Frequently Asked Questions
Question
A. We can take care of everything that has to do with the food and beverages, including the menu, bar mixers and set ups,liquor & wine flights, all the equipment you'll need, plus the entire event staff. Equipment typically means linens, china, silverware, glassware, buffet, and other serving pieces, as well as cooking hardware. We offer linen, china, silverware, and glassware options to clients who want high design, as well as expert guidance on creating a stunning look for your event. For example, our stylish polycarbonate stemware is perfect for events at Villas with pools (where glassware is often not allowed.) We'll help you decide how much liquor you need and what types, especially wines. Our staff deliver, cook, and serve the food, handle the clean up associated with our work, and bartend. We love working with florists and are happy to refer you to one based upon our experience here on Vieques. Our pricing includes table top decor for buffets, garnishes for platters and plates, but when you need full scale theme or decor work you're best served by a professional event planner or decorator (with whom we'd be happy to consult.) For valet parking, specialty lighting, and power distribution you can rely on us for straight advice and coordination services as well. Most importantly, we know when you should turn to other sources for particular items. We are not event planners or bridal consultants, don't pretend to be, and aren't looking to grab more business by taking over your party. (We will happily recommend an event planner that we feel is most suited to your needs.) If something you want for your party supports the food and beverage or service aspects the odds are that we have experience in handling it. We believe our primary job is to insure a wildly successful event, so while we focus on cooking extraordinary food, beautifully presented and served, we regularly take on responsibility for other event details too. Question
A. Any event, regardless of why it's being held, has so many components that it's not easy to give a simple answer. Besides the variety of menus (hamburger or filet of beef) there are the dishes, linens, glasses, number of courses, complexity of the menu, (which determines the amount of prep time and the number of chefs we need) and the length of the party. The venue (where the event's being held) can affect the cost as some locations are easier to work than others. That being said, we know the usual costs for the different types of parties we cater. We are happy to help you better understand catering, please understand that what follows are approximate costs. With attention to detail a party may cost less (usually not by a whole lot) but can certainly cost more if you have a big wish list. These estimated costs include:
This would be for a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hour reception that is not intended to replace dinner. Dinner Parties: $40-$120. Seated or Buffet, including hors d'oeuvre, 4 hours of service, may include liquor Wedding Receptions: $50-$160. Seated or Buffet, including hors d'oeuvre, 6 hours of service, may include liquor Spending less doesn't mean one leaves the party hungry or that we scrimp on ingredients. We won't compromise the essential elements of your party: enough great food to satisfy you and your guests, stylish presentation, and sufficient staffing. With Aguacate the lower price range still includes handmade food by the same chefs who make all our food (no second tier chefs are in our employ)and the same quality staff, but may include simpler equipment choices, a less elaborate menu that needs fewer staff, or maybe a venue that doesn't require a lot of basic equipment (like your house, when you don't need tables, chairs, and linen for each guest.) Conversely, the upper range may reflect a party site that needs more equipment. Of course it may also include a more extensive menu, specialty linens, stemware, or silverware, or heavier staffing levels. Yes, it's possible to spend more and to see the difference. Question At these prices I could go to a restaurant! Why should off- premise catering be more expensive than a restaurant? A. Well, essentially we create and bring a restaurant to you, for one meal, once! Regardless of how clever we may be it's not possible to do this for less than a stationary restaurant that's open 6 or 7 days a week. Besides having real chefs and wait staff working for us we have an aspect of our business that's all too similar to a moving company; we have to plot routes to get to your party, figure in travel time and traffic, and maintain a fleet of vehicles. None of these costs are carried by restaurants. Restaurants and caterers both feed guests, other than that our businesses are quite different. Furthermore, we don't hustle you out because we want to seat someone else at your table! An off-premise event has your signature written all over it in ways that a restaurant meal never can. Question We have sophisticated palates. Can You accomodate us? A.
specific dishes upon request and we have successfully catered Vegan Dinner Parties, Puerto Rican - Swiss, Indian - Jewish, Japanese - Ukrainian & Korean weddings! Question Our event is scheduled to go until 11:00 P.M. What happens if we want to go a little longer? A. No Problem. Our pricing to you includes service until a predetermined time and the supervisors know to check with you 30 minutes or so before the scheduled finish time to see if you are okay with closing down the party at your original time. If you choose to extend the party we'll say "great" and bill you in 1/2 hour increments. Regardless, linens will not be snapped off the tables at 11:01 P.M. While we can occasionally send home a staff person or 2, more often than not we need our full crew to stay to the end since the breakdown is just as large at 11:30 as it would have been at 11:00. Question May we keep the left over food ? A. Our insurance agent and lawyer both tell us that it's dangerous for us to leave food behind since we concede control over how and when it's served once we are gone. (This can get even trickier with food that has been out on a buffet for a length of time.) On the other hand, we don't want our clients, basking in the afterglow of a delightful party, left hungry with nothing to eat! So we make an effort to pack up those left overs that we're comfortable with leaving for you from a safety aspect. Clients who order food a la carte from one of our delivery menus get every last morsel of food they ordered . They can pack it away carefully into their own refrigerators if it isn't all eaten! Question How are your staff dressed? A. For home parties and other, less formal events our floor staff wears black or white polo shirts and black or khaki trousers. The uniform for more formal evening events is a black shirt and black trousers. Chefs wear chef whites. Question Can I pay with a credit card? A.Yes, with PayPal on our website. Question When do you need my final guest count? A. We need a guaranteed count one week before your event. In the ensuing week that number may increase but not decrease. Question When is my bill due? A. Private clients' invoices should be paid in full seven days prior to the day of the event. If there are additional charges that come up during your party we're happy to bill you after the event. |
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