- The best way to keep catering costs down is choose one item and build around that, such as cake with punch or coffee. If the event doesn't take place at meal time, you can have a dessert buffet or even a candy or ice cream buffet. For more savory treats, try serving two big pots of chili, one with meat and the other vegetarian, and having bowls of toppings such as onions, various grated cheeses and peppers.
- Consider having a potluck affair where you purchase the meat from a restaurant or deli and the guests contribute side dishes. You can order sandwich and appetizer platters from fast-food restaurants such as Subway, Quiznos and Chik-fil-A, which are cheaper than traditional restaurants. Many grocery stores also provide inexpensive catering platters of finger foods like vegetables, fruits, cheeses, antipasto and sandwiches. A few restaurants and catering companies offer box lunches priced per person.
- Check in your local Yellow Pages or online regional business guide for unusual catering companies such as mobile taco stands, which are slightly more expensive but a good idea for smaller gatherings. In coastal states in the South, there are companies that cater a Louisiana-style crawfish boil with mobile trailers, and some also have lobster and clambake options. Barbecue restaurants usually have catering menus, but some will even bring a portable stand to your event or provide a whole pig for a pig roast. For a do-it-yourself idea, try a milk can dinner where food is cooked stew-style in milk cans over propane burners.
