How to Save Money on Food Catering

Food catering makes up a large part of the budget of any party, but you can limit the amount you spend on it if you know a few simple tips. Here are some ways to save money on your next catered event.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Have a buffet-style meal instead of a sit-down, served meal. Sit-down meals require waiters and servers, which can cost a lot of money. By serving the meal buffet style, the number of catering staff required goes down. This can save you a lot of money when it comes to food catering.

2. Serve a less expensive entree. Instead of offering seafood or steak, opt for a chicken dish. Pasta dishes also make good less expensive entrees.

3. Limit the amount of choices you offer. Instead of offering three or four choices of the main dish, offer only one or two options. Limit side items as well to two or three items. With fewer choices, your food costs will go down.

4. Order the right amount of food. Know the total guest count ahead of time so you can work with your caterer to order just enough food for your guests. Ordering too much food can cause you to waste money. However, if you don't order enough food, your guests can go hungry.

5. Consider skipping a main meal and offering substantial appetizers instead. In some cases, a meal consisting of heavy appetizers (such as egg rolls, mini quiches and chicken strips, for example) can cost less money than a traditional three-course meal.

6. Minimize alcoholic beverages. Because alcoholic beverages cost a lot of money, you can save on catering by limiting the choices available or by serving only non-alcoholic beverages.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve less expensive yet still hearty food items. Things like rolls with butter can help fill your guests up before the dinner.

[Gourmet2Go]

on 8/4/2008 great tips, thank you so much!