Planning a party is a task often marred by the struggles that come with it, and food is one of the biggest. Some love the idea of toiling in the kitchen, whipping up homemade delicacies for their guests, and then there are the ones who would rather get catering from the many Madison restaurants to fulfill the gastronomic needs of the party. Catering sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it? While the idea itself is pretty uncomplicated, the actual process involved can get tricky. If you are not careful, you can commit some common mistakes that can end up ruining your party. Here are some of them:
1. Not considering dietary restrictions
One of the most common mistakes people make when choosing the catering menu is not taking into consideration their guests’ dietary restrictions and allergies if any. Ideally, you must have sufficient options for every guest attending the party, like vegan, vegetarian, lactose-intolerant and so on. But even if it is not possible, you must try to accommodate their needs as much as you can.
2. Poor budgetary planning
Create a catering budget according to how much you can realistically afford. You do not have to break your bank trying to get an extravagant meal to serve your guests. Many catering services and restaurants in Madison such as ours provide different catering menus at different price points. Choose one that suits your budget. You will not regret it.
3. Underestimating the amount of food required
Catering services, including us, usually provide food only for the expected number of guests. But it is always advisable to be prepared for the unexpected. So even if you are expecting 15 people in your party, get food for at least 17 or 18. This way, last-minute arrivals can also be easily adjusted.
4. Not being aware of the ingredients
Ignorance is bliss? Well, not so much in the case of food. You must ask your caterer about the ingredients that have gone into a dish. This will help you decide if that dish is safe for certain people or not. You can even print out a menu for everyone’s convenience.
5. Lack of communication with the caterer
You must have proper communication with your caterer if you want to avoid potential future regrets. Tell them if you have any special requirements or want things done in a certain way. For instance, we offer catering menus with a range of different dishes but if you want a dish not mentioned on the menu, you have to specifically let us know.
Do you have any catering horror stories? Share them with us in the comments down below! And don’t forget that we provide catering in Madison. If you want your event or party to be elevated further by
some sumptuous Thai flavors, get in touch with us today!