House 2 House Catering

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  • Hiring a Marquee – a Guide for Events Planners

    Finding a decent marquee for your event doesn’t have to be stressful. It is possible to find marquee hire Bedford for good prices, with good service and a wide choice of marquees to help you set the scene for your perfect event. Finding a good marquee is about more than finding a good supplier, though – this is a major part of it, but there’s much more to consider. It is all about finding a marquee that will work for you, giving you the space you need to realise your event’s potential and make sure all your guests are going to be able to make the most of your event. You should seriously think about the different marquee styles and which one will be best for your event.

    You should spend plenty of time looking into marquees, their styles and how they can be used. You will need to know the details of your event before you can consider hiring, because you need to know how much space you will have and how many people have to be accommodated.

    The main styles of marquee are:

    Capri marquees 

    These are the most modern kinds of marquees, offering you clean sightlines and a minimalist look. They don’t look like a traditional building – they have domed and peaked sections where the material is stretched over a frame. This means that they are supported internally and you won’t have to use dangerous guy lines and ropes that people could trip over.

    Framed marquees 

    With a more traditional look, these marquees are a regular shaped and can have windows to resemble an actual building. They tend to be a more traditional shape as well, so they can be good if you need to seat people in rows, such as for a wedding or a conference. They are also supported internally, so whilst they are more traditional in their looks, they are still innovative in their design. You will find many different features available and they will withstand harsh weather conditions, so you can even use them in winter.

    Finding your supplier 

    If you work in events and regularly plan weddings and corporate events, you might want to find a marquee supplier you can work with on a regular basis. This is a good way to get loyalty discounts and secure the best prices for your clients. When you work with a regularly company, you will get to know the ways in which each other work and you will be able to know at the drop of a hat what they are able to get for you. This can also be beneficial if you need other kinds of products, as many events planners won’t be able to keep things like chair covers, linen and crockery in stock. You will probably need to rely on an external supplier, so if this is something that your marquee supplier can also offer, this is a big bonus. You will then be able to source all the drinks, dining and events equipment you need in one single place.

  • Securing Ongoing Catering Contracts

    Working as a freelance caterer, or having your own catering business, is never going to be easy. Chances are you spend lots of time on the lookout for new work, which will help keep your business ticking over. If you are able to secure ongoing contracts, this takes away a lot of the work for you.

    In order to do this, you will need to partner up with other people and organisations. They may be wedding venues, pubs that offer food or corporate hire venues that need lunch supplying to their customers. There are many profitable relationships you can form for your business – just make sure people are aware that longer term contracts are an option. Even if a venue doesn’t use your services exclusively, it may be possible that they can recommend you to the people who book. Make sure they know the quality of your food and offer samples if you think it will help.

  • Catering for a Corporate Event

    Corporate catering isn’t an easy task. There are lots of different things to think about – the people who are going, the requirements of the event, the different dietary requirements… if you are asked to cater for a corporate event, here are some of the things you should think about:

    • Times of catering. People will want food on a regular basis throughout a conference or corporate event. Think about things like coffee, pastries and snacks, as well as meals.
    • Food should be simple, but high quality. It’s often one of the things people talk about during and after a corporate event. Make sure you cook something that will impress.
    • Consult with the person running the event. They should have their input so that you know what they expect and what they want to achieve with their catering.
    • See if you can prepare food on site. This will mean it is fresh and warm.

  • Christmas Parties in London – the Festive Season in the Capital

    London is a great place for a Christmas party. It is easy to get to, so whether you work in the city or you are travelling in from elsewhere, you will be able to have an amazing and unforgettable Christmas party. If you want to do something a little different, now is around the right time to get thinking about it. Whilst it feels like Christmas has just happened, it is very much time to start thinking about the next one. Places get booked up fast, and no amount of searching ‘Christmas party London’ is going to get you anywhere. If you want to have a memorable party for your staff, make sure to get in early. (more…)

  • Launching a Catering Business in the New Year

    The New Year is so nearly here. If you have a passion for catering and it is something that you have begun to get more serious about, you should think about launching your own business. What better time to start than in the New Year?

    You will have a good opportunity to start a new business if you are passionate about what you do. Do you love cooking? Do you really like entertaining? Is catering something you take a real interest in? If this is the case, you should seriously think about making it your career.

    If you haven’t worked in a kitchen before, start by getting some experience. This will also indicate to you whether or not you enjoy it. If you do, continue to build up your experience and then move on to putting the wheels in motion for your own business. Make connections, network, and enjoy food as much as possible.

  • Expanding your Catering Business – the Next Step

    A catering business is still a business. Whilst food may be your bread and butter, so to speak, there are also many business skills you will need to pick up. This is especially true if you want to expand and grow your catering business.

    First, you must make sure you have the infrastructure in place to grow. Can your suppliers deal with larger orders? Will they be able to meet with your new demands and deliver ingredients when you need them to? Talk to your catering supply manager to see what they can offer you.

    If you need to begin taking on staff, look for skilled catering professionals who will be able to slip into the role easily. Think about taking on chefs and waiting staff who will understand the industry and who may have relevant qualifications in areas like food preparation, service and hygiene. They will be your biggest asset as you expand.

  • Catering for a Halloween Party

    Halloween is a busy time of year, when people are throwing parties and wanting to have a good time with their friends. Putting together a menu fit for a fabulous Halloween party is a challenge for any caterer. Here are some tips:

    • Have some themed food. Think of cakes and other finger foods you can make into something that looks a little bit sinister. It will be great fun for guests and will stick to a theme.
    • …However, don’t make all the food themed. People at a party want to enjoy themselves and have some good food. Make sure they have plenty of options.
    • Check the menu over with the host first. Ask them if they have any specific requests to make your service even more personalised and special for them. Don’t forget to ask about dietary requirements at this stage.
    • Make sure people won’t go hungry. Halloween parties often involve lots of alcohol. People will definitely be hungry.

  • Hiring a New Catering Manager

    The catering manager performs an integral role within a company. They are responsible for ensuring the catering quality is high, managing any other members of the team to deliver excellent catering services. Much of the business you receive will be down to your catering manager so it is important to hire the right person for the role.

    Look for someone who is an experienced caterer but also an experienced manager and innovative thinker. They will need to have a strong food-related background, with food and hygiene qualifications as well as plenty of practical, hands on experience in the kitchen. However, they will also need to be able to think of new, fresh ideas and come up with menu concepts that work across the board.

    Interview catering managers thoroughly to find out why they want the role and what experience they have. Passion and enthusiasm will get people a long way in the pressurised catering industry, so make sure they have this.

  • Cooking for a Crowd – Tips and Tricks

    Cooking for a large group of people is always challenging. There are so many things to think about in the kitchen as it is, and when you are cooking for a large group of party it takes even more concentration. Here are some tips to make your life easier:

    • Prepare in bulk. Get different ingredients ready in one go and use accessories like blenders to help you with chopping and peeling.
    • Let people help. You may like to be in charge of your kitchen but if you have a big job on your hands, let people help you out.
    • Cook easy, crowd pleasing food. Souffles for 200 might be a bit of a challenge, especially depending on the kitchen you are in. Cook food you can prepare in pans and pots, like pasta dishes and stews.
    • Plan. Make sure you know your recipes inside out and have plenty of ingredients ready.