Did You Know?
Before the 2009 presidential inauguration, Washington’s largest hotel stocked up with a ton of chocolate, a ton of cheese, and 800 pounds of bison. It expected to serve about 49,000 meals in just four days.
How to Get Started
Getting started as a caterer begins with noticing how food brings people together and how much planning goes into every meal. You can build habits caterers rely on, like planning ahead, working with a team, and paying attention to details, long before you ever run an event. You can start the way many caterers learn: by feeding a small group and learning from how it went.
Explore the Basics
At your next family meal or party, notice everything that had to happen before the food reached the table, like shopping, cooking, setting out dishes, and cleaning up. Ask a grown-up to help you make a list of each job in order. Then circle the one you think is the hardest and tell them why.
Try It Out
Plan a mini catering event for your family with three no-cook snacks, like fruit cups, crackers with cheese, and veggie cups, and ask a grown-up to do any cutting. Before you start, ask each guest whether there is any food they cannot eat. Make a menu card, set the table, serve each person like a real caterer, and then ask which snack they liked best.
Join the Community
Visit a food truck or a food booth at a fair or festival with a grown-up. Ask the person serving one question, like how they get ready before opening or how they keep the food hot. Write down or draw the answer when you get home.