Keeping the Buffet Caterer in the Loop

When it comes to an event, food is going to be one of the big things that you will have to deal with. That will generally mean you will be dealing with a caterer. In today's, catering industry, perhaps the most popular form of catering is doing it buffet style. If you are leaning towards doing a buffet for your event, then there are a few things that you will need to relay to your Buffet caterer to make sure that things go as they should, at least on the food end of your event.

The most important bit of information you can give to your buffet caterer is the number of people you are expecting at your event. Usually you will find that about 5 to upwards to 10 percent of the people invited will not bother to show up and this will help you to ensure that you do not over order with the caterer. While an exact number will be impossible to give to a caterer, an approximation of the number of people expected to attend your event is a necessary thing to inform the caterer about.

The next step is to be very detailed about the information you give to the caterer. You need to plan for and make sure to give the buffet caterer plenty of space. A buffet style food setting can require a large amount of space, even for a smaller event. You will need to inform the caterer of the type of buffet you want. Most catering services will often be able to provide a wide assortment of different types of buffets from western style food, BBQ, Chinese, Korean and the list goes on and on. Lastly, make sure the caterer knows when to arrive to set up for the event and also make sure that you schedule a time for them to breakdown the buffet and clean up afterwards.

Planning an event can be very frustrating and challenging, but it also can be extremely rewarding when it goes off without a hitch. One way to make sure it does is to keep a good line of communication open between you and the buffet caterer you are using. Keeping them in the loop and giving them the right information will help so that out of all the worries you might have planning an event, the food will not be one of them.

We Drop Off - You Serve

Most often when we speak of catering services, we think of those events where the food is prepared and served by attendants, such as how we might be served at a banquet event. However, there is another side of the equation and that is where the food is prepared off-site and brought in, to be served by the hostess. This could be the thriftiest as far as expenses, but will certainly be more labor intensive for the one who must serve it. However, when the budget is tight, one has to make concessions. Some have resorted to bringing in teens and college students, who are trying to earn some extra cash, to assist. As long as alcoholic beverages are not included, this can be an answer to the serving dilemma.

In making arrangements for your event, a meeting with a consultant from the catering services company will be your first opportunity to get started on building an amicable working relationship. This professional will be the one who makes your party event the best possible. The expertise that he/she brings to the table can carry your event to the top of the list in successes. Present what your goals are for the event. Lay right out on the table what the limits are on expenditures. It might be a good idea to have some flexibility in this area but make clear just what the limits are.

As a client, it is imperative to make clear what your choices are for foods, but, be able to take constructive criticism when these might not be the most ideal. It would be good to allow the catering services professional to guide you in the direction of what might prove to be better choices overall. There should always be room for fresh ideas.

Wherever your event is being held, one important point to make clear with the catering services personnel is how your facilities are equipped to keep the hot and cold foods at optimum temperatures from drop-off to serving times. This can be critical to food safety issues. With all questions answered and the food delivered, now is the time to celebrate.

A Few Simple Steps to Find the Perfect Catering Services

If you find yourself having to plan an event, whether it is a party, wedding or a corporate or company gathering of some sort, then you had better prepare yourself for the fact that there is an a seemingly unending list of things that you will need to do. Attention to even the smallest detail is vital to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. One not so small aspect of any event is the food and beverages that will be served. For this, whether the event is big or small, you will likely need the expertise and experience of catering services. Finding the right catering service can be a little challenging, but by following a few simple steps, you can ensure that the catering side of the event does not become one of many headaches you will likely encounter when planning an event.

The first thing that you will need to do is to establish a budget. The budget might be determined by you or you might be given a set amount that you can spend on catering services. Either way, knowing how much you can spend is a good bit of information to have beforehand.

The next step is to find a caterer. You might be tempted to go with the big name in catering services, most towns have them, but you also might consider other options as well. While the big caterers might be the easy choose, you have to remember that even though they might claim that ever customer is their priority that is not always the case. To some caterers, especially those with lots of business, you could wind up being just another customer. If for some reason there is an issue, you may not be very important to them considering there are many other clients that they have and if they were to lose you, there are plenty of other clients to take your place. That is why looking at a smaller caterer is not a bad idea. Often time the smaller or the new upstart caterer is looking for your business and will compete for it. They will likely go to great lengths to meet your catering needs. This means that you can get quality catering at a competitive price that the big caterers may not be willing to match. You will want to make sure, especially if your event in a big one, that the small caterer can handle it, but outside of that, you might do better avoiding the big guys in this respect.

While there are plenty of other things that you might need to address with a caterer, following these two basic steps will help you to make sure that as far as catering services and the food for your event goes, it will be a slam dunk. Moreover, given the challenges that planning an event can provide, anything that is easy is very welcomed and much appreciated.

Leave the Cooking to the Caterer

So the party plans have gotten way out of hand and as the hostess, it is way beyond your capabilities to handle the food and beverage preparations for your invited guests. The next step is to locate catering services in your area that can handle these issues as only professionals can do. Meeting with the caterer will be your initial step to success. Lay out your budget at the start so the planner can work within those perimeters. Be specific about what your expectations are in regard to selections of food and beverage. If your event is to be in your home, the area size would be of tremendous value in determining traffic flow for those who will serve.

If your party has grown too large for your residence, a catering services consultant might be able to assist with finding a proper location. It might be a location that you would never have dreamed of, but with their expertise, you could have the most outstanding dinner party ever. There are many details that should be considered as one make a contract for their event. Obviously, the date will be determined at the start. Below are listed a few of the items that must be decided:

• Number of guests
• Type of event (i.e., reception, wedding, party, etc.)
• Is it formal or otherwise
• Servers or not
• Food only or beverages as well
• Additional items needed, such as tent, tables, chairs, coffee bar
• Choice of serving pieces (plastic, glass or china)

The costs for catering services are calculated based on the number of people who are to be served. Depending on your selection, it can be as low as $15 and as expensive as your budget allows. At some events, cash bars are utilized which help to defray might some expense for the client as it pays for itself. It is customary at some events to have a complimentary bottle of house wine at each table, if the event is a sit-down dinner. This is found to be used, especially at celebratory parties where toasts are likely.

Maintaining a good relationship with the catering services personnel will certainly promote the best co-operation to bring about your ideal party event.

Silly String - The Most Popular Party Supply

Whenever you look at party supplies, or in party stores, you might notice that in every party section there is some silly string. That is because it is a necessity in almost every party occasion. There is no getting away from something so fun and irresistible. But, also, it isn't hard to find when you want it as well. Silly string is one of the most fun nonsense supplies that you can find in the world. Anything and everything can be done with it. Make it your own. Here are a few ideas and things you could use silly string for if you are drawing a blank:

Use it at parties: All kids love to make messes, young and old. They love to see colorful things and to also see something that is so amazing. If you had about one or two cans for all your party guests, they would love to play around with it. Yes, be aware that there might be a mess, but nothing that would be hard to clean up. Especially if you banned them from the house and told them to head outside. The string is water soluble and so if you sprayed everything down with water, it would dissolve and your worries are over.

Play Practical Jokes On Your Friends: One of the things that everyone likes to do is tease one another. Playing practical jokes on your friends would end up in a ball of laughter from everyone. As long as they were jokes with a fun attitude for all parties included. There have been jokes done with silly string on April Fools Day, and Halloween, and "just because" days. Every day is a joke day. Have fun with it, but make sure it won't hurt the friend in any way.

Celebrate With It: Other ways that people like to use silly string is at celebrations, such as New Years Eve, or Graduation. When they celebrate a certain event that the whole day leads up to, that is when the grand partying begins. When the count down at New Years Eve starts, that is when they are sprayed and they can begin their partying. When the graduates are pronounced graduated, they celebrate!! It's worth every moment.

War: All boys and girls alike have always liked to play cops and robbers, and grown up cops and robbers would consist of laser tag or paint balling etc. But, those are for a specific age. They aren't meant for little kids. But, one thing with silly string is you can play war with it and it would be for all ages, because there would be no one that would be hurt. Plus, like paint balling, you would know when you really got somebody. The color and string would stay attached. It is perfect.

Now can you see why silly string is so popular? It is used for everything. So, get yourself a bottle and get your friends involved and play like you have never played before!!

These are just a few ideas, but again, silly string is used for everything. Try it out and you're bound to find something fun and spontaneous that you'll remember for always.

5 Great Bars For Celebrating Your Birthday in NYC

Let's face it; NYC houses some of the best bars on the planet, no questions asked. The cultural diversity of the city has allowed for some of the most unique bars in the world to pop up around the city at an alarming rate, making planning a birthday in NYC a guaranteed good time. Here are 5 great bars for celebrating your birthday in NYC:

OPAL

251 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10022

Midtown East's Opal is one the hottest clubs in the city, and is a great place to spend a birthday. The service is excellent, there are plenty of hi-def televisions and Opal is always hopping, especially when it comes to the after work and late-night crowd. Can't decide where to spend that birthday? Give Opal a shot.

BAR13

35 East 13th Street @ University Place

New York, NY 10003

Union Square's Bar13 features three floors plus a deck and functions a bar, club and lounge; all in the same space. Since Bar13 can accommodate up to 400 people, it's the perfect place to hold that off the hook party you've been planning.

OBIVIA

201 Lafayette Street

New York, NY 10012

The Western Village houses Obivia, one of NYC's most trendy and elegant lounges. The perfect place for a low-key, relaxing birthday, Obivia will no-doubt remind of you of being in your best friend's living room!

LIBATION

137 Ludlow Street

New York, NY 10002

The East Side's Libation is a trendy, up-scale restaurant/lounge that has become a premier nightspot. If you're looking for some grown-up food and drink, then Libation is the venue for you.

MCFADDEN'S SALOON