How to Properly Store Your Catering Leftovers

Posted on June 21, 2022 by cateringfft17

Catering service is an excellent and reliable asset to use for your party planning needs, so long as you choose the right company, of course. The right caterers can customize your event menus, prepare all foods and meals, plus provide a wide range of vendor procurement, food delivery, waitstaff service, and cleanup options. Professional catering is the convenient and cost-effective approach to pulling off a memorable and successful event.

But when you cater a large group, you are bound to have all sorts of leftovers. From salads and hors d’oeuvres to breads, sides, main courses, desserts, and more, catering leftovers are a food-lover’s dream. But in order to take full advantage of them all, you must know how to properly store them. Not only does proper food storage extend the life of your leftovers, allowing you to enjoy them until they are done, but is also avoids the chances of food-borne illnesses.

Continue below to learn some tips on how to store catered leftovers so that you can safely and cost-effectively feed your crew for weeks to come!

Catering Peachtree City Georgia 678-340-0510

Your Leftovers Have Value

Although you have no option but to toss out old or expired foods, it still impacts your conscience knowing that you could have prevented them from spoiling so soon. Food waste wastes more than just foods, it also wastes money, and worse, makes you feel guilty. After taking home all of the leftover catered foods from your party or event, it is in your best interest to properly store them in a timely fashion so that you can safely serve and enjoy them for as long as possible. After all, catered food is so delicious, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a single bite!

Food Storage Tips for Leftovers

According to Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, and owner of Real Nutrition NYC, the biggest error of judgement you can make when it comes to leftovers is letting them sit out for too long. She urges people to “Leave leftovers out for no more than two hours at room temperature. Otherwise, bacteria grows, which is one of the biggest causes of foodborne Illness.”

According to another expert, Angela L. Murad, RDN, wellness dietitian at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, another common mistake made with leftovers is not marking their containers with labels and dates. Furthermore, try to assign a use for them, like using leftover French fries in a morning omelet or scramble. You can also place notes out to remind you when to reheat them or use them in a recipe.

The Best Way to Store Leftover Food

All leftovers should be broken down into smaller portions and allocated evenly into airtight containers. If you do not have airtight containers, plastic bags that are tightly sealed work well. After repackaging, it is encouraged to label and date the containers for optimal organization. So, where do you store them and how long will they last there? Depending on the type of food, you may need to separate your leftovers between your fridge and freezer, while some good might even be stored in the pantry or on the shelf.

RULE OF THUMB:

Basically, if it has been cooked or cooled, it needs to be refrigerated or frozen when it becomes a leftover. Be sure your fridge is set between 36 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit. If you cannot use these items within the suggested time limit, it is recommended to freeze them. However, it is not recommended to freeze cheese or hard-boiled eggs! Breads and pastries can be transferred to a breadbox or airtight container in the pantry.

Flash Guide for Leftover Food Storage:

◘ Leafy Salads – 1 Day
◘ Creamed Salads (Egg, Chicken, Tuna, Macaroni, etc.) – 3 to 5 Days
◘ Pasta Salad – 4 to 5 Days
◘ Hard-Boiled Eggs – 1 Week
◘ Hard Cheeses – 3 to 4 Weeks
◘ Soft Cheeses – 1 Week
◘ Casseroles – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Mashed Potatoes – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Cooked Pasta (No Sauce) – 2 to 3 Days
◘ Gravy & Sauces – 1 Week
◘ Pizza – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Cooked Seafood – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Vegetarian Rice and Pasta Dishes – 3 to 5 Days
◘ Steaks, Pork & Chicken – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Soups and Stews – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Cooked Vegetables – 3 to 4 Days
◘ Cookies, Pies & Cakes – 1 Week

Are you looking for a professional and experienced catering company to help make your upcoming event a success? Contact Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for trusted Peachtree City GA catering that delivers above and beyond your expectations. We also help with décor, themes, vendors, and more! Request a consultation, today.

