Article created & provided bhy Chef Crusco Catering in Austin, Texas
Short Answer: It Depends
Long and Thoughtful Answer: We are not a one size fits all catering and private chef business. Our fees truly depend upon what the client needs. For example, some clients just want food dropped off with no service. Other clients want a 9 course dinner with rentals, chefs, bartenders and servers. It is easy to see that the former is a simple fee while the latter depends upon a lot more variables. We want to keep it simple for everyone so here is a quick breakdown of our Four Main Services:
- Drop Off Service (NO Staff/Food Drop Off Only)
- Party platters range $60-$75/person (Menu dependent)
- Minimum $800/Event
- Multiple Servings/Course
- Includes plates, utensils, napkins
- Delivery Fee is $30 (if within 30 mile radius from Austin)
2. Tapas & Appetizer Parties (NOT Plated/NOT Seated)
- 4-7 Courses range $80-135/person (Menu dependent)
- Minimum $1000/Event
- Multiple Servings/Course
- 1 staff required for 4 or more people
- Staff fee is separate at $25/hr.
- Staff available for Bartending (TABC Cert), Set up, Food/Wine Service & Kitchen/Plate Clean up
3. Prix-Fixe Dinners & Cooking Classes (Plated & Seated)
- 4 Courses range $150-160/person (Menu dependent)
- Minimum $1000/Event
- 1 staff required for 4 or more people
- Staff fee is separate at $25/hr.
- Staff available for Bartending (TABC Cert), Set up, Food/Wine Service & Kitchen/Plate Clean up
Customer Specific Dinners (Plated & Seated)
- 5-9 courses starts at $200/person (Menu Dependent)
- Minimum $1600/Event
- Staff required for 4 or more people
- Staff fee is separate at $25/hr.
- Staff available for Bartending (TABC Cert), Set up, Food/Wine Service & Kitchen/Plate Clean up
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As you can see there are price ranges, minimum amounts and specific requirements involved.
Please let me explain what these all mean:
Price Ranges: This range is dependent upon the guest count, number of courses and mainly the types of foods. Three courses of salad, chicken, vegetables and dessert will be on the low end. Six Courses of seafood, steaks and other expensive ingredients will be on the high end.
Minimum amounts: These minimums are in place for cost effectiveness purposes. Most people understandably do not know what it takes to put a team of hard working people together to go to an unknown location, take over a kitchen and flawlessly execute a 5 course dinner for 20 food savvy customers. Let me be clear: it is a lot of work. It requires attention to detail, planning, organizing, emails, calls, invoices, ingredient sourcing and prepping, communication and impeccable execution. All of this means a lot of time is spent on our customers thereby requiring us to have a minimum amount in place to justify that.
Requirements: These include staff fees, driving fees and deposits. We require a server for dinner of 4 or more people so that we can maintain the level of customer service we pride ourselves on. Driving fees are set in place for events we do outside the greater Austin area. We must be able to pay our staff both for their gas and time spent driving to events. Our 25% Deposits are in place to simply finalize reservations. It allows our business to take the date off the calendar and reserve it for the paying customer.
We hope the information provided above helps you make a more informed decision for your next event. We are optimistic that by being transparent and providing this level of detailed content, you will more likely consider Chef Crusco Catering for any and all of your events! And at the very least provide us the opportunity to earn your business…
