3 Catering Tips for Newbie Caterers

Buffet catering is a convenient and popular serving style for almost any event or special occasion, as it includes several self-serve stations. Whether it is for a charity fundraiser or a wedding, this type of catering is always a good option and is highly recommended for large crowds or events.

Food stations are similar to buffets and offer a variety of food and beverages. However, this kind of catering service is set up to bring different types of food or drinks to each table. The great advantage of food station catering is that it can be adjusted to any space.

And finally, plated dining is usually reserved for more formal events like fundraisers, weddings, galas, and similar official or ceremonial occasions. It is fancier, more elegant, and more expensive. If you go for this catering style, you also need a plan for tableware, linens, waitstaff, and even white glove service.

Adapt your signature dish to small portions

Want to stand out from the crowd? Whenever you can, include culinary specialties on your catering menus because this will serve as a resume for other catering jobs. Don't be surprised if you get calls from people you served at an event and they are thinking about that specific menu item you gave them to try since more than 50% of your future income will likely originate from word-of-mouth recommendations.

Prepare a few dishes in advance.

Spend the two days before the event shopping, and the day of the event cooking, cleaning, and packing. Prepare any cold foods in advance that do not contain meat, seafood, eggs, or dressings, so they can be easily thawed and finished at the event site. For bread, cookies, and crusts, freeze the freshly cut dough before shaping and molding.

Set a Beautiful meal presentation

Make the most of your color palette when you create your menu too. The more variety, the better! Have fun experimenting with plenty of spices, flowers, fresh herb sprigs, and even chopped nuts to decorate plates with. You can also layer plate items rather than just place them side by side and drizzle sauces with a cleaned-out spout bottle for a more professional effect.

Now you know it! These are some of the best catering tips for beginners we could compile through the years. Lemoni cafe has been offering catering services for over 8 years in Miami.

If you want to request information about our catering services, write us at lemonigroup@gmail.com, and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.