Small time catering

Sometimes my little party catering enterprise pays off.

Back in December I catered a small (47 people) holiday lunch for a company here in Clearwater. Brisket, chicken, beans, potato salad, drinks, bread, all paper goods, etc. and cooked the chicken on-site. Everyone seemed happy and the boss/owner made it a special point to let me know how satisfied he was.

Well, I just got a call this afternoon and he wants me to do his wife's birthday party this weekend. Short notice, but I'm not "big" enough to turn down "work". So, it looks like I'm on for Saturday.

I'll cook the brisket Friday night and do the chicken on-site. The only change in the menu is a request for pita bread vice the white and wheat rolls I provided back in December.

Neat folks. Turned out they are Jews - possibly Israelis or first generation -- lot's of Hebrew being talked at the December party. That explains the request for pita bread and why no ribs!!:grin:

It should be an interesting Saturday afternoon!!

Puppyboy said:

Good job. Reputation by mouth is far better than picking you out of the book at random.

Click to expand...

It's funny, I got the December job from our little website...if you look in the phone books around here you get Sonny's, used to get Fred Flemming's, and maybe one or two other places - that's for barbecue.:shock: I've had several calls from the website - one was for shipping brisket and a couple were just too far away or tailgate grill party requests.

I have a sneaking feeling that if someone could get their act together, advertise appropriately, and work the small jobs like my 20 and 50 they could wind up busier than they want.:-D

It would be nice to have the big jobs frequently but enough of these small jobs can pay the bills - my little business is about even...with this job I'll be able to pay off the business Visa card.

I am definately under capitalized!!:mrgreen: What I "want" is a small brick and mortar place (business address!) to specialize in walk-up/carry-out business for lunch and early dinner - maybe a couple of picnic tables for folks that have the time...but I really want it for the kitchen so I could do more catering, both carry away/delivery and the occassional on-site job.

I sure did pass around some business cards at the December lunch - and some of his business associates indicated they were interested in doing some business with me...we'll just have to see.

Right now it's just one little job to the next...no delusions of grandeur at all!!:wink:

Thanks. I appreciate the link.

I had it in the signature before and removed it when editing. I guess I need to pay more attention!!

Wow, the difference 24 hours makes.

I got a call today and now its brisket and chicken with two sides for 50-60 on Sunday...and he wants me to do the personal chef thing for him with a whole brisket, or chicken, or lamb, or ??? once a week. He's doing the Adkins thing and loves brisket. Sheesh, who knows where this is leading.:shock:

Last night I was finishing up brisket, chicken, ribs, and pork of a retirement luncheon. Kept all warm on time bake and pulled the pork and sliced the brisket this morning before loading up to head to the party/staff meeting.:-D

My cooker is getting a work out this week...the lunch menu for today, cooking up the brisket for Sunday on Saturday evening, hotdogs at the church for several hundred, and then head over to the catered birthday party...I'll probably cook the chicken at the church, pan it up, prep the beans, head over to the party, fire up the cooker and cook the beans and put the pans of meat back in the cooker to stay warm and make things smell nice.

I feel like I just stepped into Alice's rabbit hole!:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Fredbird said:

Sounds like things are going great! Good luck!

Click to expand...

I don't know whether to **** or go blind!:shock: I'm making a little money but I'm too small and undercaptalized to "go bigger" - but, hope springs eternal.

It looks like I may have another gig with these folks the end of January - a bunch of Israeli and Guatemalan business associates. I don't have the details yet - number, menu, etc.

I sure wish I had a mobile kitchen rig for this stuff...maybe I'll hit the Lotto!!:mrgreen: :wink: