2 Unique Caterers & Event Planners has been handcrafting organic and free-range food for more than 20 years. Based in Royal Oak, the business serves appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, breakfast, brunch, entrees, and desserts at weddings, corporate events, and social events. The company won the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Award 2015. Clients give positive feedback for the business' friendly waitstaff and tasty food.
Andiamo serves the catering, food service, and event planning needs of the people of Detroit. It provides a range of services, from box lunches for small conferences, drop-off catering, and casual buffets for board meetings to themed events for seminars. The company offers Italian, Asian, and Middle Eastern menus, such as hummus, stuffed cabbage rolls, and grilled seasonal vegetables. Andiamo's clients include GM, Chase, and the American Heart Association. It gives back to the community by supporting the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Gleaners Food Bank.
Serving Detroit and the surrounding areas, Bigg Bites Catering specializes in various types of catering services. The company accommodates big and small events, including weddings, birthdays, and corporate events, through its buffet and plated catering services. Clients with upcoming mini-events or social gatherings can avail themselves of Bigg Bites' express service as well. Deciding to continue the legacy of her father's catering business, Quanie Blackwell founded Bigg Bites with Darnell Williamson to provide versatile menus through its catering and food truck services.
Celebrity Catering is a full-service and family-owned company by executive chef Matt Jenkins that provides its services to clients in Detroit and the nearby areas. Since 2015, it has been accommodating corporate events, weddings, kids and adult cooking classes, graduation parties, as well as food tasting. It is a one-stop-shop that also provides services for events planning and party rental needs. All the orders and services should be booked in advance.
Crank's Catering is the largest off-site catering company in the U.S. The business caters barbeques, wedding receptions, holiday parties, black tie events, graduation parties, and other occasions. Crank's Catering serves buffet-style meals, barbeques, breakfast, brunch, lunch, hors d'oeuvres, Thanksgiving dinner, desserts, and beverages. The company offers rental equipment including tents, tables, and chairs.
Dish serves American-style cold and hot hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, platters, salads, dips, entrees, cakes, and desserts at local Detroit events. The business has been seen in Hour Detroit, Signature Magazine, Metro Times, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grosse Point News, and other publications. Customers attest to Dish's delicious offerings.
El Guapo Grill is a Detroit catering company that fuses Mexican cuisine with international flavors. The food truck can be rented for concerts, art fairs, festivals, and other occasions. Customers say that the company serves tasty, fresh food with perfectly balanced sauces. El Guapo Grill is the first licensed and accepted food truck in the city.
Gary's Catering has been serving the Detroit area for more than 50 years. The business customizes menus for weddings, corporate events, bridal showers, baby showers, and other events. The company offers appetizers, buffets, holiday food, desserts, and beverage services. Gary's Catering also provides rental equipment including tables, chairs, chair covers, silverware, linen, glassware, and lighting.
Joe's Gourmet Catering & Events offers services to clients in Detroit and nearby areas. It is a full-service catering company that serves various cuisines for weddings, graduation parties, cocktail receptions, family picnics, and corporate gatherings. Its professional chefs prepare meals with ingredients from Michigan's Joe's Produce Gourmet Market, Joe's Meat and Seafood, Livonia, and Art of Bread by Joe's. Its catering services include individualized menus, floral design, service staff, and catering equipment like tents, tables, chairs, and linens.
Kristina's Catering caters weddings, graduation parties, funeral luncheons, bridal and baby showers, and corporate functions in the Detroit area. The business serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, salads, a la carte items, and desserts. The company won The Knot Best of Weddings 2016. Customers have praised Kristina's Catering for its professional, helpful staff and delicious food.
Lunchtime Global's catering options include continental breakfast, sweets, salads, and sandwiches. The business has vegan and vegetarian options. Customers say the company has fresh food and great soup specials with reasonable prices.
Mi Pueblo serves fresh tortillas, tortas, and tacos with pork, chorizo, chicken, and grilled steak. The Detroit catering company offers open menus, customized menus, and buffet style meals for local events. Customers give positive feedback for Mi Pueblo's authentic and tasty food.
Quality Kosher Catering caters bar and bat mitzvahs, cocktail parties, weddings, and corporate parties of any size. The company also provides carry out and delivery options. The business' staff pride themselves on quality ingredients and personal service. Clients have praised Quality Kosher Catering for its delicious food and attentive staff.
Since 2000, Rangoli has been serving authentic Indian cuisine. The company has a number of catering packages to choose from with offerings such as vegetarian appetizers, chicken and lamb offerings, desserts, breads, and rice. The business cooks on location and has rental options for linen, china, silverware, and glassware. Customers have praised Rangoli for its friendly, helpful staff and reasonable prices.