Georgia Catering FAQS You Want to Know for 2021

Posted on December 28, 2020 by cateringfft17

With any important party or special occasion, professional catering can impressively boost the theme and ambience for your guests and guest of honor. Whether it is a birthday, graduation, Bat Mitzvah, or other type of celebration, hiring a skilled catering company can be extremely beneficial for the host. But with all the ambiguous scheduling conflicts and CDC guidelines that are continuing to influence our Georgia event and party planning, how can you really know if professional catering is the right choice for your upcoming and anticipated affair next year?

If you are still unsure whether or not catering is right for your 2021 event, continue reading to review some frequently asked questions that have recently arisen over the past few months to help you make a more informed decision.

2021 Georgia Catering Services — New Year Georgia Catering Services 678-340-0510

Will I Need a Caterer in 2021?

First, you must ask yourself if your particular type of event or occasion is a good fit for professional catering service. Most often, the answer is always a YES, since professional caterers can customize any type of plan or menu, whether for 8 people at a private house dinner party, or for an entire grouping of wedding guests. Furthermore, catering companies offer infinite menu ideas, themes, services, food, and more.

You can customize your catering at a professional company because they retain the ample resources and training to provide the ultimate catering experience. Whether you are looking for something intimate and small, or plan to cater for an entire football team, professional catering services can make it happen at a price that fits your planned budget.

How Much Will Catering Cost Per Head?

The total cost of catering services is unique to every client. It all depends on several factors, including guest count, menu choices, alcohol selections, bar service, and more. It also largely depends on your chosen amenities, such as your venue, décor, tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, plate ware, wait staff, tray service, delivery, cleanup, and more. Caterers often offer these services along with their food and beverage services.

On average, you can expect a small to medium-sized party to cost anywhere from $25 to $75 a head, depending on the type of catering style you choose. For example, cocktail parties with minimal food service may cost less than a large family reunion. Similarly, a buffet style service may be cheaper than a 5 course plated dinner and wait staff. The total cost really all depends on you and want you want for your party.

Should I Choose On-Site or Off-Site Catering?

When you are having your party at a venue that will also be preparing and serving the party’s food, you are paying for on-site catering, also referred to as on-premise catering. On-site catering is food preparation and service facilitated on the premises of the venue location. The opposite applies to “off-premises” catering. Off-site catering occurs when a professional food service company (your caterers), prepare the food at their own commercial kitchen headquarters, and then transfers the food to the location of your party. With the current pandemic, most catering clients in Georgia are opting for off-site catering to appease CDC guidelines for social distancing and safety.

Can I Test the Food Before I Hire a Caterer?

If a catering company tells you that you cannot test the food before hiring them as your event cater, do not consider them as an option. This is not a good sign. Any reputable and professional catering company provides food testing services for any potential clients, especially for weddings. After all, how else can you be sure the food will taste great? Just keep in mind that it is common for companies to charge a fee for this service, especially during the busy season. However, keep in mind that changing conditions due to COVID-19 might impact pre-service tastings to a certain degree.

Which Georgia Catering Company Should I Hire to Cater My Event in 2021?

Food for Thought Catering, Of Course!

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for professional special occasion catering services in Georgia and its surrounding areas, including Peachtree City, Raymond, Sharpsburg, Woodsmoke, Wood Valley Estates, Arnco Mills, Fayetteville, Whitesburg, Chattahoochee Hills, Palmetto, and more. We offer full-service catering, along with a wide selection of authentic, custom-made menus and packages, for all corporate and private events. Request a free estimate, today.

Top Advantages of Professional Catering Services

Posted on December 9, 2020 by cateringfft17

If you have an event or party to plan, it is wise to consider professional catering services to optimize the occasion in every way possible. A catering company can provide much more than just food service; they also have the skills, resources, and industry connections to deliver a much broader range of party planning assistance than one might think. From customized menus and beverage station selections, to venues, table settings, entertainment, and more, a professional catering service has everything you need to make party planning as easy as pie.

