(Before Hiring a Taco Catering Company)
Most professional event planners will advise their clients that the key to a successful event is to have a basic checklist. Start with the ending: what do you want to have guests leave the event thinking, saying or feeling?
To get to that (happy) endpoint, you have to have a plan that remains focused on the goal. Every decision should remain fixed on getting there, and every decision should have its own checklist to account for variables, cost control – and to allow yourself to explore alternatives.
Food of course is a huge part of events, and key to creating a favorable and lasting impression. The top-line decision might include these questions:
A. Is formality important, and does that then require renting chairs, tables, dinnerware, linens and eating utensils?
B. Might a more informal, food-station approach be preferred? There are clear cost advantages, and some will argue it facilitates more fluid interactions between guests.
Then, if Option B is selected, how might that be accomplished? You can choose from carnival-style (hot dogs, cotton candy) to Asian (sometimes requiring plates and utensils) to taco cart catering (newer on the scene, easy because the foods are hand-held).
From there, if on-site taco carts are chosen, you should think about the details:
Should the whole event have a Latin theme, or is it just a style?
A. For example, if it’s a corporate event themed on globalism, your décor, music and other elements might African, European, Australian and Latin American motifs.
B. If it IS to be themed specifically to Latin culture, then there are other considerations and options: Would salsa, tejano, samba, tango, merengue, bossa nova, Latin pop or reggaeton music be preferred?
C. Will the event include alcohol? Trending lately are the use of mescal, domestic rums and domestic wines.
D. What is the event hosted in a non-traditional venue? Canapes and platters, or canapes and pitas?
E. What is the climate like? Is the venue beach-side or lawn-drive? Is it inside or outside?
F. What style of food and atmosphere suits the venue? Is it formal or casual? stylish or casual?
G. Can you provide beverages? Here you could include the latest canned beers and some variety of hard alcohol, or you could go for some craft beer, wine, champagne or perhaps a non-alcoholic beer or soft drink.
H. Food service: You might, for example, want a salmon taco made with local Alaskan salmon, a Mediterranean veggie tray, an Asian noodle platter served with verde and cucumber and the always-popular margarita bar.
I. Theme/announcement. This is the heart of your event. So, very important indeed that you consider carefully what you areannouncementneeds to be in place.
If you are planning a formal event, you might as well get a kosher taco cart.
If you are planning a Wrap party, CatererIES wants to ensure that each person at the event receives a celebratory note from the caterer, right on the front of the event.
If it is a private party, something different needs to be said about the theme. The music, the service, the decorations – everything has to be so authentically Korean that you know that the event is going to be truly special. You don’t want to spoil the event with some English accents.
So, you need to know what kind of event it is, and you need to know who is coming. You need to know what the food is going to be, and what price points are available.
This is where word of mouth can be your best form of advertising. You can let people know about your event through social media, and you can promote the event through word of mouth.
Before you hire a caterer, you need to know what kind of event you are organizing. Is it a wedding, birthday party, wedding anniversaries, housewarming gift giving, company meeting, etc?
You need to be specific when it comes to the catering and the food you choose. You don’t want to choose something that is going to make people sick. You want to appeal to all of the senses, and this will make your event memorable.
When you are specific about the food, the service and the atmosphere you create, you are showing that you care about the event. That is something that most event planners take for granted.
To hire a buffet catering for your event, it is a good idea to do some food tasting.
