When do caterers do taste testing

kitnlvr · April 2010

Just wondering at what stage a caterer does taste testing. My friend had hers a week before the wedding but that seems too late to me to do a taste test after you're already committed. Do caterers also do taste tests before you commit?

Jdolce · April 2010

I'm actually wondering the same thing. Feedback would be great from other brides!

It just seems like we will be spending a lot of money on food to try it just the week or two before the wedding.

Lasairiona · April 2010

Any caterer worth their salt does tastings before you book them. Otherwise you're screwed if you book someone without tasting beforehand and you end up hating the food or it isn't quite what you wanted. If they don't offer tastings before you book them, run fast and keep looking until you find someone who does.

Goldlie11 · April 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_caterers-taste-testing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:975dcc40-6c8b-4cc7-a4ae-a04cd713b561Post:66fc6131-3b61-47c4-a8b7-7995056c5327">Re: When do caterers do taste testing</a>:
[QUOTE]A<strong>ny caterer worth their salt does tastings before you book them. </strong>Otherwise you're screwed if you book someone without tasting beforehand and you end up hating the food or it isn't quite what you wanted. If they don't offer tastings before you book them, run fast and keep looking until you find someone who does.
Posted by Lasairiona[/QUOTE]
Exactly, most of the time the tasting is used to decide whether or not you book them. Be wary of a company that will not let you taste the food. I know someone who went with a pretty venue but did not bother to do a tasting. Most of the entrees were pretty bad and the cake that they provided was disgusting. <div>
</div><div>If they say no tasting, offer to pay a fee for the tasting (not a deposit) just something so they know you're serious and not just looking for a free meal. If they still refuse, move on. </div>

mica178 · April 2010

If it's an independent caterer, they'll do a taste test before you book with them and then probably another one later on so you can finalize a menu.

If you get your caterer through your venue, you might not be able to sample the food before you sign to use the venue/caterer.

My caterer said I can do my taste test at any time, even one month before the wedding (but not just one week before). Bear in mind, if you plan on asking for a special menu that's not a "usual" dish done by your caterer, you should meet with him/her earlier so you can throw around ideas and possibly have multiple tastings to make sure that your vision and the caterer's ability match.

Lasairiona · April 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_caterers-taste-testing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:975dcc40-6c8b-4cc7-a4ae-a04cd713b561Post:e39e9551-7267-4ba5-ab68-60ebdf6801b2">Re: When do caterers do taste testing</a>:
[QUOTE] If you get your caterer through your venue, you might not be able to sample the food before you sign to use the venue/caterer.
Posted by mica178[/QUOTE]
If this is the case, don't book the venue until you get a tasting from the caterer. If they still don't allow you to taste before you book them, go elsewhere asap.

mica178 · April 2010

I already know the food is great at my place, but I haven't tasted their full menu to pick out what we're serving. So I've tasted "their" food, but I haven't tasted "my" food, if that makes sense.

kitnlvr · April 2010

Thank you! We are still doing first meetings with caterers (after picking a top 3). The way it worked out we met with the one we were the least impressed with first and left rather impressed (just a meeting, not a tasting). Which led me to believe this was going to be a difficult decision if they all come in around a similar price point. I'm glad to hear your responses and now I'll feel comfortable asking for a tasting from the top 1 or 2 once we've had a chance to meet with everyone.

Of course...now I'm picturing a "taste-off" something like Iron Chef!

kkaimala · April 2010

our caterer is through our venus, and our tasting id two months before the wedding. If we don't like anything they offer, they will customize a meal for us. So if you have to book before tasting, it might be ok, as long as they allow customized meals.

Goldlie11 · April 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_caterers-taste-testing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:975dcc40-6c8b-4cc7-a4ae-a04cd713b561Post:2fcbf807-9ddb-44e4-8efd-4d08a52abeb3">Re: When do caterers do taste testing</a>:
[QUOTE]our caterer is through our venus, and our tasting id two months before the wedding. If we don't like anything they offer, they will customize a meal for us. So if you have to book before tasting, it might be ok, as long as they allow customized meals.
Posted by kkaimala[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't follow this advice unless you've been to an event that they catered in the past or you know someone personally that had an event catered by them. There are many caterers out there who will let you taste the food. Why take chances?

tommyandy · April 2010

Our tasting meal for all caterers is chicken cordon bleu with asparagus and parmesan risotto. Eating the same meal each time gives me a better idea of the skill & talent level of each company.

samurai21 · April 2010

The caterer that we booked hosts monthly bridal tastings where couples can come and sample their food and learn about their prices, and then later we asked if we would be able to do a seperate tasting of things not featured at the dinner after we booked and they said no problem, and that whenever we wanted to schedule it to let them know.

A week out to be choosing your menu seems way too tight. What about food costs and ordering? I would want to know my final total for food way before 1 week.

When do caterers do taste testing

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