I think your clients should have made their wants clear in the contract. You might try discussing this with them, explaining your position and apologizing for the misunderstanding, but being clear about your liability (re no refrigeration) and saying you hope the two parties can be clearer with one another in the future.

I agree that the contract should have been more detailed. If they had expected you to stay until 9pm, then that should have been specified, along with arrangements for the food.

We are planning an event right now for around 200 guests, and I hadn't thought about what would happen to the leftovers until a friend who used the same caterer mentioned that he sent her home with boxes and boxes of food. I don't know if that's the norm, but it was done in this case. She was glad too, as she didn't get to taste a lot of the food during her party.

AM

My contract said I'd be available from 4 to 6:30, and the contract also said I'd clean up, take out the trash, and dispose of any leftover food and exit by 6:30 pm.

Just curious if the people complaining were the same ones who signed the contract. That would be a good starting point - get everyone on the same page.

You could write a letter thanking them for their business and enclosing a revised contract for next time that details what they want - and ask them to review it before they sign etc.

I don't think this is a burnt bridge - if it is, you don't want their business.

It doesn't surprise me that they either didn't read the contract before signing it, or thought you didn't really mean what you said in the contract. I see that a lot.

On the other hand, in general, I don't see why left over food like this can't be sent home with the clients the way that people dining at restaurants are allowed to take home doggie bags. The situation you described happened at my son's wedding. The bride's parents ordered food for 200 people, and not nearly that many people showed up, so there was a lot left over. We were not allowed to take any of it home. What a sorry waste. I heard on NPR recently a story about using left overs for a good purpose. They now send usable left over food from businesses and such to shelters. It's brilliant.

Back to your contract, it might help in the future to verify with the clients that they understand what's in the contract before they sign it. You may also contact this particular client and tell or write to them much of what you wrote to us. I don't know, that may be a good idea or not, depending on how willing they are to listen. I guess they didn't read the contract, so they may not listen, either. It's sad to think these are teachers we're talking about.

Sally

Here is a link that might be useful: Matching left over food with the hungry

I'm confused. Did you specify the times in the contract or did the client specify the 4:00 - 6:30?

I am assuming that it was the client who specified that you clean up and take the leftovers. Otherwise I would be surprised that it would be normal for the caterer to write that into a standard contract. If I paid for all the food I would expect to have a say in how leftovers were disposed of.

Ann

All I can say is some don't.....and some do....and I have never seen it written into the contract what happens to the leftovers. But I have sure seen a lot of leftovers left by the caterer. At my grandson's Bar Mitzvah there was a ton of food left which they took to a nursing home,...for one example.
I don't do catering but I do provide food for funeral lunches. and am amazed by the fact that some people want all the leftovers....and others want nothing at all to do with extra ham or other food.
And I often go to the church and find that someone has used our facility for a party or meal of some sort and the refrigerator is full of food.
I would say that for the post part, the caterer is expected to give any leftover food to the people who paid for it.
AND that arrangements about that should be made before hand.
Linda C

I'd want the leftovers too but if it was specifically written in the contract that you were to "dispose of any leftover food" then I'd have to blame myself for not reading the contract before signing.

Two questions:
Who specified the terms of the contract? You I assume? So you were the one who put their times into your standard contract which specifies that you dispose of leftovers, right?

Just out of curiosity, what did you end up doing with the leftovers?

While the contract is clear about disposing of leftover food, I guess I would have asked first, after all, they paid for the food. I would feel terrible about throwing it away, seeing it as a terrible waste.

If it's your contract, you can certainly specify, in BIG BOLD LETTERS, in the future, that if the food is not claimed by the client, you will either dispose of it or take it to whoever distributes food to local charities in your area. If it's not your contract, you can certainly add such a provision.

Good luck.

Years ago, I catered, and it was standard practice for me to give the leftovers to the clients. A surprising number of them didn't want the leftovers, but at least they had the choice.

It was my policy to go over the contract with the clients prior to their signing it. If they wanted food left out longer, I'd just put out part of the perishables at a time and rotate fresh food to the serving tables. In these cases, I also made sure the client knew (and the contract reflected) the fact that perishable food would be disposed of once it had been out of the refrigerator for a certain period of time.

