Pro-Tips For Catering Large Scale Events

When you think Blue Plate Catering, you might think of us for our delicious bites at weddings, galas, and intimate home parties. But, did you know we have also featured our catering service at some of Chicago’s largest iconic events? If you attended the NFL Draft, ran the Chicago Marathon, were a guest at the World Routes Forum, or at one of the many events around Chicago, you’ve probably had one of our bites!

When it comes to catering large scale events, we are the experts and we know what it takes to successfully cater an event. Here are some of our pro-tips to consider with catering large scale events:

Communication Generates Success

Large scale events are never hosted in one single space or venue – and with these larger events, there is never just one person that is in charge of the full event execution. In other words, when catering is just one piece of a the event, communication with other groups is vital to a successful event.

Understanding expectations and limitations right from the start generates success. For outdoor events, find out zoning restrictions, where the closed streets are, and most importantly keep in constant communication with the main event coordinator assigned to your catering company.

Internal Planning – Break It Down

When catering a large scale event, your team might ring up to 200-300 people on staff. Creating a proper line of command and breaking down groups to focus on individual components of an event are important items to think about to ensure a successful event.

The best way to manage the overall execution of your catering is to break everything down into individual tasks – down to the micro-level. Yes, even to the “designated ice stocker.” This may seem a little over the top, but why take any risk of having something not get done right?

Meal Planning

Before jumping in and adding food items to a menu, there are many things to consider. Think about the time of year and even day of the week your event falls on – as it is important to have your food both seasonal and timely. A menu that features earthy and light foods is great in Spring and Summer months, whereas warm and rich foods are excellent during the Fall and Winter.

One thing definitely to have in mind while developing your menu is the size and palate tastes of your crowd. For example, when catering an event which includes guests from all over the world, it is pertinent to have options that are appealing to them. The same rules apply for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy guests. In short, have options!

Producing fresh, quality, and attractive foods – at a mass quantity – is not an easy feat to accomplish. Blue Plate Catering embraces the challenges of serving thousands of people while staying true to their values of providing innovative foods from the freshest ingredients possible with pride and overall excitement.

Sometimes You Just Have to Improvise

You can follow all of these tips mentioned above, but let’s be honest. Mistakes are part of the game. And at some point during an event (larger ones more importantly), something is bound to go wrong. It’s inevitable! Having a staff that is experienced and talented enough to roll with the punches and handle the unexpected curveball thrown at you are the ones that are going to make your event a success.

We also recommend staffing your event with team members that are on call to handle any unplanned situation. These on-call staff members can become your saviors, as their role is critical to overcoming any unforeseen issue that may develop.

Blue Plate Catering has been proudly providing catering services for large scale events throughout Chicago for 30 years. We are passionate about what we do and it shows.

If you are in need of fabulous catering services for your next Chicago event, feel free to contact us today. We’d love to speak with you!