Shrimp cocktail with a twist by Putting on the Ritz
Catering Pros From The Main Ingredient, Putting on The Ritz, and Sascha’s Dish Up Hardy Advice For Planning Your Next Catered Celebration.
Whether the late autumn/early winter time of year finds you hosting a big, formal holiday party or just planning a casual get-together, chances are you’ll be entertaining friends and family sometime in the coming months. For small parties, it’s probably okay to go it alone. But if you’ve ever hosted a large gathering, you know how much work it can be. The point of throwing a party is to have fun, but all that work typically stands in the way of having a good time.
As Sascha Wolhandler of Sascha’s in Baltimore says, “The best thing about using a caterer is that you will enjoy your party.”Still, having your affair catered does not eliminate all the stress. You have to plan, budget, consider the décor, and more. To help reduce the anxiety and step up the fun, we distill the advice of The Main Ingredient’s Evie Turner, Putting on the Ritz’s Bobby Mitchell, and Sascha’s Sascha Wolhandler, who serve up tips for working with caterers to throw the perfect party.
Sacha's signature bacon straws
DEFINE YOUR BUDGET Budget will help determine everything from type of food, number of guests, the bar, and more. Once your caterer understands your budget, they can help you understand what that amount will get you—and you might be surprised by what you learn. For example, Bobby Mitchell points out that “A menu of just hors d’oeuvres may actually cost more because of the labor involved with preparing and serving nicer hors d’oeuvres versus a big piece of meat.”
DEFINE YOUR GUEST LIST Number of people is important, but so is your relationship to them. Are you inviting old friends, family, business contacts, or a mix of people who may not all know each other? A good caterer can take this information and suggest not only how much, but also what type of food will be appropriate.
DEFINE THE TIME OF DAY The formality of the party as well as the type of food and drink that would be most appropriate is heavily influenced by the time of day you choose to have the gathering. Will the caterer need to consider dinner service or just small plates, trays, and linens for finger foods?
SELECT THE FOOD AND BAR It’s your party, so pick your favorites, but also keep in mind that your guests will be happiest with a menu that has both variety and continuity. A good caterer will suggest menus that feature foods that complement each other. Also, a bad reaction to a dish because of a food allergy can ruin an otherwise good party. If you know of someone on your guest list with a food allergy, let your caterer know. As for the bar, the options are endless and range from no bar to beer and wine to full bar with premium liquors. A popular choice is beer and wine plus a house “themed” cocktail appropriate for your event.
DEFINE THE TYPE AND STYLE Be comfortable with the type of party you are going to host. If you are a laid-back, sit-on-the-arm-of-the-sofa-with-a-bottle-of-beer sort of entertainer, are you really going to have fun throwing a formal celebration? Even with the help of a caterer, hosting the wrong type of party is a recipe for stress. Do you want martinis and hors d’oeuvres or a full bar and multi-station dinner? Do you want ahi tuna, lobster tenderloin, and filet mignon or shrimp cocktail, carved beef, and grilled chicken with veggies? The differences are subtle but important in defining your style.
Sascha's curried chicken lollipops
CONSIDER YOUR SPACE AND ENVIRONMENT Caterers need to get a feel for where your guests will be during the party. The first floor of your home? Outside only? If so, what is your rain plan? Will guests have run of the house? Will there be table seating for all guests or should the menu be conducive to eating while standing? Additionally, where will the caterer set up, do preparation, clean up, etc.? If you have a large open kitchen and intend that as part of the entertaining space, the caterer may have to set up a satellite kitchen in a remote location like a garage, laundry room, or basement.
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK YOU WANT TO DO Do you want to supply the bar? Do you want to handle the rental of tables, chairs, tents? Do you want to supply your own China? Evie Turner suggests that using your own China is a nice way to create a personal feel. However, many caterers won’t want to take the risk of breaking your China and will insist on providing the service.
Dennis Hockman is the Editor for ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
The Main Ingredient: themainingredient.com or 410-626-0388
Putting on the Ritz: puttingontheritz.com or 301-725-4220
Sascha’s: saschas.com or 410-539-6103
