What to ask your caterer before you sign anything

Most caterers will tell you what they cook. The good ones will tell you what they do when the power cuts out, when the guest count jumps by 40, when a dish gets sent back. Here's what to ask before you sign anything.

◆On the food

• ◆Who actually cooks on the night — the chef I'm meeting, or somebody on their team?
• ◆Where are ingredients sourced from, and what changes seasonally?
• ◆Can we do a real tasting with the dishes on our menu, not a sample plate?
• ◆How do you handle dietary requirements — separate prep, separate kitchen, separate service?

◆On service

• ◆What's the ratio of staff to guests, and is it different across the evening?
• ◆Who runs the floor — is there a named captain?
• ◆What happens if a course is sent back?
• ◆What's the contingency if the guest count moves up or down by 10% in the last week?

◆On the contract

• ◆What's included in the price and what's billed extra?
• ◆What's the cancellation and refund policy?
• ◆Who carries insurance — you, the venue, or both?
• ◆Who owns the leftover food and the rentals at the end of the night?

“A caterer's contract is a reflection of how they think. Read it carefully — it tells you everything they've ever gotten wrong, and how they fixed it.”