Continue reading to learn the top advantages of professional catering services, and where to find the best caterers in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Why Professional Catering is the Way to Go

Often times, planning the catering section of a party is complicated considering all the other aspects that need organized and calculated. This is the number one reason why hiring professional catering services is a highly beneficial choice for anyone throwing a big party or special event. Their expert assistance will get you through the party-organizing drama and eliminate the stress that generally accompanies it. As for the catering part of organizing a party, there is a lot to consider.

If catering on your own and without any help, you must consider menus, main courses, appetizers, beverages, desserts, cooking schedules, entrée timings, serving dishes, napkins, silverware, glassware, utensils, cooking supplies, ingredients, food allergies, tablecloths, condiments, and much more. Any of these tasks can be easily forgotten among the chaos of planning an event or party. By hiring a professional catering services, you can check all of these chores off your list because they handle it for you!

The Benefits of Hiring a Catering Service

Some catering companies only prepare the food and drop it off to you. This is a good choice for smaller parties and occasions. For larger events and celebrations, you can opt for a full-service cater that provides all of the needed catering supplies, ingredients, foodstuffs, dinnerware, wait staff, bartenders, and more! You can have one server collecting coats, while several others are cleaning, serving, and setting up during your party. And a professional bartender is a highly-esteemed privilege to have at a party. They know how to create all sorts of cocktails that taste good and look good. Just another wonderful advantage of professional catering services.

When it comes to the advantages of hiring a professional catering service, one of the most valued benefits is the assortment and professionalism of the menus and service. Most catering companies offer their food service in a variety of ways, like full-service wait staff or buffet-style serving. And they provide the tastiest meals that can be customized according to theme or preference. Not only do they have endless menus to choose from, but you can also request special dishes as well!

Atlanta Georgia Catering Services and Party Planning Assistance

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for Georgia catering services that are guaranteed to exceed your expectations for excellence! We are skilled culinary professionals who specialize in full-service catering. You can customize everything down to the very last detail, from menus and service, to themes, décor, and more. Call 678-340-0510 to request a free consultation, today!

Why You Should Hire a Catering Company for an Important Occasion

Posted on November 11, 2020 by cateringfft17

With any important or large event, catering can certainly enhance the theme and ambience for your guests. Whether it is a birthday party, wedding, or other celebration, hiring a professional catering company can be extremely beneficial for the host.

Continue reading to learn the most valuable reasons to hire a professional catering company for your event or celebration this year!

Holiday Catering Services in Georgia 678-340-0510

Organization of Catered Events

Managing meals for an event, especially a large one, can be confusing, stressful, and very time consuming. If you had to handle all of the details for the food portion of the event, you would have to quit your job in order to remain sane! This is because a professional catering company, when hired on, will handle absolutely everything as far as organizing the meal segment of the event. They will provide a pre-planned itinerary for their employees, staff, venue managers, and guests. Also, the catering company will organize all the arrangements for the menus, meal preparation, dining room set up and breakdown, and delegate to the staff and managers properly.

Professional Resources and Equipment

If you were to self-cater an event, especially for a large crowd, you would have to purchase all the necessary equipment and supplies to carry out the job successfully. Supplies and equipment could include pan carriers, silverware, dishes, hot plates, ice caddies, tablecloths, chafing dishes, cooking supplies, groceries, and more! They also have chefs and staffs that manage and work the event to serve the food smoothly and elegantly.

Assorted Menu Options

With a professional catering company, the food menu options are often times endless. On your own, you would be limited to choosing what you can cook and what is available to you for the event. A professional caterer has menus and food item options to choose from, so all you have to do is decide what food you want served from a list. The chef, staff, and company will take care of everything else.

