Arranging for Drop Off Catering

There are times when everyone needs catering that is casual and easy to access. When there is no need for professional staff or linen napkins, customers tend to go with the drop off option. All of the arrangements are made in advance and on the day of the event, the food is brought out to the location and left for the event participants or planners to set up and sort out. This also tends to be a more cost-effective option for those looking to stay within their party-planning budget.

The Menu

The first step in arranging drop off catering is deciding on a menu. There are usually lots of options to choose from. You can choose anything from a lasagna and soup to burritos and rice. Talk to the professionals to find out which items will work best for your event, the amount of time that you have, and the space. From there, you can add on side dishes and little extras, including desserts and other finger foods. Make sure to ask about beverage service. Sometimes the drinks will come along with the package and other times you will need to handle them on your own.

Choosing a Time

It is not always easy to choose a time to have the food dropped off. Talk to the catering company to get a better idea of how things are going to go. If they are just dropping off and you are handling the set up, make sure that you have the food with enough time to prepare the space and get everything ready. If they are going to bring everything in, set the tables, and display the food, they will know exactly what time to be there if you tell them when you want to eat.

Be Available for Drop Off

Most catering companies will not just drop off food in a location without someone being there to accept and sign for the order. Make sure that you or someone in your party is going to be at the assigned location at drop off. They can go through and make sure that all of the items are there and also explain where the food needs to be placed. This ensures that things run smoothly and when your guests or fellow partygoers are ready to eat, everything is in place.

If you aren't sure about how the process works or you have a unique situation, talk to the catering company and ask questions. They have experience in this area and they can let you know what will or will not work. They can recommend a way to handle the food service and they can help you make important decisions about where you should eat and even what time you should plan on eating.