|
The FAQ's of
Professional Catering |
Are you insured?
We are fully licensed and insured for product and liquor liability up to five million dollars. Our staff are covered by worker's compensation. |
Do you provide tastings?
Yes, our Executive Chef is happy to prepare a selection of menu items for your enjoyment when you come in to plan your event. Since we do not keep premium or non-seasonal ingredients on-hand for tastings, we must usually shop locally for ingredients at retail stores. To off-set some of our out-of-pocket expenses, we charge $45 per person for tastings. If you sign a contract with us, we will deduct 100% of the tasting charges from your balance due. |
Can I make up my own menu or make changes in your menus?
Absolutely! We love to help you create a special menu just for your party! All of the menus on this website are completely customizeable, you are welcome to make any additions or changes you prefer. |
Can you provide for vegetarian and special dietary needs?
We have wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and other special needs menu items. When you come in to plan your event, we will discuss your dietary needs and suggest a menu that will be suitable for you and your guests. Please tell us if we need to consider food allergies. |
How far in advance should I reserve my date?
Wedding receptions typically book 4-12 months in advance. Corporate events usually have a shorter lead time. If we're available, we can provide corporate lunches with a 48 hour notice. We suggest reserving your date as soon as it is confirmed. Summer weekends and all dates in December fill very quickly. |
Do you have children’s prices?
Yes. Children 5 to 10 years old are 50% of the
adult price. Children 4 and under are free, but are counted for
seating. |
Do
you provide rental items such as
linens, silverware, glassware,
tables, and chairs?
Yes. Not only can we arrange for the rental
of the usual party items such as tables,
chairs, linens, china, glassware and
silverware, but we also have access to fine china,
crystal, and specialty linens. We can also
arrange for larger items such as canopies,
stages and dance floors.
We rent them for you without a markup. |
Do you provide
wine or liquor?
While A
Tasteful Affair is not licensed to sell alcohol, we do maintain the
necessary liability insurance to serve your
guests if you provide the alcohol. We
can provide you with recommendations on where to find the best buys
and offer suggestions on selections. |
Do you provide bartenders and
servers?
Yes. Our bartenders and servers are trained, professional, and just plain nice! We carry full liability insurance for both food and alcohol service. As a general rule, you need to allow one bartender per 100 guests for beer and wine bars and one bartender per 75 guests for full bar service. |
Do you have a corkage fee if we
supply the beverages?
No. We will open and serve beverages you
supply at no additional charge. |
|
Do your servers wear uniforms?
Our trained, professional staff are attired either in black and white uniforms or in all black uniforms with long, black bistro aprons. They are professional, neat, and always ready to help! |
Do you charge extra to cut the
wedding cake?
No, it is included in the price. |
Do you set up and clean up?
We will dress and set
the tables, clear the tables, and clean the service/kitchen area,
leaving it as we have found it. If you wish us to set up and
breakdown the tables and chairs there is an additional fee. |
How many
servers will be needed at my event?
As a general
rule, we provide one server for every 25 people at a buffet. We
provide one server for every twenty people at a sit down dinner.
However, the
server ratio depends on how formal or complicated the event is and
may be reduced or increased, depending on these factors. A lavish
six-course, sit-down dinner may require one server per 10-12 guests
or a very simple buffet many only require 1 server for 35 people.
Using your event details, we will recommend the minimum number of
servers required based on our experience. Our goal is to make your
event run smoothly, therefore we have a two server minimum for events. |
|
Besides the cost for food, what other charges can I expect for a
catered event?
When
we provide your customized menu, we list of all of our estimated
charges in order to provide you with a complete proposal. In addition to
the per person price for food we include the following in each
proposal:
 18% catering fee
Cost of rentals
(that we obtain
on your behalf)
Labor charges
for service staff
Sales tax |
What does the
catering feecover?
The catering fee offsets labor and administration costs such
as
dishwashing, packing for your event, shopping for food, clean up, site visits, working with rental companies, etc. The catering fee is not a gratuity and is subject to
state and local tax laws. |
Is a
gratuity included in your bill?
Gratuities are not itemized in the bill (unless directed to do so by the client), nor are they required. They are, however, graciously accepted by our staff for a job well done. A gratuity of $25-60 per staff member or a percentage of the total is customary. We do not put tip jars on bars for private parties and weddings. |
What is 'drop
off' service?
We bring a buffet to you, set it up and return later to pick up
non-disposable serving items. There are no servers. A delivery &
pick-up fee is charged. This option works best for informal
corporate events and informal parties of less than 30 people. Delivery/pickup
charges without staff begin at $40 for the Tri Valley area. Outside
the tri-valley or after office hours, there will be an additional
18% catering fee. |
Do you
provide paper goods, china, linens, or chaffing dishes for drop
offs?
For drop offs, we include
quality paper plates and plastic eating utensils. We also provide a
linen for the buffet and will set up any necessary chaffing
dishes. If you prefer china and silverware, we will be happy to
make arrangements, however these items require that our staff be
present at your event. |
Do you have a price list?
Some of our corporate menus include prices. However,
most of our event menus are custom designed
for a specific event and a particular client. After a brief
conversation with an event coordinator, we
will prepare a personalized proposal for your budget. The factors
that affect the price of an event include the number and kind of
menu choices, number of guests, length of the event as well as
number of servers required. We try our
best to accommodate your budget. Our goal is to give you the
fairest price based on your specific
needs. |
How can I compare quotes
from two different caterers?
In the catering industry there are a variety
of ways to present a bid to a client. For example, some caterers
include only the price of food in the per person cost, others
include food and service, others include linens and/or china in the
per person charge. It is important when comparing
bids from two or more companies that pricing
for all of the necessary items are included in both quotes for an
accurate comparison. |
|
How do you charge for labor?
We charge for our staff by the hour, based on a five hour minimum
per staff person. We do our best to estimate the amount of time
that our staff will be needed for your event. However, since many
variables exist, the final cost is based on the actual time
worked. For large full service events, we require an Event Manager
to oversee staff and ensure the coordination of a successful event. |
What are the
Hourly rates for your staff?
Event Manager @ $30.00 per hour
On-Site Chef @ $40.00 per hour
Bartender @ $25.00-30.00 per hour
Server @ $25.00 per hour
Kitchen Staff @ $25.00 per hour |