Where to Order Custom Party and Event Catering in Newnan, GA

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for quality party and event catering in Newnan, Georgia. We offer a wide range of catering services for all industries, occasions, events, and more. Choose from our popular catering menu, or work with our catering coordinators to customize a menu according to your particular needs and interests. We can also provide assistance with décor, themes, vendors, and more! Request a free estimate, information, or advice, today!

Suggestions for Planning an Off-Site Catered Event in Georgia

Posted on September 11, 2020 by cateringfft17

To plan a successful off-site catered event, it is important to start early on and give yourself plenty of time to hammer out all the details. Although this will take some patience and a bit of finesse on your part, proper party planning is the key to a smooth and successful outcome. Continue reading to learn where to start, what to do, and how to get the best results for your catered event.

First…Decide on a Date

Setting a date is the first thing that should be on your to-do list. Once you have a date set, you can move forward with the remaining party-planning tasks. Be sure to set your date within a reasonable time; not too soon but not too far out. Give yourself a realistic amount of time to pull off a great event, while also making sure to not set it so far in advance that people become forgetful or unenthusiastic about it.

It is also important to consider seasonal factors like weather and climate. If you have your heart set on an outdoor event in Georgia, you don’t want to set the date in late November. Likewise, avoid rainy or humid seasons for outdoor events. Not only does rain and humidity affect food and beverages, it affects a long list of other things, like clothing, hair, windows, and more.

Set a Realistic Budget

Discuss what your total budget will be before planning anything else so that you and your team are on the same page in terms of finances. Knowing your budget up front helps you stick by it, and makes the selection process much easier. Let your services know what your budget is, and they can provide the options that fit best.

Select a Suitable Venue

As soon as the date is set, the very first thing you need to do is find and reserve a venue. Be sure to due ample research, and see what all the local indoor and outdoor venues have to offer in terms of location, aesthetics, packages, and amenities. Choose a place that makes sense for the size and type of the group attending. A space too small will create a cramped and hot event, and a space too large will feel empty, which can cause a disconnection among guests and make your event appear like it had a poor turn out. For a group that is elderly or handicapped, you don’t want to book your event at a place with lots of stairs, or without safety ramps, elevators, and other necessary conveniences.

Choose Your Entertainment

If you were to ask the guests, the catered food and beverages are the best part of any event. In fact, it is often the focal point of a party! For this reason, an exceptionally catered event doesn’t need much more entertaining. But if you do want to spice things up a bit, nothing will render a party more memorable than music. Hire a live band, or provide a platform for guest karaoke. You can also choose to hire a professional DJ, violinist, cellist, harp player, piano player, dueling pianos, and more, depending on the theme of your event. For events with children, bouncing houses, clowns, face painters, magicians, and exotic animals are a fun way to go.

Professional Event and Party Catering in Georgia

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for professional Georgia catering services for parties and events of all occasions and sizes. We offer a wide range of catering services for all industries, occasions, events, and more. Choose from our popular catering menu, or work with our catering coordinators to customize a menu according to your particular needs and interests. We can also aid with décor, themes, vendors, and more! Call 678-340-0510 to learn more about our Newnan catering services, or to request a free estimate, today!

Helpful Guide to Hiring a Catering Company

Posted on August 25, 2020 by cateringfft17

Do you have an upcoming event that requires careful catering and planning? If so, then you have come to the right place! Food is one of the most memorable components of any event, regardless of formality, which means it’s the most important part of planning. Continue reading to for some helpful guidance on how to hire a catering company that can deliver great service at the best cost to you.

Party Event Catering Newnan Georgia 678-340-0510

Start By Finding Real Qualified Caterers

Be sure to hire a catering company that is capable of meeting your event’s needs. See to it that your catering company can handle the expected number of guests. Go with a company that can handle the size of your event, especially if it is an extra-large one. It is important that the staffs are experienced to handle the number of guests attending the party, and can prepare and serve the food accordingly.

What You Need to Know About Catering on a Budget

Call around to various caterers and catering companies for estimates, consultations, tastings, and more. Shopping around will give you an idea of what the average cost will be to cater your event. This will help you analyze which company is giving you the best deal, as well as, filter out hidden costs, overages, and extra fees.

