Fixed Day Tastings

It is a way of life for many clients: “We wish to taste your food before we make a decision.” Caterers have different views on the question of allowing buyers to have tastings. Some believe that it’s okay for all potential buyers to have a tasting. Others believe that only buyers who have given a deposit are eligible for a tasting. Still others have their unique rules of when to permit tastings.

One solution is the fixed-day tasting. This has proven to be very successful for both on- and off-premise caterers. The caterer sets aside two, three or more days a month to hold group tastings for prospective buyers, or for those who already have given deposits.

Scheduling a tasting for a single buyer, even with a large committee or family, is filled with problems. It’s often difficult to capture the same taste when cooking food for two or three people. The energy during the tasting is usually one of non-excitement. With a fixed-day tasting, a variety of buyers are invited in for a group tasting of your latest and best menu items. 

You can offer buffet, station, or plate-served samples. With a group tasting, a “buyer frenzy” may be established when a variety of strangers, all with a common goal, begin “ooohing” and “aaahing” your food. However, problems may be created if tasters are negative. 

“Yes, we do offer tastings Mrs. Smith. However, we do them in a very special way. We discovered a long time ago, that giving tastings to just a few people didn’t allow our culinary team to shine, since all our recipes are for larger groups.

“Now we offer group tastings three times each month. These tastings usually have between fifteen and thirty people, who, like yourself, need to decide on their menu. The group tasting lets our culinary team offer an incredible range of menu items for all to try.

“This month we can offer you a group tasting on Saturday, the 10th at noon, or Wednesday evening the 14th at 6:30, or Tuesday morning the 20th at 10:30. Which of these tasting times is best for you?”