Should I tip my caterer?
Why Tipping Isn't as Simple as Good Service
Tipping is a funny thing. On the one hand, it is a customary thing and really does help supplement the servers' individual lives.On the other hand, it's a very unfair system. Much more goes into your dining experience than just the server's politeness and attentiveness. Most people don't realize that your dinner food at your local restaurant takes at least 2 days to make it to your plate; not accounting for however long it takes to grow, harvest and transport the food you are eating to your relative area. At the very least, someone had to prepare your dinner the day before you showed up at that said restaurant. Once you have chosen your meal for the evening, chefs have to hurry up and finish your meal within 15-20 min(for any respectable establishment) and have it done without any mistakes, on time and account for any special requests.
Adapting to Every Event's Unique Needs
This process is the same for your caterer; with a few exceptions. Caterers have to travel to a location outside of their kitchen; which requires them to remember a laundry list of things that are specific to each event. You ask? Why don't you just get a checklist? We have them; but every event is an amoeba, a single cell organism that is always changing in shape and size. Saying that to say, no event is ever the same and no checklist will be a cover for all your potential NO-GO points during your event. They have to organize servers they see on an on-call basis or just met; due to the fact that it's hard to keep front of house staff if you don't have a front of house i.e a restaurant that requires you to greet guests. Caterers have to enter an unknown place with people they don't know or never met and make sure all that was asked for wasnt missed or forgotten.
To Tip or Not to Tip? The Server vs. The Experience
Customary rule in restaurants is servers get to keep their tips; while chefs get paid more an hour. I have had many arguments in the past with my fellow servers; do you tip because the server was sooo nice? Or do you tip because of the whole experience? My argument is the whole experience; the diner is not coming back to the restaurant if the food is bad; despite the servers demeanor. But in practice, we only tip the server; which results in crazy wages for the servers that they usually don't pay out to the chefs. Patrons are okay with this exchange; even though the most important part about being at the restaurant is the plate of food that will be put on your table.In addition, we are okay with the bill being raised due to this
arbitrary tip requirement; guilt us into supplementing the wages of the poor server, but not okay if the establishment just raises prices to be able to pay everyone a fair wage and the patron doesn't have to tip at all? Food for thought.
More Than Just Food - The Secret Weapon of Your Event - Your Appreciation (and Tip)
Which brings me to the original question… should I tip my caterer? The answer is YES!! You are willing to pay the individual that just greets you but not the one who organized the entire food portion of your event? Caterers have tons of overhead without the everyday guarantee of business like a restaurant does. Not to mention, they are probably doing a good majority of the work; by themselves or with a super small team. To do your event, we have to plan, execute, travel and create a restaurant experience without the restaurant. So just like if you enjoyed your meal, if you enjoyed your event experience,TIP YOUR CATERER!!
If you're planning an event and need a top-notch caterer in the Oakland and Bay area of California. please contact us today.