This year hasn’t exactly been kind to our social calendars, but as we landslide into the months of November and December, one thing is for sure, Kiwis are making up for lost time now.
If there’s one man that can vouch for this, it’s Peter Stewart, director of Grey Lynn based catering company, The Cater Station.
When asked about his business, Pete sounds optimistic about the upcoming silly season.
“Honestly, we didn’t really know what was going to happen with catering given the restrictions around gatherings until recently. With a team of five employees, I was nervous about how people would ease back into parties once we got into level one. But there have been some great signs with a surge back into normal ordering patterns, which is awesome.”
You might even be thinking about throwing your own get-together this summer and catering might be an option for some. If that’s you, go ahead and check out The Cater Station online. For others who want to DIY an epic spread of their own and are keen to play chef at the next summer soiree, Pete has let us in on a few trade secrets to help us up our food prep game.
He suggests trying out something new, or preparing something that you personally really enjoy. “Gone are the days of sausage rolls and club sandwiches. People love individuality. We’ve all had some extra time to experiment in our kitchens recently, so why not show off your new skills.”
Coming from a social family himself, and with a mother who is notorious for over-catering, Pete also suggests that consideration be given to food portions to ensure you don’t blow the budget.
“I can’t tell you how many times I have spent twice what I was meant to because I didn’t take the time to plan, and I own a catering business!” he laughs. “Be item specific”, says Pete. “Salads, roast veges, breads and BBQ’d meats are great, but it’s a lot of work, a lot of dishes and a lot of leftovers.
Pick a food item and run with it. Throw a taco party, a burger party or a whatever-tickles-your-fancy party, and focus on the toppings.
Supply the elements for a build-it-yourself spread, and let the crew create their own burger, dog, sliders or whatever. This way, you’ll have more time to mingle with the crowd, and the prep stress and clean up afterward will be halved.” Lastly, Pete reckons it’s a great idea to shop local where possible and makes an effort to shop local when purchasing produce and supplies for The Cater Station and his new business, Bake n’ Break.
“It’s a great idea to shop local. When you shop local, not only are you supporting local businesses, you’re typically going to be shopping ‘in season’ too. This means that the food you’re using is going to be the freshest and tastiest - all the better for preparing delicious food with.” So there you have it; a few tasty tips from a local catering pro, guaranteed to make hosting your next shindig just a little bit easier.
Should you get to the eleventh hour and you haven’t quite got your party fodder sorted however, rest assured The Cater Station is on hand to help feed your crew.
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