Choosing the right catering company for your function is a key element in your event planning process. A knowledgeable and experience caterer can make your life a lot easier, so it’s worth the effort finding a catering company with which you can rely on, enjoy working with, and trust who has catered a similar menu during a similar time of year.

There are alot of caterers to choose from, but how do you know the caterer you are considering is an established, professional, licensed, properly permitted and insured business and not just preparing food out of their own kitchens? What happens if someone gets sick? What happens if they just don’t show up? How are you protected?

Before you even consider a caterer here are a few things you should be sure they have:

1) Is the caterer licensed in the state and city you are having your event in?

All professional businesses should be licensed in every city they do business in.

2) Does the caterer have insurance?

Insurance is necessary and will protect you in the event someone gets ill from unproperly prepared or stored food.

3) Does the caterer have a King County Health/Catering Permit?

Every caterer should have a King County Health/Catering Permit, this ensures that their facility is regularly inspected by the health department and knows how to prepare, store, cook and transfer food.

4) Does the caterer’s staffing have food handler’s permits?

Again, a must, everyone who touches food in a professional establishment that serves food to the public has to have a food handler’s permit, this ensures that they have taken a class that goes over proper food handling.

5) Does the caterer have a commercial kitchen? Cooking out of someone’s house is NOT okay.

It is not okay if the caterer cooks out of their house, you have no idea if the food is being properly handled, stored, prepped, cooked or transfered the to event site. A commercial kitchen has to be inspected by food safety inspectors to make sure the food is safe to eat!

6) Where does the caterer purchase the food that they prepare for your menu items?

Make sure that the food that is being prepared is from a reputable source!

7) Does the caterer have a contract?

Make sure any time you do business with a caterer it is under contract. It should clearly state the menu, date, times of service, amount of guest served, terms and conditions. What if more people show up to your event? How is that handled? What happens if someone is over served alcohol? You have no recourse unless it is in writing, so get it in writing!

Paramount Catering has all necessary insurance, permits and licenses to do business in the State of Washington. We have been in business for over 23 years so you can be sure that you are hiring a professional and reputable company!