# Working as an Event Catering Chef for The Chef Tree

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Event catering is the business of providing food and related services, such as decorations, furnishings, and event planning. Event caterers can be hired to provide services for a wide range of functions, such as weddings, parties, banquets, conventions, bar mitzvahs, ceremonies, luncheons, dinner parties, or sporting and outdoor events. There are two main types of catered events: off-site and on-site.

## Chef Jobs

- Head Chef
- Chef De Partie
- Cook

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## Event Catering Services

### Off-site Catering

Off-site catering is a service in which the caterer will bring already-prepared dishes to the event, and may add finishing touches or final steps on location. For the most part, the food is already prepared before arrival. This type of service is best used for cold dishes and dishes that are easily transported without adverse effects. This method also complicates food safety and health issues, related to perishable transportation. Reputable caterers normally have no problem overcoming these problems with the use of insulated coolers, refrigerated vehicles, and/or portable heating and warming units.

### On-site Catering

Alternatively, on-site, or on-premise catering involves the dishes being mostly or entirely prepared and served at the specified function. While initial steps may be taken before arrival, most of the food is cooked and prepared on location. This type of catering is better suited for hot dishes, or foods that do not travel well. While there is normally a higher expense to the client, dishes such as these usually have higher quality, because they do not require to be transported or reheated.

### Extra Services

While the caterer’s main focus is on supplying, delicious, appealing dishes, quality catering services can provide a whole host of services based on the desires of the client. Often times, caterers will be required to incorporate specific themes or colour schemes. Professional caterers will often offer the option to have their staff provide complete planning, decoration, and furnishings of the event, such as table placements, floral arrangements, draperies, lighting, valet service, coat check, and other atmospheric elements. This is all in order to provide a memorable, enjoyable event.

Most catering services will provide food, buffet (if required), and food services, such as servers and bartenders, depending on the intricacies of the event. Obviously, a small luncheon will not require as many services as a large banquet. The level of services provided is completely up to the client, but experienced catering services can help you plan out and decide what will be best for your specific event.

## What skills do you need to work in event catering?

You’ll need to have experience in large-scale catering events such as weddings, banquets and parties. Event catering is often about turning out a large number of dishes that all look and taste exactly the same. Other skills needed to be successful in event catering are;

1. ### Ability to Handle Criticism

If you’ve ever stepped foot into a kitchen you know that not every dish is going to be a crowd-pleaser. Especially when starting out, aspiring chefs are going to need to know how to handle constructive criticism of their skills and their output. In addition to your instructor or senior chef’s feedback, there will always be those pesky customers not enjoying a dish or two. The ability to take and learn from criticism is a key skill for those looking to make it in the food industry.

2. ### Passion for the Culinary Arts

While it may not seem all that intuitive at first, cooking is indeed an art much like music, painting or dance. While there is also a hefty dose of science (bread making anyone?) the artistic nature of preparing a creative and unique meal certain requires a hefty dose of passion for the culinary. If you love all aspects of food from creation to consumption, you’ll do just fine on this checklist item.

3. ### Attentiveness to Detail

Despite what a certain whirling dervish of a cartoon character may have taught us about kitchen skills in our youth, food preparation requires a great deal of precision. Even the smallest details can create subtle differences in taste. A pinch too much sugar or salt can threaten the taste buds and the success of an entire dish. If you’ve got an above average attention to detail it will serve you well working with food prep.

4. ### Creativity

The greatest chefs know that the next best recipe isn’t going to be found in any existing cookbook. Being a success as a chef often involves a hefty dose of innovation and creativity. From plating to ingredients to preparation and execution, finding inspiration to put something on the plate never before experienced is a handy skill and certainly one that is a must for those looking to make it in the upper echelons of chef-dom.

5. ### Willingness to Practice

You know that old saying that your well-meaning parent harped over and over when you were young? It turns out that when it comes to a career as a chef, practice still does make perfect, or at least as close to perfection as you can get. Chefs in training must be prepared for a solid dose of failure and be willing to put in the hard work to overcome the inevitable hurdle in the road. Put practice into action and you’ll be well on your way to foodie success.

6. ### Being a Team Player

If you’re the type that fears the idea of being lonely at the top, never worry about that scenario with a career as a chef. Turning out plate after plate of quality food in any setting other than your personal kitchen requires a whole team of talented cooks, chefs, and servers working together in unison. If you’re not a people person or don’t enjoy interacting with others, you better start practicing now. Being a team player is certainly an essential part of any career in cuisine.

7. ### Having a Good Business Sense

Our last, but certainly not least, an essential skill for a career as a chef of often the most overlooked by would-be cooks. An empty restaurant or a bounced checkbook unable to pick up the shopping list can make it awfully difficult to serve up a dish of linguini. A strong business sense, with perhaps a few of those aforementioned classes focusing on economics and accounting, will be fundamental if you’re looking to strike out on your own as a chef.

You get to go to different venues, you’re not stuck in the same job endlessly, not boring. You don’t have to go back when you don’t like somewhere and there is a variety of jobs.

James Avery

Working for The Chef Tree is completely different from being a full-time chef. You choose the hours you want to do, fill in your portal, and everything is arranged around that.

Neil Roach

## What does The Chef Tree Pay for an Event Catering Chef?

Our rates are dependent on your experience but a CDP can expect to earn £14 p.h, a sous chef, £16 p.h, a Head chef, £18 p.h and an Executive chef or weekend care home chef, £20 p.h.

## What are the benefits of working for TCT?

When you join The Chef Tree you will be entitled to the following amazing benefits;

Competitive rates of pay. Our current rate for a cook is £16ph.

Our Monthly Bonus Scheme - Complete 166 hours per month (just under 38.5 hours per week) and you will receive £100 bonus. This will be paid monthly.

Our Refer a Chef scheme – If you refer a chef to us you will receive £150 when the chef completes 5 shifts. The chef you refer will receive £75 on completion of 5 shifts.

Access to our online benefit partners, Pirkx - a benefit scheme for courses, health, wellbeing, shopping and more! For more information visit www.pirkx.com

Where can you work as an Event Catering Chef?

Bristol
Cheltenham
Gloucester
Glastonbury
What our Chefs say!

I like working for The Chef Tree because of the freedom and the flexibility

Eva Kam

You get to go to different venues, you’re not stuck in the same job endlessly, not boring. You don’t have to go back when you don’t like somewhere and there is a variety of jobs.

James Avery

Working for The Chef Tree is completely different from being a full-time chef
You choose the hours you want to do, fill in your portal, and everything is
arranged around that

Neil Roach

Dont just take our word for it
Dont just take our word for it, This is what our chefs say about working for the chef tree
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