Special events require special needs and the San Francisco Bay Area offers a wide variety of services for just about every event imaginable. From birthday parties to lavish corporate gatherings and office luncheons, catering companies do everything from food delivery to full-event planning. Designing unique menus that invigorate the palate is no longer a welcomed surprise in meetings, but an expected privilege.

San Francisco Bay Area caterers represent a smorgasbord of cuisines: Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Latin, French, German, Greek and Irish – the list goes on. With the variety of culinary skills offered in the region, there is no shortage of good food to match a particular event. Caterers also honor special requirements, providing special dietary plates for diabetics, vegetarians and others with special needs.

Hotel chains and independent caterers recognize that people have become more educated about their food. These well-versed, global consumers are challenging caterers to be more experimental in their selections. Caterers are now offering more ethnic diversity in menus and are creating more eye-popping arrangements. Multi-national menus are crucial to today’s diverse population.

Choosing a caterer can be a daunting task for meeting and event planners. Even with the endless possibilities available in the Bay Area, finding a caterer that meets the needs of a specific event can be a source of stress. The following steps should be taken when in search of a caterer:

• Determine a list of caterers based upon the needs of the event. Be sure to take the kind of food desired, the location of the event and any special needs into account.
• Request a cuisine sample from each caterer or make arrangements to attend an event they are catering.
• Narrow the catering list down to three and discuss preliminary budget and menu expectations. Provide each caterer with an approximate headcount and ask them to develop a sample menu for the proposed budget.
• Ask each potential caterer their policies regarding guaranteed minimums, services they will provide for you, specific hours for the event and any extra costs besides food and beverages, such as table linens.
• Ask each caterer if they are insured. Find out whether the caterer is "servsafe" certified or if they carry a food manager's certificate for sanitation purposes. Ask to see their occupational license, certification and insurance documents to ensure food safety techniques are being used.
• Once you've selected a caterer, plan a meeting to work out all the details of your event, including menu and beverages and possibly facility, centerpieces, decorations and favors.
• Confirm the details regarding number of wait staff, dress-code expectations, taxes, gratuities and payment schedule.
• Contact the caterer the day before your event to check on all the details and avoid any unpleasant, last minute surprises.

Most restaurants listed in Business Meetings and More San Francisco and Northern California indicate if they provide off-site catering. A list of firms providing dining services is listed in this guide.