Full Set-up Buffet, Mini Buffet, minimum pax, there seems to be an awful lot of jargon when it comes to ordering catering doesn't it? And not to mention all the additional costs like delivery fee, city surcharges and service charges.
We know that it can sometimes be confusing to find that perfect catering menu and get through the ordering process. To give you a hand, we’ve compiled a list of 8 most confounding catering terms and put them in the simplest terms.
1. What is a Full Set-up Buffet or Full Buffet?
In layman terms:
Food warmers on a table with table cloth. Basically, a buffet line that resembles what you see when you go to a hotel buffet restaurant.
Things you probably didn't know:
- If you order a larger quantity, say 100 pax and above, the caterer may need to do a pre-setup at your venue. This means that they bring in their tables, skirting, decor and empty buffer warmers to your venue and have them all displayed the day before. They can then focus on transporting and displaying your food on the day of your event.
- Caterers usually need to set up your full set-up buffet near a power point as curries and soups are presented in pots that sit on electric cookers. Caterers may also like to place your deep-fried dishes under heat lamps for the optimum crunch!
- It's also good to let us know if there are steps leading up to your buffet line venue as it really slows the caterer down. Caterers typically need to arrange for extra manpower, and will need to schedule in extra time. There may also be a staircase fee, or 'no lift landing' charge.
2. What is a Mini Buffet or Drop-off Buffet?
In layman terms:
Food in disposable trays. Ie, a very big dabao (takeaway). You often see mini buffets packed in either aluminum trays or large black plastic trays with transparent lids.
Things you probably didn't know:
- While this is a big dabao after all, what differentiates the mini buffet from a Deliveroo or Grabfood order is the caterer will provide everything you need for your party. That's tongs, serving spoons, disposable cutlery, plates, napkins, and even a disposable table cover! The best part is you get to keep them all.
- The mini buffet can sometimes be confused with the 'party set'. A party set typically is for a fixed number of pax. Eg, a party set may contain a fixed menu and be for 10 pax only. You can't order for 12 pax. Instead, you'd have to order 2 x 10 pax party sets. With a mini buffet, you have the flexibility of choosing multiple dishes from a series of different courses, and also the exact number of pax you'd like to order for. However, party sets tend to be more affordable than mini buffets since their menus are fixed and give the caterer more economies of scale.
3. What is the Per Pax Price?
In layman terms:
This is like going to the movies - you have to buy a ticket for each person who comes. The per pax price typically applies to full buffet and mini buffet menus. Other menus such as party sets may be priced as a package price, eg $300 for a 10 pax set.
Things you probably didn't know:
- Most caterers have this type of pricing so that you can flexibly add-on a couple of extra head counts up till a couple of days before your event. That's usually when your RSVP numbers become more certain.
- Most caterers do consider a slight 5% buffer of extra food when they price per pax. But please do not count on this buffer if you expect your guests to be hungry!
4. What is the Minimum Pax?
In layman terms:
This is also sometimes referred to as the MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) or MOQFD (Minimum Order Quantity of Food). The minimum order in terms of the number of guests. Foodpanda or GrabFood might have minimum orders in terms of dollar value, eg $10. But caterers typically have a minimum pax since they are charging a per pax price.
Things you probably didn't know:
- It all boils down to simple math. Every caterer has a minimum order value. For example, they may require a minimum order of $500 for full buffets. If a full buffet menu is priced at $10 per pax, then the minimum pax would have to be 50 pax in order to meet the minimum order value. Hence, the lower the minimum pax, the higher the per pax price.
- Some caterers allow the flexibility of paying a small per pax surcharge if you're going under the minimum pax. This helps them make up for the shortfall in minimum order value.
5. Why is the City Surcharge
In layman terms:
Caterers need to pass on fees to you because going into the city means that they get charged for ERP and really steep parking fees.
Things you probably didn't know:
- Everyone knows how many times their IU beeps when they drive into the city, or how exorbitant it is to park at Raffles Place. It's also an incredibly slow drive through the narrow city streets all through the day. That's why a $10-20 additional city surcharge is usually required for these congested areas.
- Loading bay parking fees are typically higher than public parking fees in office buildings and malls 😱
- It can take up to 30 minutes just to secure a parking lot in the loading bay, get security clearance and access the loading bay lift. More man hours spent usually translate into higher prices.
6. What is a Live Station / Pop Up Stall?
In layman terms:
A chef cooking for you live at your venue. Think, Marché and it's little stalls, but setup at your venue instead.
Things you probably didn't know:
- Adding a live station to your order usually entails two costs - a fee for the chef, which is usually charged based on a per hour basis, and a per pax fee for the food.
For example, Penang Culture Catering's famous Assam Laksa live station costs $150 for a chef to cook at your venue for 2 hours, and $6.60 per pax for the Assam Laksa itself.
7. What is a DIY Station?
In layman terms:
Assemble your own dish. That's hands-on, interactive fun for your guests!
Things you probably didn't know:
DIY stations usually consist of 6-8 elements which your guests need to put together. For example, at the Tambuah Mas Catering Mee Soto DIY Station, guests have to blanche their noodles, then add chicken, several condiments, and the soup to their bowl. This means that it might be a challenge for a very large group (say 300?) to do this smoothly and quickly.
For large events, you can consider simpler DIY stations like the Penang Culture Catering Rojak DIY Station - it's just a matter of tossing ingredients into a mixing bowl.
8. What is Canapé Catering or Cocktail Catering?
In layman terms:
Bite-sized, pretty morsels of food that's passed around by a server.
Things you probably didn't know:
Due to the fragile nature of canapés, a plating chef is required on-site for all of Catersmith's canapé catering events. This ensures that every bite looks as good as it tastes!
9. Why is there a Catering Service Charge?
In layman terms:
A 5 - 10% additional fee that's levied on the per pax price or per item price. Some caterers apply a 10% service charge on buffet orders and 5% service charge on mini buffet or bento box orders where there is no setup of equipment.
Things you probably didn't know:
Lots of us may question what sort of service has been rendered to justify the 5-10% service fee. In general, most caterers will attribute rising costs of labour and consumables to this fee. Some of the caterers with Catersmith that charge this fee include:
10. What is a Plated Lunch / Dinner?
In layman terms:
Food that is plated at your venue. The food may be cooked on-site, or cooked and transported to your venue in transport containers. It is then typically plated on non-disposable dining ware and served to your seated guests individually. This format of catering is most popularly ordered for high end or VIP sit-down events.
Things you probably didn't know:
Plated meals usually require heaps of manpower on site for cooking of food (if cooking is done at your venue), plating of food and serving of food and drinks to your guests. Manpower is usually charged by the hour, with a minimum of 4 hours per booking, for example. You will typically need to rent banquet tables and chairs if your venue doesn't already come furnished. Plated lunches and dinners can also be quite expensive, so do ensure that your budget is in excess of $50/pax!
Want more recommendations? Get a quote on our catering support page or search for catering menu options on our search food page.
