Finding a good caterer is an important part for holding large-scale events like corporate events, wedding, and even on small affairs like parties and family gatherings. Unfortunately, a standardized grading system for caterers hasn’t been established, and anybody can put up their own catering business. But there’s nothing to worry about, here’s how you can choose the good – if not best – caterer in Singapore that will make your event memorable, for the right reasons.
1. Get and listen to word-of-mouth recommendations and suggestions.
No amount of advertising can equal or replace a good suggestion of someone you know and trust. If your friend or acquaintance recommended an excellent caterer based on the services that were provided for their event, then that caterer might be someone that you should consider making business with. Conversely, it’s also important to heed any bad reviews about a particular bbq catering company.
2. Schedule a food tasting session with the caterer.
If the caterer that you’ve chosen provides meals for large events, then it shouldn’t be a problem to them if you want to schedule a food tasting session. Do remember though that the bbq catering from Singapore food that you’ll be tasting will be the best meals that the caterer can produce. If you’re planning to go for a bbq catering service then it’s important to check on what kind of satay or barbecue they are offering. You should also understand that there’s a huge difference between the qualities of the meal that’s prepared for two persons compared to a meal for 500 people.
3. Put the specialty of the caterer into consideration.
There are some caterers that specialize in handling big events, while there are those that can only cater to small intimate events. The former have the expertise and equipment that can professionally handle large numbers of guests, while the latter can only deal with a limited number of guests or might only offer services like delivering the catered food to your venue. Keep these things in mind and be wary of caterers who claim that they can do all the services that you want.
4. Consider the kind of services you’ll need for the event.
Since you’ve already considered the services that the catering companies can offer, it’s now time to consider the kind of services you’ll need for your affair. Do you need services that only includes food preparation, delivery and set up? Or do you want to be provided with trained staff and support personnel?
To decide on this, consider the kind of event that you’ll be having first. If you’re event will be more of a formal affair that requires plated service then choose a caterer that specializes in handling big events. If you want to be more laidback and go for a barbecue party instead, then that’ll need a different catering service. You could also go online to check and get a rough idea about the services of each catering company in Singapore.
5. Ask for references from previous clients.
Since you’re entrusting a catering company to provide the food for your event, it is important that you ask for some references. Ask the caterer to provide you with the names of their clients as well as referrals of the events that they worked with.
6. Contact the local health department in your area.
Catering companies in Singapore are subject to regulation and licensing by their respective local health department, so there will be records in case there are any complaints or issues about a particular catering company. If the catering service that you’re considering have any reported issues or complaints then we suggest that you get another catering company instead.
7. Ask for the quotation of the services that you’re asking from them.
Asking for the quotation of the catering services should be the first step in hiring a caterer. It’s important to ask for the bottom line price as the charge for getting a wedding catering service is different from a bbq catering service. But be cautious when your caterer drops the price of their services as it could mean a drop in the quality of food and service as well.