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Gino Spano

 Tags: Event Planning

The catering is a huge part of any event; people look forward to the food, meaning you want a catering company that you can rely on to provide the best experience for your guests. While there are numerous event catering companies available in Toronto, not all will be able to provide you the quality service and quality food that you need to have your party go off without a hitch. In order to help you find the very best event catering companies to work your event, here are five invaluable tips.

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1. Do a Tasting

While it shouldn’t be the only consideration when choosing a caterer, the food served at a tasting can be a great indication of the quality of the company overall. Don’t be afraid to ask to sample numerous dishes; certain event catering companies may be strong in one area while relatively weak in another. 

Especially if you’re planning on serving multiple kinds of dishes at your event, you want the assurance that the company will be able to handle the food across the board. Tasting sessions are also a great opportunity to find out more information about how the dishes will be prepared,what ingredients will be used, and to finalize your menu for the big day.

2. Find out If They’re Flexible

Flexibility when it comes to catering options has become absolutely imperative when serving guests at an event. Especially if your party contains a larger number of people, you’re bound to have guests that have certain allergies or dietary restrictions that need to be observed in order to ensure that everyone is satisfied. 

The best event catering companies won’t struggle with meeting a range of dietary needs, from vegetarian and vegan dishes to gluten-free options. This is something you need to know up front; finding out too late that they can’t accommodate all your guests can be a big problem.

3. Check out the Reviews

In a way, the reviews of caterers can often give you the very best indication of the quality of their work. While a catering company might be able to spin certain negative attributes, they can’t get away from a handful of bad reviews. Look around for reviews—don’t rely on reviews that the catering company itself provides; they’re likely to only provide reviews that are in their favour. If in your search you notice a pattern of continual issues with the catering company, this is a major red flag. Given the centrality of the food at an event, it’s not worth taking the risk if the bad reviews are stacking up.Message boards and event sites can be a wealth of knowledge while looking for reviews.

4. Get Recommendations from the Venue 

Many venues are affiliated with one or more catering companies that they are more than willing to recommend. This can be a great option for several reasons. First, you can guarantee that the catering company recommended has experience working with your venue. This can be a huge advantage; they know how to tailor their services to the unique event space. Not all menus work in all venues, and an experienced caterer will know what can be accomplished in your venue.

Second, a venue is not going to recommend a catering company they didn’t believe in; their reputation is on the line. Venues are only going to recommend to you the caterers that they truly believe can cater your event to perfection.

5. Look into Experience Level

The number of years that a catering company has been in business is definitely something you want to take into consideration before making your final decision. All kinds of things can happen during the rush of the event; an experienced caterer will have handled every potential obstacle in the book. Their experience and professionalism will make any problems that may arise seem small and undetectable to your guests.

Additionally, the ability to run a successful catering company for so long is a testament to the quality of the company in and of itself. Catering is a tough business—if you don’t have what it takes, you won’t be around for long.

Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Corporate Event

Gino Spano

Starting with roots in a kitchen at 14 years old, he worked his way up the ranks and by the young age of 17 was responsible for daily events of 50 to 600 people. Gino continued to use his talents to work in catering, banquet and restaurant kitchens across the GTA. His love for Italian, French and Asian cuisine paired with his wide variety of knowledge brought him success in his new venture at Seventh Heaven in 2001. Over the past 12 years, he has cooked many meals for social events, corporate events and government officials. His love for new challenges brought him into corporate sales where he and the Seventh Heaven team won Best Catered Event for Canadian Linen’s “The Great White North” – Facility Grand Opening in 2009.
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