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Started By
Message
Does anyone here do catering?
Posted on 12/7/24 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 12/7/24 at 4:05 pm
A buddy of mine asked me to cook pastalaya for his wedding reception. He told me what a caterer wanted and it was insane! $2500 for a taco bar for 60 people. It got me thinking… this is the 4th or 5th time I’ve cooked for a friend or family member for a reception or party.
I could have a decent little side gig going if I wanted to start a business out of it.
The main thing that deters me is that I have two young children and it seems like we always have something going on during the weekends.
I think it would be fun, but I’m sure just like anything else it would become “work”
I could have a decent little side gig going if I wanted to start a business out of it.
The main thing that deters me is that I have two young children and it seems like we always have something going on during the weekends.
I think it would be fun, but I’m sure just like anything else it would become “work”
13
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:11 pm to CrawfishElvis
quote:
I think it would be fun, but I’m sure just like anything else it would become “work”
It’s one thing to cook for friends or to help in a bind, but once people are specifically hiring you for an event the expectations and time commitment drastically increase.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:22 pm to CrawfishElvis
quote:
I think it would be fun, but I’m sure just like anything else it would become “work”
For sure. Unless you can't make bills...invest in your children/family.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:25 pm to CrawfishElvis
I would think the stress of making sure you don’t mess it up, don’t get anyone food poisoning, making sure you have redundancies of all equipment, etc. would make it not worth it as a super casual side gig
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:30 pm to CrawfishElvis
A taco bar wedding is classy.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:32 pm to SixthAndBarone
Nacho cheese volcano nice
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:34 pm to ellesssuuu
quote:
Nacho cheese volcano nice
You had me at 'nacho cheese volcano...
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:34 pm to ellesssuuu
quote:
Nacho cheese volcano nice
You had me at 'nacho cheese volcano.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:45 pm to Enadious
quote:
For sure. Unless you can't make bills...invest in your children/family
This 100%. My family is everything. I wouldn’t miss the first thing to go make an extra buck.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:46 pm to SixthAndBarone
quote:
A taco bar wedding is classy.
lol they eloped so it’s just a reception. It’s a very casual thing. And they aren’t the richest people in the world. Definitely not movers OR shakers.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:49 pm to CrawfishElvis
Cooking a large quantity dish is a luxury for caterers. Start doing large numbers of individual items and it becomes super tedious.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 5:49 pm to CrawfishElvis
And to be clear, I’m footing the bill and not taking a dime. This is my wedding gift to them.
Posted on 12/7/24 at 7:29 pm to Enadious
Posted on 12/8/24 at 8:09 am to CrawfishElvis
Unless you're already in the industry this is not advisable.
Posted on 12/8/24 at 8:35 am to CrawfishElvis
I have in the past. Everything including BBQ, gumbos, jambalaya, etouffees, boiled crawfish, etc. Was mostly a one man operation and only set it out buffet style/ self serve. If providing a complete meal, I tried to keep it at around a 100 people. If just providing just a jambalaya or BBQ meats, feeding 300 was fine. It becomes a job and expectations change when folks are paying for your services rather than you doing it for free and as a favor.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 8:18 am to CrawfishElvis
My dad is a genuinely kind soul, was in a similar situation cooking for friends, and has been catering since since his retirement. After 20 years doing it, I can tell you this: people are assholes and it’s not worth it. When people hire you, they believe they now have the authority to treat you like shite.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 8:35 am to CrawfishElvis
I don't have an official business but I have catered the gumbo for about 5 or 6 weddings, from 80-350 people. I also cook for a quite a few benefits, mostly white beans, jambalaya, pastalaya, gumbo, and rice dressing.
When you have a lot of people counitng on you it can become stressful. There's no way I would want to do it every weekend but a 1 or 2 a month isn't so bad.
When you have a lot of people counitng on you it can become stressful. There's no way I would want to do it every weekend but a 1 or 2 a month isn't so bad.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 10:17 am to CrawfishElvis
To get into catering as a business, you should look into what's legally required. A friend was going to do something similar, but if you serve certain foods in Louisiana, there are some hoops like having your kitchen inspected and approved. You need a license and have to look into paying sales tax.
Posted on 12/9/24 at 10:32 am to CrawfishElvis
I cook regularly at our tailgate for 100-150 peeps. That as close as I ever want to get to Cook for pay. And I don’t make dick ………. 
Posted on 12/9/24 at 10:48 am to CrawfishElvis
quote:
He told me what a caterer wanted and it was insane! $2500 for a taco bar for 60 people.
That’s probably not absurd if they come set it up and take it down.
I watched the caterers at a wedding a recently went to. Left me with the thought that they probably made good money but had bad hours working in the weekend evenings a lot. I’m sure December is wild.
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