Catering

Catering is an industry in which a caterer (company, hotel, restaurant, or individual) provides food, beverages, and services to a client for a special event such as a meeting or wedding. Caterers typically work with other vendors to provide event-related services such as music and photography, but they may handle other details such as flowers or décor themselves. Some caterers handle every aspect of an event. Catering can be done at a remote site, to which the caterer brings all needed foods and items, or onsite, in which everything is prepared and set up at a particular venue. In addition, food trucks provide a modern take on catering.

Brief History

Early examples of catering date back to parts of ancient China, Egypt, and Greece. In these countries, food services were provided to those in need, such as travelers and workers. The Greeks and Romans began to offer services more consistent with modern catering around 4000 BCE. These services were offered to soldiers, religious figures, and travelers who required meals. Inns, hotels, and hostels began to offer food services to their patrons. From here, catering—in the sense of providing food services—was born.

The emergence of the upper class at the beginning of the Middle Ages furthered the need for catering at grand social gatherings. Catering as a profession developed in Germany during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, but it centered on events such as balls for the wealthy. The debut of restaurants during the eighteenth century changed the scope of catering, as people both rushed to establish and eat at restaurants.

In the United States, catering did not become popular until after 1945 following the end of World War II. The companies that had provided soldiers with food and supplies during the war had to find new customers. The wealthy had previously embraced the services of caterers, but the development of the middle class after the war opened up a new customer base for these companies.

Technology during the following century spurred catering into a leading industry. Caterers provided services not only for private individuals and events but also for corporations such as schools and companies. The advent of food trucks and social media furthered the reach of modern caterers.

Overview

Catering is more than just cooking food for an event. It encompasses all of the services needed to plan and execute an affair. The catering industry is made up of many individuals and businesses that provide not only food and beverages but also other event and party services. Events can range from small affairs at a person's home or workplace, such as providing a few trays of food for a group of workers at a place of employment, to large-scale parties, such as outdoor weddings complete with food and beverages for hundreds of people and other amenities such as servers, heated tents, décor, flowers, linens, and tableware.

Caterers can own their own businesses and cook from their homes or other kitchen facilities. In some states, people need special licenses to cook from their homes and sell these foods. They also may work for companies that provide catering services, such as hotels, banquet halls, and restaurants. Some independent caterers may stick to providing only food services for small-scale events. Others may prefer to work as food and event planners, in charge of executing every detail of a large-scale event. Most times, caterers have working relationships with several independent contractors who provide a variety of event-related services. When someone hires a caterer, the caterer can suggest other trusted vendors with whom he or she has worked.

Some restaurants and hotels offer catering and banquet services in addition to running their day-to-day businesses. For example, a hotel may offer a room to hold affairs such as business meetings. In addition to serving food (which the hotel kitchen may prepare itself or order from another company), the hotel may even handle event details, such as setting up the room with chairs and tables and providing audio and visual equipment.

Catering takes much upfront work and planning prior to an event. Generally, a caterer begins planning an event a few weeks to a few months before the date of the affair. For example, a caterer who is hired by a client to plan a bridal shower would meet with the client to go over all the details of the event before it takes place. They will discuss the type of food service needed, such as buffet or plated foods, and the specific foods that will make up the menu.

Next, they will determine other services needed to complete the affair, such as the location of the event and the time foods should be dropped off at the venue. If the caterer is providing other services, the client and caterer will discuss the services the venue will provide, including tables/chairs, linens, tableware, setup and cleanup, servers, and décor. If the venue does not include certain services, such as flowers and centerpieces for the tables, the caterer can furnish the client with a list of vendors who can provide these services. Sometimes, caterers will handle these additional services themselves.

On the day of the event, caterers either will prepare all the food themselves or will have employees who will take care of the preparation. They will deliver the food to the venue (if it is offsite) and set it up. Sometimes, this is the end of their work for an event. Other times, caterers will ensure the venue is ready to host the event. They might be responsible for setting up tables and chairs or ensuring florists and other vendors arrive on time to get ready for the affair. After the event, they may be tasked with cleaning up or at least picking up any of their equipment, such as serving dishes.

In the twenty-first century, mobile catering became popular. With this service, caterers are typically in charge of only providing food for an event. They usually prepare (or cook in advance and heat up) most of the food for an event on their food trucks. Food trucks are like mobile kitchens that can be driven from one location to another, which means caterers can take their food trucks directly to a venue. They are a fun alternative for caterers who prefer not to be stuck in an indoor kitchen. They also make transporting items much easier, since food items can be prepared onsite and served right away.

Bibliography

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