9 Secrets of Great Caterers

With catering, amazing food is just the beginning. The road from kitchen to table can be long and filled with obstacles, yet your guests can never know. 

How do you ensure that every menu item tastes freshly prepared and that your team can serve efficiently and comfortably in virtually any location?

If you’ve been in the catering business for a long time or you’ve ever had the pleasure of talking with someone who has, you’re well aware of how hard it once was to achieve that goal. We’ve worked with a lot of incredible caterers over the years, and we’re always amazed at the events they’re able to pull off.

New catering solutions become available every year, and one of our favorite parts of our job is sharing ideas to help make your job easier. We’re here to let you in on some of the best secrets to help you consistently exceed client expectations without cutting into your hard-earned profits.

Read on to see the latest in innovations in serving, hygiene, and hot and cold food holding and transport for catering jobs of all types and sizes.

1. Light, Durable Serveware

The Pulito Collection by TableCraft features a selection of plates, platters, and bowls for upscale, yet durable melamine serving options perfect for on-trend, family style serving. 

These versatile pieces can withstand temperatures to 212°F and are dishwasher safe.

TableCraft Melamine Serving Trays with faux cast iron finish serve and display appetizers, charcuterie, entrees, sides, and more in casual elegance. 

These rustic trays have a matte finish textured to resemble cast iron, but with the light weight and easy care of dishwasher-safe melamine that’s ideal for fast-paced events.

2. Disposable Servers with Class and a Conscience

With Bamboo Plates by TableCraft, there’s no need to choose between single-use convenience and a stylish presentation. 

An elegant and eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposables, they make clean-up a breeze without compromising on presentation or sustainability. Available in varying sizes in both round and square in packs of 25, these attractive plates work beautifully for both indoor and outdoor events. 

3. Temperature-Supporting Buffet Displays

The 3-Tiered Half Long Cooling Display by TableCraft keeps food chilled for up to 3 hours while saving space and improving product visibility. 

This stylish vertical display includes three half-size cooling plates and a black powder coated stand. Components are also sold separately, with cooling plates available in half, half long, and full sizes.

TableCraft Stainless Steel Quick View Chafers feature a window that allows guests to see contents prior to opening the chafer. 

Features like steam vents to reduce condensation and a slow-closing lid to help reduce noise from opening and closing during service add exceptional function to this stylish line. 

Lids also include safety features for operators to remove and replace food pan inserts easily and safely without risk of steam burns. Use with fuel or on an induction range or warmer.

To see TableCraft’s full collection of chafers and action stations, click here.

Perfect for bite-sized appetizers that can lose heat quickly, Hatco's HBG Portable Rectangular Heated Base Glass Shelf is made of approved food-safe materials, so it’s safe for direct food contact. 

Its sleek, heated ceramic glass surface blends cleanly into your buffet display or serving area to help keep hot foods at safe-serving temperatures for short-term holding. Adjustable thermostatic controls allow for easy control of a uniform surface temperature with a range from 100°F-195°F.

4. All-in-1 Portable Handwashing Stations

Ideal for any off-premise operations where handwashing is needed for either foodservice staff or guests, the Mobile Handwash Station from Cambro is a truly-portable handwashing unit that requires no plumbing or electrical hookups to operate. 

With a foot pump that activates the flow of water, the Mobile Handwash Station can provide approximately 200 hand washings per tank. 

For smaller-scale, portable handwashing solutions from Cambro, click here.

5. Multi-stage Beverage Temperature Control

Camtainer Insulated Beverage Servers keep cold beverages cold without electricity. 

Ideal for catering and outdoor events, these heavy duty insulated servers are available in capacities from 1 to 10 gallons. A recessed faucet eliminates drips and ensures even dispensing, with continuous and individual pouring positions. 

A 3.5 gallon model without spigot is also available for convenient off-premise soup service. 

To see the entire collection of insulated beverage servers from Cambro, click here.

All-weather SlidingLid™ Ice Caddies by Cambro are made with thick foam insulation to hold ice for long events and scorching hot days. Their tough, rotomolded polyethylene shell won’t crack, dent, bubble, or rust. The lid conveniently slides back and under during use, reducing risk of cross-contamination, while a recessed well and drain shelf keeps ice out of water to minimize melting. Molded-in, ergonomic handles and stable, strong caster options make it easy for staff to move large quantities of ice wherever it’s needed.

The TableCraft 3 Quart Polycarbonate Pitcher with Center Ice Core features an ice core to keep drinks cold without diluting them. 

Fill this dishwasher safe pitcher with beer, soda, water, lemonade, iced tea, or other chilled beverages. Your servers can carry the pitcher or leave one at each table for easy sharing.

The stainless steel Wave Round Beverage Tub by TableCraft provides plenty of room to tastefully ice down anything from bottles of beer, seltzer, water, or soda, to champagne or white wine. 

This 19" x 19" x 9" (6.75 gallon capacity) beverage tub has a style that suits both informal and casually elegant settings. Its double wall construction insulates and limits condensation, keeping beverages colder, longer indoors or out.

To see TableCraft’s full selection of beverage tubs, click here. 

6. Scalable Insulated Food Holding and Transport

The Ultra Pan Carrier UPC300 by Cambro has been a holding, transport, and finishing secret caterers have treasured for decades. With a compact footprint and unrivaled durability, this carrier easily fits in most smaller vehicles and requires no electricity to work its magic.

Thick, high density insulation safely holds hot or cold foods for 4+ hours to protect food safety and freshness. 

Molded-in rails securely hold up to three 4" deep full-size GN 1/1 pans, six GN ½ pans, or up to nine GN 1/3 pans. For transport and storage, it stacks with Cambro 1318CC and original models 300MPC and 1318MTC.

7. Temperature Maintenance Tools

For even longer use, especially with frequent opening and closing, try Camchillers or Camwarmers. 

The Camchiller can be frozen overnight and used to pre-chill Cambro carriers or carts before loading, maximize cold food holding time, and minimize temperature gain when the door is opened and closed. 

The Camwarmer can be warmed in the oven and used to preheat carriers before loading, lengthen hot food holding time, and minimize temperature loss when the door is opened and closed.

8. Lightweight Insulated Transporters

Made of high-tech, expanded polypropylene material (EPP), Cambro GoBoxes protect food quality and safety while keeping overall carrying weight as light as possible for staff. 

An affordable option to help you support off-premise and outdoor serving, Cam GoBoxes help keep foods at safe temperatures below 41˚F or above 135˚F for over four hours of holding and transport. 

You can also use Camchillers with GoBoxes to extend cold holding time even further. 

To see the entire collection of top-loading and front-loading Cam GoBoxes and accessories, click here.

9. Electric, Insulated Food Transport

For larger capacity electric holding, extended holding times, and frequent opening and closing, the Cambro Pro Cart Ultra holds 18" x 26" sheet pans and/or GN food pans. Available in a variety of hot, cold and hot/cold models, this energy efficient cart can be plugged into any standard 110V outlet. 

It can also hold foods safely without electricity for up to 4 hours, making it perfect for transport to events. 

To see Cambro’s full line of electric insulated carts, click here.

We understand that every catering operation is different and every event is unique. For help finding the right products to support your specific operational needs and events, contact us!