Basically, you did nothing wrong. You followed your contract exactly. But to avoid disappointments in the future, just make sure your clients are aware of all the elements of the contract :)

"I recently was hired to buy food from Sam's Club and bring it to a local Adult Ed program..."
On whose credit card went the food from Sam's? If it went on yours and you paid for it, and presumably reimbursed for it of course, seems to me you are in control of it. If they gave you the money ahead of time to pay for the food (or a credit card, gift card or something similar), then it seems that it's their food and you're services are to pickup, deliver, setup and cleanup and if they get food poisoning from mishandling, it's their problem.

The contract seems pretty clear and you did what you contracted to do. I don't think a bridge is necessarily burnt and as said if it is, then you don't want anything more to do with them anyway. There are certain groups of people with whom I don't care to work.

My only other suggestion is to always get it in writing, have them put their desires in writing. Maybe if you're going to do this more often, put together an info sheet or questionnaire asking things like how long/what hours do you want me there? What to do with leftovers? If client is to keep them do they have proper food handling conditions? I'd also write into the contract that they're responsible for any mishandling, and specify food poisoning in there to get their attention. A little info on these topics could be very helpful in clearing up confusion. Maybe if they understood why you're apprehensive about leaving food out that long they wouldn't be upset.

When I was a wedding photographer, I learned early on to have a contract, even with friends. I wrote into it that in the event of interference I could walk out and all sums are due immediately, that they had to specify people they wanted photographed and more. The one time it saved me a lot of hassles and money. The bride's mother threatened to sue because I didn't photograph a long-lost uncle who suddenly appeared. I knew nothing of him or certainly would have. But having the contract, between the bride, groom and myself eliminated the mother's ability to interfere.

Have it in writing. Formal contracts aren't always required as long as the understanding is in writing and agreed by the parties. Handle it in a businesslike manner and you're going to be better off in the long run.

Sounds to me like they wanted to deal with you on the "good buddy" system and you wanted to be professional. I think you made the right choice and if they're mad, let them be mad.

I'd at least write them a note or call them, if you want to repair it in anyway. My caterers (for work) often stop by with a small edible thank you after our meetings.

Additionally, I'd ask change the contract to make quadruple certain what clients want you to do with leftovers beforehand, by having them initial a box on the contract itself, since it's so contentious. There seems to be the gamut of experiences and desires on this thread alone. I, for one, would never want the leftovers, as I don't have room to store it before it'd go bad. I'd explain that it's because takeout containers or donating (gas to an outlet) would add an expense. Maybe you could offer three choices, throw it out, donate (and maybe even get a receipt for taxes), or add 1% (or whatever you deem reasonable) for take away. Money incentievs should get their attention.

My caterers never allow the food out past legal standards and it's something we've been told time and again. It's prefaced with, "Have all your guests eaten? I need to put the food away." Legal standards are legal for your protection and theirs. Just stand behind it or a lawsuit could ensue. Most people will understand. We always do.

Don't let it discourage you, just tweak it a bit. Good luck on your project!

I was asked to write up the contract and so I specified the time based on what I was told for how long the "class" was, and I made sure I addressed the time frame when the food would be served, my personal time on the site, what items and how much would be provided ( like 2 gallons of pasta salad, 36 brownies, etc) and that I would dispose of any leftovers. I sent the one-page contract to the committee chairperson a week ahead of time so he'd have a chance to look it over. When we met at the school to sign the contract, I asked if there were any question about the contract or anything in general. I was told it looked fine, and no questions.

From what I understood with the feedback, everyone who attended was told that they would get leftovers to take home and complained to the committee people that they did not get food to take home. That was someone else's mistake for misspeaking.

One of my catering friends told me today that he always has a clause in his contracts that addresses leftovers, that he either disposes of them, or that he accepts no liability for them once he vacates the venue, or something like that. wish I had known that before. Sometimes, he says, people bring leftovers home but forget them in the car, and then, because it was overnight and it was "cold", they think the food had been *refrigerated * so they thought it was okay to eat so they ate it and got sick, of course, and blamed the caterer for ptomaine poisoning.

I bought the food on my credit card, and was paid by check for the food, my time, plates, napkins etc.

I like Rob333s idea about having people initial a box on the contract itself.

Thank you all for your responses.
Snugs