If you're looking to have food catered for a special event, you can't go wrong with barbecue. After all, BBQ food tends to be affordable--and who doesn't love it? From burgers and hot dogs to brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, you've got some great options that are sure to please for just about any event. Before you book with just any BBQ catering company, however, there are some questions worth asking.

Do You Have Vegetarian Options Available?

First of all, consider any special diets people in your group may have. Meats are staples of barbecue food, but any well rounded catering company should have some vegetarian and possibly even gluten-free options available to suit less conventional diets. 

Are Paper Goods Included With Catering?

It's also important to find out what kind of cutlery and other dinnerware will be included (if any) with your catering package. Some catering companies will go all out and bring in their own dishes, glasses, and silverware. However, most will either bring disposable ware or may even ask you to provide your own.

When are Final Head Counts Needed?

To make sure there's plenty of food to go around at your event, your catering company will probably need a final head count by a certain date before your event. This is especially important for individual food items, such as burgers, steaks, and other cuts of meat of which there may not be extras. Be sure to find out when your final head count will be due.

Do You Offer Full-Service and Self-Serve Options?

Depending on your specific catering needs, some BBQ catering companies may offer anything from self-serve to full-service catering. If you're looking for the most budget-friendly choice, self-serve would allow you to have the food dropped off. From there, you'd be the one to handle the serving and cleaning up of the food. If this seems like too much work, find a company that offers a full-service catering option with set-up, wait staff, and clean-up.

How Do You Keep the Food Warm During Transport?

Finally, because BBQ meats and other items can quickly spoil if not kept at idea temperatures, it's important that you find how your caterer will keep food warm during transport to your event venue. Most will have "hot box" systems in place to keep food at a controlled temperature, but you should find out before you decide to sign any contracts.

If you're thinking of hiring a BBQ catering service, start looking into local options, such as Bassett Caterers, to see which might work for you.

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