Got a catering gig cooking for a Colombian family.

8 years ago

I just accepted this catering gig that my neighbor hired me for. It’s for a wedding with a predominantly Colombian family and I’m not sure what to prepare. I’m totally unfamiliar with their native cuisine and I don’t know of any restricted food ingredients that they might have. To add fuel to the fire, my neighbor told me that the Colombian women in her family are really critical, especially when it comes to food and cooking. Now I feel really nervous. To anyone who has ever been in a similar situation, I need your help!

Featured Answer

plllog

8 years ago

Talk.

I mean it.

First check with the person who will be paying you to make sure if you've been hired to make Colombian food. Maybe the Colombian family want to eat prime rib and baked potatoes. Ask the client what cultural restrictions there are and what kind of menu items are wanted. Ask if there are any foods traditional to Colombian weddings that you should include. Prepare some sample menus to offer to the client--make sure to cost out the ingredients and make sure they're dishes you can produce in quantity all at once.

If you're told that you need to make Colombian food but can get no further guidance, ask the neighbor who hired you to put you in contact with the critical women, even if they don't cook. Ask those women what kinds of dishes they like to eat and that they think are appropriate to a family wedding. Don't promise to make any particular dish. Don't show off your cooking knowledge. If they offer recipes accept. When they tell you about a particular dish they like, ask what the most important thing is. Like with Persian stews, the crunchy rice is the defining factor even though it's not the actual stew. Don't develop a menu with them. Answer with words like "thank-you" and "this is a great help" and "I'm beginning to understand", but make no commitments. Say you're just trying to get a feeling for Colombian food. Take the information and compare it to what you can learn from web searches and cookbooks. Then make some tests of recipes, cost it out, and present a sample menu to the client.

Remember that some people don't eat meat, some don't eat dairy, some don't eat gluten, etc. Wedding menus are usually boring just because they have to account for all these people. Frozen ravioli from the catering supply are not an acceptable vegetarian option. A vegan protein (not quinoa salad!) is always a good option to have in your pocket. Most weddings have a beef option and a chicken or fish option. Ask the client.

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Comments (16)

nancyjane_gardener
8 years ago
Maybe you should ask the family what they would like and work from there? Good luck and keep us posted!
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Islay Corbel
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It sounds like you have no experience in catering. Are you sure you want to start with a wedding? It's not something you can get wrong!
laceyvail 6A, WV
8 years ago
My cousin's daughter hired a caterer for her wedding who completely ruined it. He fussed for hours over each plate, and many tables still didn't have food after 3 hours. Vegetarians (the groom's side were Indian --from India) and were served food with meat. It was a complete disaster. Many people had to leave without ever having been served.
fawnridge (Ricky)
8 years ago
If you are catering the entire event and you've never done this before, you should find some way to gracefully bow out. (Google "Colombian neck tie"). However, if you have catering experience and that is not the issue, then search the web for TV episodes of Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmren. They have both been to Colombia and as I recall, there were dozens of indigenous dishes described in detail.
2ManyDiversions
8 years ago
Aiden, you've been given excellent advice from everyone. It does sound like this is your first event. It also sounds like you've been give something of a 'warning' about overly critical guests. As someone who once semi-casually baked somewhat extravagant-to-them pastries for friends and acquaintances special occasions (far easier than catering several dishes), this is not something to take lightly. I'd never offer to cater or cook something I didn't already have a lot of good experience under my belt. Bow out if this is something you feel you might not be able to pull off with success.
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
8 years ago
You did not mention key details like how many guests, etc. 99.9% of weddings I've been involved in and as a guest, the wedding party, bride/groom/parents/planner, etc, have discussions and a sit down about what they want and expect.

25-30 people maybe possible. Well under 50. Very traditional celebratory dishes in most cultures that are often 'expected'.

If you have no assistance with menu ideas and a practice run that they taste and approve....I would not touch the job.
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
8 years ago
Update?
plllog
8 years ago
Probably scared off by everyone telling him not to do it.
Jay 6a Chicago
8 years ago
Youtube has videos about Colombian food if one would like an idea about what one would be working with.
fawnridge (Ricky)
7 years ago
Spammer above
User
7 years ago
Yep it is hitting everything posted in Cooking. If they think I would EVER subscribe to their junk site, they are VERY crazy. Flagging every post I can!
2ManyDiversions
7 years ago
Wondered who flagged the spammer so fast - thank you Sherry! I've got a mailbox full of posts they've hit.
User
7 years ago
Ya know, one or two that really related to the post MIGHT be okay, but they don't care, they are just spamming anything and everything. Whoever, is not reading the post, they are just going for the most. A site like that is NOT what I am interested in at all!
foodonastump
7 years ago
Funny thing is this thread itself, as several other Colombian threads of that time, were kind of spammy. So spam got spammed.
bragu_DSM 5
7 years ago
This turned up several other places too ... like a smoking/grilling forum

Got a catering gig cooking for a Colombian family.

plllog

Comments (16)

nancyjane_gardener

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