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San Diego Wedding Catering | 5 Tips

When searching for a San Diego wedding catering company, there are many aspects to consider. We’re here to help you make an informed decision! We feel that choosing a wedding caterer should be the most fun part of the whole planning process. When evaluating wedding caterers, here are five factors to keep in mind:

1. Experience

Like many other industries, a lot of what you’re paying for is experience. You can tell a lot about a catering company by the length of time they have been around. Take note of how many years the company has been in business, and which venues they work at regularly. This will help give a sense of their place in the industry. There is a respect of industry peers that can only come with time.

Also, a San Diego wedding catering company that has been around for several years will likely be familiar with your specific scenario for your event. They will be able to anticipate your questions, and propose solutions you may not have considered. The more knowledgeable the company, the more seamless the event will be.

2. Creativity of the San Diego Wedding Catering Company

The wedding menu is one way to make your event stand out and be memorable. When evaluating a catering company, consider how creative they are in their approach. Is there care in the presentation? Are seasonal ingredients used in interesting ways? Are classic menu items given a signature twist? These are all things to observe and notate.
One way to get a sense of the creativity is photos. Browse galleries of past events, and you will quickly see the company’s style and presentation If your San Diego wedding will include buffet tables and tray passed hors d’oeuvres, ask to see examples. Based on what was done in the past, you’ll understand more about how the catering company will come through for you. Especially relevant are events like yours, such as at your venue, or with a similar setup as you will have.

3. Enjoyment

When you talk with a catering company, or meet in person, see if they love what they do. Is there a passion for cuisine, and for making guests happy? Ask yourself if the catering company truly enjoys their work. Furthermore, see if they have initial ideas for you that will make your event better than you envisioned. If there is a positive energy and you walk away impressed, it’s a pretty safe bet that you are in good hands.

4. Reviews

We’ve talked about finding a catering company that’s well regarded by industry peers. Additionally, it’s important to know what past clients think. Online reviews are a helpful way of determining quality. Websites like The Knot, WeddingWire, and Yelp all feature verified reviews by actual clients. Check out many San Diego wedding catering company reviews. Read beyond the star rating and see what people have to say about their experiences. They may offer helpful tips and suggestions, such as a particularly awesome menu item or dessert to request. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions based on reviews you have read.

5. Delicious Food

It may sound like a given, but make sure the food is delicious! Consider that in addition to talent and expertise, you are paying for quality ingredients. If a price is super appealing but the food doesn’t measure up, it’s likely not worth the savings 🙂 However, if exceptional food is a priority for your wedding, then a respected caterer is worth every penny. That way, your guests will leave happy and satisfied!

In conclusion, we hope this helps you select your San Diego wedding catering company! With over 30 years in the catering industry, we are prepared for all scenarios, and lots of ideas to make your wedding amazing. We’d love to talk over your upcoming event and how we can give it that “Personal Touch” 🙂

Corporate Catering San Diego | Corporate Events

At Personal Touch Dining, we are your Corporate Catering San Diego experts 🙂 Because we have nearly 30 years of experience, we understand how to produce amazing corporate events. Our team is ready to make your corporate event incredible. Without a doubt, our caterers are sure to impress.

Our Corporate Catering San Diego Menus

Whether your event is themed, formal or casual, our creative chefs have a menu to match. We offer a nice variety of menus for any type of corporate event. We use fresh, seasonal ingredients and time-tested recipes. In addition, we put our own spin on classic favorites.

For appetizers, we have a wide variety of options. Popular items include Caprese Skewers, Sesame Seared Ahi, and Panko-Crusted Salmon. Salads include Orzo Spinach, Walnut and Grape, and the crowd-pleasing Caesar. And with entrees like Herb Chicken, Braised Short Ribs, and Grilled Vegetable Lasagna, there is something delicious for every palate.

Types of Corporate Events

Events we cater include awards dinners and grand openings. We also cater holiday parties and benefits. No matter if your corporate event is large or small, we are ready. We aim to create an exceptional dining experience that will have your guests talking.

Our Process

From the first conversation, our dedicated and experienced staff will get to know you and your goals. Then we can start getting ideas for your amazing event! Our goal is to make the entire process easy and fun. Whether it is our first event together, or our hundredth, we bring our full energy and enthusiasm.

Many events have specific needs or requirements. This is where experience really matters 🙂 Our years in the industry have prepared us for all kinds of scenarios. We will help guide the planning process, and answer any questions. We also love a good challenge. So if you’re thinking it can’t be done, try us!

Our Venues

In addition to Corporate Catering, we also oversee the finest venues in San Diego:

For a rustic event, try Leo Carrillo Ranch. It is just the place for something different. Right outside of San Diego, it has that destination feel without leaving town! Enjoy the native peacocks, charming buildings, and historic site surrounding the venue itself.

For another quaint, iconic location, check out Mt. Woodson Castle. Located in Ramona, CA, it is also minutes from San Diego. Built in 1921 as a private residence, it is like taking a step back in time. The venue now plays host to unique and memorable events. From picnics to fundraisers, the Castle will wow your guests.

In order to see which one works for your event, we are happy to show you our properties, and talk over questions!

More Services

If rentals are needed, we arrange everything from tables and chairs to tenting and décor. Also, we provide many levels of bar service, including beer and wine, signature cocktails, and full service bar stations. Additionally, if there is something you need outside of our company, we have a large network of partner vendors. You are welcome to view our online directory, or ask for a specific recommendation.

Contact Us for Corporate Catering San Diego

With this in mind, we’d love to talk with you, and learn about the details of your corporate event. Consider us your Corporate Catering San Diego team! Please get in touch with us and we’ll start planning your amazing corporate event!

