How To Add Outdoor Catering To Your Restaurant

Have you ever thought of adding a catering service to your restaurant business? With outdoor parties becoming more and more popular, many restaurant owners have discovered that expanding into the restaurant catering field is very lucrative. This blog will explain the equipment you’ll need to enter the catering industry and why you should consider it. 

The four phases of catering

You’d be amazed to learn that the people calling your local caterers are your repeat customers. So what do the catering companies have that you don’t? They have the proper equipment to master the four phases of the catering business: transport, set up, serve, and cleanup. 

Transport

Caterer transporting food

First thing’s first — after you’ve cooked your food, you’ll need to store it for transportation and presentation. To simplify your foray into catering, offer menu options produced in bulk. Bulk items are easier to manage and make the presentation process simple. To transport your food, items like insulated food boxes, and food carriers are a necessity. Like a hammer to a carpenter, no caterer should be without them.  

Setup

Food in chafing dishes ready for serving

After you’ve transported and unloaded your food, it’s time to set up. Your catering presentation is important, so you will need high-quality chafing dishes and beverage dispensers to do the job right. Also, be sure that your cups, tables, chairs, tablecloths, and dinnerware match your party’s theme. Remember, the little things go a long way.  

Serve

Wait staff serving food

Once you’ve finished your setup, it’s time to serve. Serving your food means that your staff, as well as your serving area, will have to be prepared. Your staff will need protective items like gloves and aprons, and your customers will need items like utensilstongsplatters, pans, serving baskets, and napkins. Be sure to spend some time brainstorming everything your customers could want. It’s better to bring it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 

Cleanup  

Silverware soaking in soapy water

Once the guests have their fill, it’s time to move into the fourth and final catering phase — cleanup. Cleanup for outdoor parties isn’t as complicated as you may think. Start by putting litter in its place. You should always have trashcanstrash bags, and recycling containers to dispose of leftover items. Once that’s finished, load your equipment back into your restaurant catering vehicle. Remember to leave the area as clean as it was before you came. This is an excellent way to get repeat business and expand your restaurant’s great reputation. 

Restaurant catering for outdoor parties doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you have the proper equipment for each phase of the catering business, you’ll be surprised by how profitable you’ll be and how quickly your catering reputation will build. Your restaurant can be more than the four walls around your kitchen. From birthdays to bat mitzvahs, you can be sure that your restaurant can cater to any occasion. 

About Steve Ubaney

Steve Ubaney is a copywriter and SEO specialist for TundraFMP. His blogs provide tips, tools and techniques that are sure to make you a cooking aficionado.

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