Red Smoke Barbeque specializes in classic barbeque fare including slow-cooked chicken, pork, brisket, back ribs, and spare ribs, and more than 12 sides. The company has pick up, delivery, and set up options. The business is located in a two-story historic building in Greektown. Customers have praised Red Smoke Barbeque for its good beer and sauce selection and generous portions.
Soprano's Catering has been serving Detroit clients for two decades. The company's catering menu includes BBQ, breakfast, brunch, deli foods, hors d'oeuvres, and pan foods. Soprano’s is owned by a third-generation restaurateur. It hand-picks its produce from Eastern Market and makes everything from scratch, down to the salad dressings. Soprano’s has catered events of over 25,000 people and as small as backyard gatherings. It handles weddings, corporate events, daily lunches, manufacturing shifts, and private catering. It is a preferred caterer at Noah’s Event Venue, Packard Proving Grounds, Blue Water Convention Center, the Eastern, Whiskey Factory, 900+ Tower & Terrace, and many more. Soprano's Catering has been featured in The Knot and was voted Best Caterer by Click On Detroit.
The RattleSnake Club uses locally grown and seasonally sourced ingredients to cook lunch, dinner, and small plates. The Detroit catering company, founded in 1988, services weddings, corporate events, and special occasions. The business won OpenTable's Diners' Choice 2015, TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence 2016, and Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence 2013 to 2015. The RattleSnake Club is a Preferred Caterer at Eastern Market and has catered nationally and internationally.
Thomas's Catering creates custom menus for small to large private events, corporate events, weddings, and graduation parties. The company, based in Livonia, cooks breakfast, brunch, hors d'oeuvres, lunches, buffet food, and desserts. Customers say the business has helpful, friendly, and accommodating staff, reasonable prices, and amazing food.
Just like brick-and-mortar restaurants, catering companies need a liquor license to serve alcohol to patrons. If a caterer is serving alcoholic beverages, guests under the age of 21 are allowed on the premises, but they may not buy or consume alcohol.
If you're having a large event catered and expecting to spend a lot of money, having a tasting beforehand is often a good idea. Tastings are handled differently by catering companies; some may charge while others won't. In general, most caterers charge a fee, usually around the cost of a meal at a restaurant.
Caterers usually help their clients calculate food by offering a recommended portion size per guest. Taking this into consideration, all you need to do is multiply this portion by the number of expected guests to determine the total amount of food needed.
The amount of time in advance needed to schedule catering services depends on the number of people and type of event. For weddings with 50 people or more, six to 12 months in advance is recommended. For smaller gatherings, a month or two should suffice.
Some catering services include tips in the bill, so you don't have to worry about handling this aspect on the day of your event. If the tip is not included, a minimum of 15% of the total bill is recommended, while tipping 20% is not uncommon.
In addition to the food you order, catering services can include delivery, linens, silverware or plasticware, plates and cups, a small heat source to keep hot dishes warm, and staff. When planning your event, it's always a good idea to confirm which of these items are included and necessary.
The three main styles of catering are buffet, plated, and family-style.
Most catering companies provide the necessary equipment to serve food, such as serving utensils and chafing dishes, though not all have furniture, such as chairs and tables, to seat large groups of people. If you also want to rent dining equipment, a larger catering company is likely a good option.
If your event date has changed or needs to be canceled, let the caterers know as soon as possible so they can make the necessary arrangements. A phone call is usually the best option so you can speak with someone directly to ensure that your cancellation is confirmed. If sending an email, be sure to get a written confirmation.
After putting together a business plan and getting licensed, you need some basic equipment, such as plates, bowls, silverware, and garbage bins, to get started with your catering business. This should be enough for a simple operation, though if you want to serve more people, acquiring staff and a kitchen is a must.
Renting a kitchen is an important step for caterers looking to expand their business. Look for a space in your area that is at least 70 square feet, and contact the owner for details on rent. Once you've signed the lease, the next step is outfitting it with the right equipment.
There are many ways to promote a catering business, though the most cost-effective for small businesses is social media. Here you can target specific demographics based on age, interests, and location to reach out to the ideal audience for your services. A press release can be another good way to inform local media outlets of your new business, while a blog can allow new and establish customers to follow you over the long term.
There are several licenses required to run a catering business. In addition to a basic business license (BBL), you may also need a county or city license for food handling and a safety certification. A liquor license is not a necessity but common for caterers who plan on serving weddings and other large parties.
The amount your catering business makes per event depends entirely on how much you charge for your food minus the cost of expenses, such as staffing and materials. These are all details to be worked out in your business plan, but a good rule of thumb is to walk away with at least enough profit to cover the time you spent earning it. The average salary for a caterer is between $18,000 and $42,000 per year.
Getting leads for any business can be tough, but there's no better asset than word of mouth. The best way to get new customers is to make sure you always offer top-level service to the ones you already have, so they recommend you to friends and family in the future.
