Successful Catering

According to the National Restaurant Association's Industry Forecast, social caterers are one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. At present, for instance, the U.S. Yellow Pages lists in excess of 53,000 caterers. This figure includes off-premise and banquet facility caterers, not hotels. The annual sales of these 53,000 caterers are between $7 and $8 billion. While catering can be a lucrative career, let's put things in perspective. Sure, there's money to be made in the catering industry and the job satisfaction can be immense. Catering, however, is also hard work with long, unsocial hours. You also need to be able to multitask and organize your time with military precision. While this book can't do the work for you, it can make the work easier! Let this book come to your rescue with its tips and suggestions for the busy caterer. Get it right--the first time! This book is part of the new series from the editors of the "Food Service Professional Magazine. With 15 books on the most relevant food service subjects, theses are the best and most comprehensive books for serious food service operators available today. These step-by-step guides on specific management subjects are easy to read, easy to understand and will take the mystery out of the subject. The information is "boiled down" to the essence. They are filled to the brim with up-to-date and pertinent information. These books cover all the bases, providing clear explanations and helpful, specific advice. All titles in the series include the phone numbers and Web sites of all companies discussed.

Introduction; Getting Started; Types of Catering; Writing a Contract; Staffing and Personnel; The Kitchen and Service Equipment; Food Preparation and Menu; Sanitation, Health and Safety Procedures; Food Presentation; Marketing and Pricing; Budgeting and Accounting.