Guest Lists are Crucial to Catering Success

Be modest when indulging the catering company about the number of expected guests. Take your guest list and subtract twenty percent. Use the remaining eighty percent as the final confirmed guest count for the caterers. This will ensure you are not overspending on labor or service, as well as, providing an excess of food that can result as a waste of money.

Miscellaneous Catering Tips You Might Need

The service staff or waiters should be acknowledged when hiring a catering company. Do they provide waiters, or do they just serve the food? Also, discuss whether or not there are extra gratuities and taxes associated with requesting a wait staff. Also, discuss the leftovers with your catering company and the services they provide for them. Ask if boxing up the leftovers and packaging them for you is an extra cost, or an available service altogether.

Call Our Georgia Caterers for Exceptional Service!

Common Catering Mistakes That Can Easily Be Avoided

Posted on July 15, 2020 by cateringfft17

When it comes to planning a formal event, like a wedding or baby shower, there are several common catering mistakes to avoid. For occasions such as these, it is normal for the catering expenses to make up nearly half the total budget; or more! The level of investment is what makes it such a valuable part of party planning. Guests always remember and discuss the food portion of parties, so great catering can truly upgrade the pleasure and entertainment.

Continue reading to learn how to avoid common catering mistakes before planning your next special event.

Do Not Cater on Your Own

Many people think it’s a great idea to just cook the food themselves, perhaps to cater a party on a tight budget, or to impress guests with their culinary skills. Either way, both reasons will not be good enough when catering a special occasion. There are so many aspects of catering that non-professionals are not aware of, such as maintain safe food temperatures, hot plates and other catering equipment, plate ware, silverware, napkins, re-fills, cooking times, and more. All these aspects of catering are lost to the DIY type. If you plan to cater a party on your own, you can also plan to not be a part of that party because all your time will be used up cooking, cleaning, re-filling, and maintaining the food for guests.

Not only can catering your own event take up all your time and drive you mad, it is much more expensive than hiring a catering service. You must keep in mind that you will be expected to provide everything from food, serving trays, silverware, napkins, condiments, ice, drinks, alcohol, catering dishes (i.e. hot plates, cold plates, etc.), and possibly even tables and chairs. A professional catering company can provide all these things, as well as a staff, to coordinate catering responsibilities for your party. All for one inclusive price! In most cases, catering a special occasion on your own gives a party an unrefined and informal ambience. It is highly advised to always outsource professional catering services.

Keep the Menus Simple

Although you may have a well-refined palate, the guests at your event may not be so cultured. A common, but understandable, mistake people make when catering a wedding or other formal party, is choosing a menu of foods that are too sophisticated for most people’s tastes. It is understandable because a lot of people want their events to be elegant and formal, but it is still important to “cater” to everyone’s penchants for food. Also keep in mind that children might be present, and people may have food allergies.

Choosing a formal but simple menu can please everyone’s lunch, dinner, or snacking needs. Foods such as duck or quail, and roasted turnips and tamarind glaze, are a little too exotic for most people, and will go uneaten, wasting the money spent on such extravagant catering. Take in mind the general “culture” of people attending your party and use that idea to put together a menu. Keep it simple with popular fruits, vegetables, entrees, meats, appetizers, and desserts.

Hire a Skilled Company

It happens all over the country. Families hiring caterers that are not what they claim to be. Be sure to hire the right catering company that can satisfy all your catering needs. It is important that the catering company is extensively experienced and has a good reputation within the community. Read customer reviews and ask for references before hiring a catering service. Many people hire a catering service expecting certain amenities, only to find out too late that they don’t offer what they need. If you need staff, equipment, and a full service catering job, ensure that the company can offer more than just food that you have to pick up yourself. Food delivery, food maintenance, staffs, dinnerware, all the way down to the tablecloths, can be provided by a reputable and well-established catering company. Be sure you are getting what you paid for.

