Whether you’re hiring a caterer for a board luncheon or a gala, you want the food and service to make the right impression.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation events might be large affairs or more intimate parties. Kris Marino, senior foundation and donor events coordinator for the foundation, said one way to find caterers is through local professional meeting planning groups or through referrals from others. “If someone has had a marvelous experience with a caterer, I’d like to try them,” she said.
In addition to great food, creativity, especially in presentation, is what stands out. “When a caterer can bring a little pizazz, it’s a winner,” she said. If you have a theme in mind, ask the caterer to come up with a menu around that. “Sometimes you want something safe you know people will enjoy. Other times you want to be wowed. A good caterer should be able to follow your direction,” she said.
If you’re considering two or three caterers, ask for personalized tastings to help you gauge “what the food looks like, the presentation and general style of each caterer,” she said. “Go with your gut and taste everything.”
As executive assistant to the president of Hortica Insurance & Employee Benefits in Edwardsville, Jean Hughes oversees arrangements for quarterly board meetings as well as company-hosted chamber or industry functions.
Establish relationships with a select group of caterers “so they know what you’re expecting and can produce that,” she said. “We like things done nicely, but obviously we’re looking for value.”…
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