is listed. Carefully glance thru all the reviews. If there are many and you are short of time, then filter the reviews and read top rated to least rated reviews to analyze the caterer’s ability & service. This will greatly help you in deciding who could be the best Caterer for your wedding reception.  

10) Is the Caterer open to providing references?

After shortlisting the caterers, ask the caterer to provide references of their previous clients. Don’t just ask for their names, but their contacts. A good caterer will not hide the information. You can specifically request the reference of someone whose review on google rating / testimonials websites caught your attention.

11) Professional catering company should have a proper contract:

One of the things that will ensure you are dealing with professionally top rated catering company is that they’ll have a contract in place. Do not be suspicious, the contract is simply to safeguard them as well as their client (you) from unforeseen scenarios.

The contract should be clear on:

>> Scope of the Caterer,

>> Scope of Client,

>> Detailed menu with each item listed clearly,

>> Type of catering service,

>> Event and Venue details, number of guests,

>> Scope is the leftover food (by default the leftover food is the property of the caterer and is taken by the caterer after the event is over – however you can place request in advance if you like to take some portion of the leftovers).

Tip: You know you are dealing with best wedding caterer if they are transparent in everything even small details like setup / cleanup, when to serve, leftovers, payment terms etc

12) Is the Caterer registered in the local area to run catering business?

One of the criteria of finalizing the caterer for your wedding reception is ensuring if the caterer is registered with the local governing body. 

Considering a registered catering company will save you all the surprises you may have to encounter dealing with unprofessional /unregistered company.

So these are the top 12 points you should consider when on a lookout for the best wedding caterer for your wedding reception. We hope this checklist will serve as a guide and save you lot of time.

Share in the comments below your own way of choosing the best caterer for your functions and let others know also, most appropriate comments will be included as additional points in our current after modifying the current post.

If you want to know what all questions you should be asking your wedding caterer then head straight to theknot’s blog “questions to ask your wedding caterer”.

What are the best Catering Services in Hyderabad

Staff Meeting Food Ideas

 Business Lunch Menu Ideas – By Elite Caterers

 Deciding on lunch for yourself is easy, but when it comes to team lunch / corporate lunch, one is confused simply because coming up with catering menu ideas that will please everyone’s taste buds is a stressful task especially when you’re looking for catering menu for large groups, well do not you worry, Elite Caterers has done the hard work for you, we share here the best business lunch menu ideas that will leave your colleagues satisfying.

Deli Buffets:

A pleasing menu option for any crowd, deli buffet is quite popular for simple events. You can opt for mixed green salad with different types of dressing, Fruit salad, sandwiches and cupcakes / brownies in the dessert section. 

Themed Menu:

Lately, top caterers in Hyderabad are offering themed lunch options in corporate catering services, you can opt from any of these lunch options.

Italian: Did you ever think of having Pasta served for your corporate event? Lasagne, white sauce pasta are two most popular options needless to say “crowd pleasing food”. Or Pizzas – you can never go wrong with Pizzas, from favorite toppings to the crust, Pizza is always the top choice for any crowd veg or non-veg.

American: Burgers and Fries, who does not love this combination, juicy strips of meat with some greens, and appetizing dressing/topping served with the fries will turn everyone’s lunch from good to great.

Chinese: When it comes to Chinese there are many choices for great, full-flavored meals. From Soups, to spring rolls, fried rice to noodles, there are ample options to choose from. For a spicy and tasty meal, try the Schezwan rice or any variety of noodle dishes.

These food ideas are great for Office lunch or office party for small to large groups, just make sure when you are taking corporate catering service you take from professional caterers who have prior experience in corporate catering Hyderabad city. 

Gourmet Sandwiches:

Having Wraps & Sandwiches for Staff Meetings is great food idea. You can cut into halves and serve as finger food. Mix of healthy options in fillings like roasted meat, grilled chicken or smoked salmon will serve as brain food for your staff. You can also include Indian styled spicy Rolls rich in flavors.

Pan India Food:

We all know, India is famous not just for its tradition & culture but also for the food. Indian food is famous around the world.

When people around the world eating Indian food, why not you bring the food from different states to your office? You can consider having multi-cuisine for your office catering from traditional Rajasthani Thali or lavish Punjabi thali to Lucknow Awadhi cuisine or the Kashmiri healthy food options – Your staff is sure going to love it.

Meat Balls:

Meatball are perfect lunch and learn meal, can be served over rice or just like that as a filling. Depending on your staff eating preferences, lots of filling options from vegetarian to meat can be accommodated.

Kebabs:

Smoky grilled kebabs or the skewers for non veg lovers, while grilled Paneer for vegetarian is a great take in an office lunch. You can also consider sausage and mutton chops for a tasty lunch. Caution: This may add up to your cost if there is less number of people because top caterers in Hyderabad usually have  minimum head count requirement for serving Kebabs and Grills.

Sprout Bowls:

At work Sprout bowls are one of the popular menu items for one gets proteins, carbs all in a bowl. Consider having a “build your own bowl” option and letting the staff to mix and match according to their tastes. 

Soups:

During winters, hot & tangy soup is must have on any chilly day. You get loads of options in soups from regular soups like tomato soup option to mushrooms. Not just that, as a post-lunch snack, your employees can even enjoy the soups instead of the coffee or tea.

Chaats:

You can never go wrong with Indian Snacks. From spicy to tangy creations, one get to have loads of options. Papdi chat, Aloo tikkis, Cutlets Ragda Patties, Bhel puri the list goes on, these lip-smacking Indian Chaats are always satisfying.

Salads:

Array of fresh, colorful salad is a must at any corporate event as it highly nutritious. With Health benefits of Olive oil, chargrilled vegetables, you can go for Greek salad or a simple Japanese cucumber salad. Some of Elite Caterers’ salads designed for corporate clients can be taken as a full meal.

Contact Elite Caterers for your corporate events to get a taste next to none and a service second to none. Call us now or simply WhatsApp.