Chef Blog Post by Cody | Cold Summer Time Soups | Melon and Cucumber with Mint

What’s a good way to stay cool and fulfill your appetite you ask? Why not try a nice refreshing cold Melon and Cucumber Soup?

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Why use WordPress?

It is Free for use

WordPress is Open source software. This means can use it for free no strings attached. WordPress is built with Mysql and Php and these are both free as well. For all you that don’t know what you are doing you can hire someone like me to take care of this for you and with a word-press site I can give you a price that you can afford.

Quick to set up

With simple instructions you can have word-press up and running in no time. There are thousands of templates to choose from and a lot of designers now work with word-press. As long as you have hosting you can get a word-press theme up and running on your site in a matter of 15 minutes. If you do not have hosting they offer a WordPress option with hosting included http://wordpress.com/.

SEO Friendly

One thing that is great about word-press is the search engine optimization. Unlike flash built sites there is a great benefit to how your site will be ranked in search engines. They have worked in things like pings, track backs, comments and others to help also. I use word-press my self a lot and I feel that it is very strong for SEO and now they have plug-ins to help make it even easier to add key words to your content pages and site.

So Many Options

Between the thousands of templates you can pick from and thousands of plug-ins all your needs will be fulfilled one way or another. Whether you have a blog and an E-commerce site Word-press has something for you to help your online experience. The options are endless and it only keeps getting better with time. It is compliant with Web standards and kept up to date to ensure that your website is running and displaying the way it should.

Easy for a CMS set up

Another great thing about word-press is the option for users to update their content and links and menus without knowing any web design knowledge or having to learn a lot of software. Designers can set these sites up to fit your needs and then you can have a site that you can actually update and change on a daily basis. A lot of templates now are built with CMS options also to ensure that you can edit your site after it is up and running.

What are you Waiting for?

Go out and start your WordPress experience blogging, selling or informing. It will basically sell it self and if you do it right it can be free… What else needs to be said? For custom WordPress sites and updates to existing sites or templates contact me and I will be glad to help you out.

Find the Right Web Designer.

Where to Look?

There are always new sites to find designers. First you need to decide if you want to work with a large web company or a freelance designer. If you have a big budget and are ready for a big commitment then a large web company may just be for you. If you are looking for a more personable designer and a more affordable price I would go with a freelance designer. There are always new sites to find designers. Google is a great way to find large design firms and web companies. Places like Craigslist and Freelancer.com are the best for finding freelance designer. Also keep in mind location of the designer. If they across the country and the world you will not be able to meet face to face if needed. These days everything can be done remotely but sometimes getting to know some in person is the best way decide if you can trust them or not.

Browse Through Your Potential Web Designer’s Portfolios

Take a look around before you make a decision about who you are going to choose. Remember this is an investment and a commitment. You want it to be as useful and appealing as it can be. If you are looking for a designer and they don’t have some sort of portfolio or at least an organized way of showing you their work chances are they are unreliable and unorganized. Don’t jump on the first site you see there are a lot to choose from I am sure you have realized this already. It really isn’t as overwhelming as it seems.

Get in Touch With the Ones you Like

Look around for a solid style and someone you feel you can trust and make sure to contact and ask any questions you have. See what kind of communication the designers have.. How quick they email, how they address you and also just their general attitude. You can get a great feel for who someone is just by how the write an email. If someone contacts you and doesn’t take the time to use capitol letters then chances are he is not your guy!! Make sure they have a kind attitude and speak professional no ones wants to work with a bitter designer. Also when contacting them be specific let them know what you need and when you need it so they can be more accurate with their quote and time frame. Designers are here to help you but we also need our time to be creative so every detail helps. Make sure to contact more then one designer too to get different quotes and ideas.

Look Over Their Services and References

When looking for a niche designer make sure that they have solid experience in that type of web design. Say you are looking for a flash designer find a portfolio that has solid flash sites or at least a decent amount of flash experience. Designers that do things more then other usually have more affordable prices and quicker turn around times. This isn’t always true because top designs who have mastered these trades could be more expensive then someone with close to the same skills just because of their name and reputation. References and testimonials are a good way to see how the designer’s past work has gone. References are not there to ask a million questions but more like ” Would you recommend this designer and/or use them again. ” Some designers just starting out may have the skills you require but not the portfolio. If you feel that they have the skills go with them you will get a better price and maybe give them a chance to break out and show their skills. Use your gut and intuition and always ask for contracts.

A Reasonable Cost

Remember you usually get what you pay for. If you find a solid design firm and you give them a nice big budget they can work with you are going to get a top of the line website. If you ask for the cheapest solutions possible and offer them 100$ you are probably going to get more of a headache then a functional website. You could always hire a high school student or a recent grad looking to build a portfolio but they might not know all the ins and outs of the industry. Experience is key in making solid websites. Think about what you really can afford with your budget then look for quotes that are within your limit. Designers are here to help you if you let them. Not everyone is here just for the money some designers like my self are more into this for the love of the work and the joy of helping people.

Your Goal is Important

After all these emails and different ideas and sites you have looked at remember at the end of the day your goal and idea is what is important. Do your research on website similar to the one you want created and think about what are the best parts of those websites. Keep in mind the end result and try to keep your mind on track. Changing your mind in the middle of a project is only going to cost you money and stress so be prepared when you are ready to purchase a website. Think of this website as a semi temporary tattoo. It will be with you for a while and it is an investment. Be creative but also be functional and to the point. Good luck to you in your search and remember I am always here to help so feel free to email me anytime and contact me about a web project you have in mind.