Catering is the process or business of preparing food and providing food services for clients at remote locations, such as hotels, restaurants, offices, concerts, and events. Catering companies offer food, drinks, and other services to various customers, typically for special occasions. Catering services can be tailored to meet specific requirements, and the caterer may be asked to prepare a selection of refreshments, whether its hors d'oeuvres or a three-course meal, for the party's guests. Catering services can be divided into four broad categories: wedding catering services, social event catering services, concession catering services, and corporate catering services.
Full-service catering manages every facet of an event, including meal preparation, decorations, and clean-up following the event. Unlike regular event catering, where the caterer just prepares and serves food and drinks, a full-service caterer handles every event detail based on clients' specifications. Some catering companies will simply prepare the food and drop it off at a designated location. A professional caterer can tailor your event's menu to meet your exact specifications while fulfilling any special food requests.
Below are some common types of event catering to help you decide which one suits your gathering the best:
- Hors D'oeuvres
- Small Plates and Stations
- Three-Course Plated Dinner
- Buffet
- Outdoor BBQ
Corporate catering refers to the provision of food and drinks to business and corporate functions, ranging from onsite, small office gatherings to offsite, upscale dinners. The cost of a corporate catering event will depend on the size and level of the function being hosted. Catering companies can also provide catering assistants, including bartenders and servers, for the event.
