Securing caterers for NYC corporate events is an adventure in itself. With so many options and new, innovative cuisine choices, the possibilities seem a little overwhelming! When organizing any company event, you’ll want to have a plan of attack, meaning comprehensive interview questions, for your potential catering vendors.
Take your time in narrowing your selection of top NYC catering companies. Check the reviews and ask colleagues for recommendations. And when you meet with each catering professional, come with an empty stomach. You’ll want to browse their respective menus and sample the dishes. While you’re sipping and sampling, prepare some other questions to ask so there is full transparency in the catering service being offered. This shortlist of catering questions is a good place to start.
1. What Dietary Restrictions Can You Accommodate?
Dietary considerations for allergy or cultural reasons are important when choosing a caterer. Not all caterers have the necessary means to provide kosher-prepared food, and others may not be able to specialize in truly gluten-free preparation methods. Have dietary questions built into your guests’ RSVP response, or use a separate poll for more organization with larger events.
2. What Menu Options Are Available with Your Catering Service?
Exploring menu options helps you gauge what kind of scale a potential vendor can handle. It will also help you make decisions about seating, extra staff, and even venues. Some caterers have a select menu for certain types or sizes of events, some offer buffet-style service, and others are more customizable depending on the experience you want your guests to have. Consider whether your corporate event has a cocktail hour versus a main course or dessert period, too, as some caterers can accommodate multiple courses while others may not.
3. What Server-To-Guest Ratio Do You Offer?
Knowing what the server-to-guest ratio a catering service offers is valuable information. For a more formal, sit-down, multiple-course experience, having a lower server-to-guest (or table) ratio will give the feel of a more intimate experience and elevate the meal itself.
Expect a higher server-to-guest ratio if your event is going to be a buffet or grazing-table-style meal experience, and feel free to discuss bringing in additional servers from an outside source if needed to create the experience you want.
4. Where Do You Source Your Ingredients?
New York City is a great place to showcase local ingredients or prepare a farm-to-table meal. This is a must-have for some events; for others, it’s more of a wish list item rather than a deal breaker. If you envision your corporate event’s catering experience having local, organic, or strictly seasonal ingredients, inquire about this before booking a caterer. However, these kinds of stipulations can often come with a much higher price tag and more limited menu options. And it’s wise to keep this in mind if you are working with a strict event budget.
5. Do You Offer Any Specialty Cuisine?
Usually, a catering company’s website gives you a pretty good idea of its cuisine. But caterers may offer less-common cuisine choices or rotating specialties that can potentially elevate your event even further. Some NYC caterers build their company on authentic cuisine from other countries and cultures, like Choplife. Find the right-fit catering service that aligns with your corporate event.
6. Do You Offer Bar Service?
Bar service isn’t always included with caterers. If you’re planning on serving beverages or spirits, it’s best to check if a potential caterer offers this service. If not, prepare to search for an additional vendor for spirits, mocktails, or even a coffee bar if it fits your event scheme! Your chosen NYC venue might have in-house bar service available, as well.
7. What Is Included in Your Catering Fees?
Always ask what is included in a vendor’s fees, from venue to catering to entertainment. Transparency is key to staying within your budget, and some vendors may not cover the same details in their initial pricing as you may have in your head. For caterers, you’ll want to understand if setup/tear-down is included, what happens with any leftovers, and which additional services come with fees that fall outside the terms of your agreement.
8. Do You Offer Vendor Meals?
A surprisingly forgotten question is whether or not a catering company offers vendor meals! While you may be the guest-slash-event planner and meals are, it’s important to consider the staff working at the event. Vendor meals are a lovely addition to support event planning staff and show them some extra appreciation, especially for events that span hours.
Handle the Catering Details With EMRG Media
EMRG Media understands successful event planning requires skill, knowledge, and industry connections. We can help anyone tasked with event planning a corporate event but find themselves overwhelmed with decisions. Any one of our compassionate and professional NYC event planners is able to pick you right up out of the metaphorical deep end and help you bring your event visions to life. Inquire about your next corporate event with us and experience the wonderful difference only a professional event planner can make!
