WHAT MOST CATERERS DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW AND HOPE YOU NEVER ASK!!
How many people can each tray of your food feed?
When you request pricing by "tray" from a caterer, especially when receiving a phone quote, they NEVER specify what size tray the price quote is for. Quoting "Small" or "Large" can be VERY misleading.
Though the quality of the food should be first priority, it is important to know how much you are getting, in order to truly do price comparisons, or to know if you have enough food, and to get the best overall value.
A "large tray" from one caterer can hold significantly less than from another, and you may very well end up with a party-planners worst nightmare, running out of food at your party!
There are standard half size and full size trays, made to fit into wire or stainless steel chafing dishes. They come in three depths, shallow, medium and deep.
There is a big difference in how much food each one of these sizes can hold. On the average, each depth holds 33% less than the other, but can be manipulated to hold even less or more!
What time can I pick up my order or do you deliver?
Many restaurants that include catering as part of their services treat it as part of the regular business operation.
This means that if the restaurant happens to be busy when you show up to pick up your order, you might find yourself getting REAL impatient because your order isn't ready, but your guests ARE!
Delivery is even more of a gamble, because your party start time may coincide with the restaurant s busiest time and you may
find your delivery time suddenly changed without notice due to the lack of availablity of the cook/s or delivery person to get your order out.
Keep in mind that pick-up or deliveries between 4pm and 7pm is prime time for this disaster to take place.
Ripe's catered items are available for pickup between 2pm-10:30pm Tues-Thursday & Sunday, and between 2pm-12:30am Friday & Saturdays.
Simply specify your pickup date & time with your order, and whether you would like it HOT or COLD (for later re-heating), and we will have it ready for you at your specified time.
Special arrangements can be made for EARLIER pick-up times and for DELIVERY, depending on the date, time and address of your event.
These are a few of our key clients who depend on us for catering services:
Potato Wedges Roasted with Parmesan, Garlic and Spices
Vegetable Samosas$110
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes $105
This silky puree is so good you don't need gravy
Herb-Roasted Vegetables $105
Fresh thyme, olive oil and sea salt is what makes this Yellow and Green Squash,
Japanese Eggplant, Tomato and onion medley so good
Roasted Yucca Bites (yams) $105
Steeped in a salt water brine, then roasted with a garlic cilantro oil.
This comes from the influence of the Spanish speaking Islands in the Caribbean.
Orders placed less than 5 days prior to event are subject to product availability and must be paid in full at the time of order placement.
If you are requesting information about an "on-premise" event, please specify the date and time slot you are requesting and the number in your party. Ripe can accommodate up to 30 people seated in our dining room. We have many bar options available.
A $75 NON-refundable deposit is required to book and hold a date, which is credited to your total invoice. An additional 50% depositis required upon order placement, with the balance to be paid 48 hours prior to event for all on-premise catered events. The 50% Deposit is refundable up to 15 days prior to your event date, after which there are no refunds. Ripe is closed on Mondays.
Don't forget to join our VIP mailing list for information on catering specials & discounts, and for all upcoming events, etc.
ANSWERS TO MOST CATERING QUESTIONS:
Exactly how much food does it take to feed an army?
That is a question that haunts even the most experienced dinner party entertainer!
We are here to help you plan the right amount of food to serve at your next get-together, whether you are serving two people or 200! (we limit our catering to 200 people maximum)
Feeding a lot of people does not have to be hard; It only takes some planning and a little confidence!
Ripe is here to arm you with that confidence.
We do it EVERYDAY!
Remember to relax and enjoy the process -don't stress too much - guests do not expect you to make everything like an experienced culinary professional, and anything you feel should be cooked professionally, Ripe is here to do it for you!
Opt for a Buffet Line
The easiest and most simple way to feed guests is with a buffet line. A general rule is that everyone will not eat everything. People normally will eat more starches and meats than vegetables and anything fried will be the first to go!
Going through a buffet line can make people feel the pressure of others behind them, so they move along quickly and won't take huge quantities the first time through.
Using special sized plates with give a subtle hint as to how much you expect each guest to take per trip to the buffet line.
People generally consume more at parties that begin around dinner time. They consume significantly less the farther past dinner time your event begins.
Remember that it is much more preferable to have leftovers than a meager spread at your buffet table
ICE, ICE, ICE,
One of the most important considerations, and the one most likely overlooked at parties is ice. A drink just plain “sucks” when it’s not chilled with a few cubes, and can really bring your party to a halt, especially on a hot July afternoon.
We never seem to miss it until it’s all gone! You can never have too much ice!
RELAX
Throwing a successful dinner party does not have to throw you into a cardiac arrest! Just have fun, relax, and enjoy the time with your many guests - they will remember the fun and fellowship much longer than they will remember the menu.