Professional Event Catering for All of Georgia

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for professional event catering in Newnan, Georgia. We offer a wide range of catering services for all social events, occasions, industries, and more. Choose from our popular catering menu, or work with our catering coordinators to customize a menu according to your particular needs and interests. We can also help with décor, themes, vendors, and more! Call 678-340-0510 to learn more about our Newnan catering services, or to request a free estimate, today!

Delicious Lemonade Recipes for Spring and Summer

Posted on May 14, 2018 by cateringfft17

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade! A classic saying that rings true for anyone who loves a crisp and refreshing glass of this common citrus and sugar-based beverage. Although traditionally made using lemons, sugar, and water, lemonade makes the perfect base for creating new tasty drinks. You can jazz up a glass of your own lemonade with a few nifty tricks, or an entire pitcher with great recipe ideas.

If you enjoy drinking lemonade, continue reading to learn how to make some delicious renditions that are perfect for warmer weather!

Georgia Catering Services 678-340-0510

When it comes to making anything, using premium-quality ingredients is the secret to making it great. As for lemonade, you can start from scratch using lemons, white sugar, and water, or you can work from a premade lemonade drink. This can be the lemonade you ordered with your lunch, a powdered lemonade mix, or a lemonade can. If you are interested in a lower-calorie beverage, try swapping white sugar for your favorite sugar-substitute, such as Stevia® or Splenda®.

Standard Lemonade Recipe From Scratch:

🍋 9 Lemons
🍋 1 ¾ Cup White Sugar
🍋 8 Cups Cold Water
🍋 1 Gallon Pitcher

❶ Combine 1 cup of water and 1 ¾ cups sugar in a small sauce pan and bring it to a boil. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves and a syrup is formed.

❷ Transfer the syrup mixture into a plastic container and store in the refrigerator until it has cooled down completely.

❸ Juice all of the lemons to make 1 ½ cups of juice. Remove any seeds but keep any bits of pulp.

❹ Trick of the Trade: Firmly roll the lemons between your hand and counter top before cutting them in half to juice.

❺ In your pitcher, combine your syrup, lemon juice, and the remaining 7 cups of water. Stir thoroughly and adjust water to taste.

❻ Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours. Serve over ice.

Recipes for Enhancing your Lemonade:

Bars and Restaurants

If you are out on the town, there are plenty of ways you can upgrade your standard glass of lemonade. One popular trick is to request an orange slice with your lemonade to add to citrusy profile. If you really love the flavor, you can enhance it further by squeezing two orange slices into your drink, or requesting a slash of OJ in your lemonade.

Another great restaurant trick that can make your lemonade taste even better is to request cherries. Maraschino cherry juice is a wonderful additive to lemonade, making is sweet and colorful. Kids really enjoy this trick, and best of all, it’s free!

Pitcher Recipes

After you have prepared a pitcher of classic lemonade, you can add ingredients to create a unique and delightful new lemon drink. For instance, adding fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, cinnamon sticks, or bergamot, can instantly add flavor to lemonade. Just be sure to strain before serving, especially if using rosemary.

If you are after something sweeter, one of the most beloved lemonade recipes is strawberry lemonade. Just muddle fresh cut strawberries with sugar and store in the refrigerator. Then the next day, you can add a scoop to your glass, or the whole thing to your pitcher. You can do this with other fruits too, such as raspberries, blueberries, watermelon, cherries, and oranges.

Newnan Event Catering

Food for Thought Catering 678-340-0510

Call Food for Thought Catering at 678-340-0510 for quality event catering in Newnan, Georgia and its surrounding areas like Peachtree City. We offer a wide range of catering services for all industries, occasions, events, and more. Choose from our popular catering menu, or work with our catering coordinators to customize a menu according to your particular needs and interests. We can also provide assistance with décor, themes, vendors, and more!