Catering is one of the most expensive parts of your event, and it’s something that your guests will definitely notice, so it is really important to get it right.
You don’t want to mess this one up. Roasted suckling pig, with its reddish-brown crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, offers an ultimate feast for your taste buds, and it is a signature dish in many restaurants.
What Makes a Pig Roast Worth Catering
The key is to cook it slowly and long, over a slow heat, and the skin comes out beautifully crisp. When chopping, a mixture of the ham, the loin, and the belly will be well-balanced. It’s a lot of hard work, and nobody can do it all themselves, so it’s worth it to have a professional do the food.
Pig Roast Catering In NJ
Book the Caterer Early
Book your caterer very early on in the planning process for your pig roasts & backyard parties in NJ. The earlier you can get this done, the better. Get this done nine months before the event. If you are closer than nine months, don’t freak out. That’s totally fine. Just get it done as soon as possible.
Book the Venue First
You need to have your venue booked first. Don’t do anything without booking your venue, because that is when you lock in your date, and a lot of venues have specific caterers that they require you to work with.
Set the Budget Before Shopping for a Caterer
Have your budget set before you do anything. Do not go shopping for a caterer until you know exactly how much you have to spend. Caterers usually tell you their prices on a per-person basis, so you want to know beforehand how much you have to spend per person. Only shop for caterers that meet that criteria.
Calculate Based on the Most Expensive Menu Option
If people are selecting their pig roast menu options, don’t split your menu options one-third, one-third, and one-third to figure out how much it’s going to cost. Just calculate it based on the most expensive one, so that you put enough budget aside and there are no surprises when all your guests decide to order that option.
Consider All the Catering Style Options
There are a lot of options out there for styles of catering, so it’s better to know exactly what you want before you start shopping, so that you can find the one that’s the best at that style.
Traditional Caterers
A traditional caterer will do a seated plated dinner for you, or maybe a buffet. Some caterers also offer stations. That is going to be the most expensive route, but it’s worth it to spend the money here if you have it. When you’re trying to feed 100 to 200, maybe even more, all at once, this is an art. This takes talent. It’s not easy.
Restaurant and Barbecue Catering
Another option is to have a restaurant cater your event. Usually, this will be a little bit less expensive than a traditional caterer, and you can get a little bit more creative. Barbecue restaurants go with a rustic country theme and lower budget events.
They know how to set up the buffet so everything is hot and delicious. It’s a great alternative that can save you some money and can really add some personality to your day..
Try Before You Buy: Go to Tastings
Don’t sign anything until you go to those tastings. Even if you do have a caterer that you really love, go to three different tastings and test out three different caterers, so that you can compare them by seeing the different ways that different people do things.
Don’t schedule them all on the same day, because by the third one, you’ll just be way too stuffed to even be interested in trying anything. If you end up not having a good experience at the tasting, just cross them right off the list. If they can’t get a tasting right, then they probably aren’t going to be that great on your day either.
Fully Interview Each Caterer
Not only are you going to go and do a tasting, but you need to be sure that you’re asking them all the right questions, so that you can be sure that they are right for your big day. There are so many little things that go into this, so take notes while you’re having your tasting.
Read the Contract Before You Sign
Be very thorough in reading your contract before you sign. Make sure that everything’s in writing that they offer you and that you’ve agreed upon, and ask questions if you don’t understand anything.
Discuss All the Logistics with the Catering Coordinator
There’s a lot that goes into this, no matter what kind of catering you’re going to choose, so cover all of your bases with your catering coordinator, so that you know what needs to be done and everything flows smoothly on the day.
FAQs
How early should a caterer be booked?
Very early on in the planning process. The earlier you can get this done, the better. Nine months before the event.
Should the venue be booked before the caterer?
You need to have your venue booked first, because that is when you lock in your date, and a lot of venues have specific caterers that they require you to work with.
How do caterers price their services?
Caterers usually tell you their prices on a per-person basis, so you want to know beforehand how much you have to spend per person.
How many tastings are enough?
Don’t go to too many, because then it will all start blending, and you won’t know who said what or who offers what. Just do three, but do all three.
Conclusion
Most likely, you’ve never worked with a caterer before. If you’re not a party planner, there are just so many little things that go into it. Catering is one of the most important aspects for guest experience, so make sure you have all of your bases covered and there are no surprises. Happy planning.