- How far in advance do I need to reserve my date?
Wedding receptions typically book 4-12 months in advance. We suggest reserving your date as soon as it is confirmed and you have 72 hours before your event date to confirm the actual attendees. Summer weekends and all dates in December fill very quickly. - Do you have children’s prices?
Yes. Children 5 to 11 years old are 50% of the adult price. Children 4 and under are free, but are counted for seating. - Are you insured?
We are fully licensed and insured for product liability. All company vans and trucks carry a commercial automobile insurance. Our staffs are covered by California state workers compensation. - Do you provide tastings?
Yes. Our Chef is happy to prepare a menu of your choice when you come in to plan your event. Tastings are generally held during Monday to Friday between 12-4 pm and on Saturday. Please call to schedule an appointment with one of our event planners. - Can I make up my own menu or make changes in your menus?
Absolutely! We love to help you create a special menu just for your party! - Can you provide for vegetarian and special dietary needs?
We have wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and other special needs menu items. When you come in to plan your event, we will discuss your dietary needs and suggest a menu that will be suitable for you and your guests. Please tell us if we need to consider food allergies. - Do you set up and clean up?
We will dress and set the buffet tables, clear the tables, and clean the service/kitchen area, leaving it as we have found it. If you wish us to set up and breakdown the guest tables and chairs there is an additional fee. - Do you have a price list?
Our corporate menus include prices. However, most of our event menus are custom designed for a specific event and a particular client. After a brief conversation with an event coordinator, we will prepare a personalized proposal for your budget. The factors that affect the price of an event include the number and kind of menu choices, number of guests, length of the event as well as number of servers required. We try our best to accommodate your budget. Our goal is to give you the fairest price based on your specific needs. - Do you provide paper goods, china, linens, or chaffing dishes for drop offs?
For drop offs, we include quality paper plates and plastic eating utensils. We also provide linen for the buffet and will set up any necessary chaffing dishes. If you prefer china and silverware, we will be happy to make arrangements, however these items require that our staff be present at your event - Is there a charge for cutting the cake?
Absolutely not! We include complimentary wedding cake cutting services, when your event requires our professional servers. - Do you provide paper goods, china, linens, or chaffing dishes for drop offs?
For drop offs, we include quality paper plates and plastic eating utensils. We also provide a linen for the buffet and will set up any necessary chaffing dishes. If you prefer china and silverware, we will be happy to make arrangements, however these items require that our staff be present at your event. - Do you have a corkage fee if we supply the beverages?
No. We will open and serve beverages you supply us at no charge if your event is held at a private home or venue however there will be a insurance liability fee of $150 if it is held in a public venue like club house, community hall. - Do you provide wine or liquor?
While Hannibal’s Catering is not licensed to sell alcohol, we do maintain the necessary liability insurance to serve your guests if you provide the alcohol. We can provide you with recommendations on where to find the best buys and offer suggestions on selections - Can you provide bartenders for my party?
Yes, we are a ‘full service’ caterer. The fee is $25 per hour for a minimum of 4 hrs. We also provide a package service which includes one bartender for 5 hours as well as alcohol liability insurance of a million dollars. We will also provide ice, tubs and cocktail napkins for the bar. No corkage fee ~ 250.00.
Additional bartender ~ 25.00 per hr (minimum of 4 hrs). - How do you charge for labor?
We charge for our staff by the hour, based on a four hour minimum per staff person. Our staffs will start thirty minutes prior to your serving time. We do our best to estimate the amount of time that our staff will be needed for your event. However, since many variables exist, the final cost is based on the actual time worked. For large full service events, we require an Event Manager to oversee staff and ensure the coordination of a successful event. - What are the Hourly rates for your staff?
Event Manager @ $30.00 per hour
On-Site Chef @ $35.00 per hour
Bartender @ $25.00 per hour
Server @ $25.00 per hour
Kitchen Staff @ $25.00 per hour - How many staff will be at my event?
As a general rule, we recommend one server for every 25 people at a buffet. We provide one server for every twenty people at a sit down dinner. However, the server ratio depends on how formal or complicated the event is and may be reduced or increased, depending on these factors. A lavish six-course, sit-down dinner may require one server per 10-12 guests or a very simple buffet many only require 1 server for 35 people. Using your event details, we will recommend the minimum number of servers required based on our experience. Our goal is to make your event run smoothly - How will I know what my total event cost will be?
After meeting with one of our professional event planners and discussing your needs for the event, we will prepare an itemized estimate for you. There will be separate line items for food, staff, rental equipment, china, and linens. Staffs cost may vary depending on the length of time needed for their service. - Besides the cost for food, what other charges can I expect for a catered event?
When we provide your customized menu, we list of all of our estimated charges in order to provide you with a complete bid. In addition to the per person price for food we include the following in each proposal:- 18% service charge
- Cost of rentals
- Labor charges for service staff
- Sales tax
- What does the service charge cover?
The service charge offsets labor and administration costs such as dishwashing, packing for your event, travel time to and from your event, etc. The service charge is not a gratuity and is subject to state and local tax laws. - Do you provide rental items such as linens, silverware and glassware?
Yes. Not only can we arrange for the rental of the usual party items such as linens, china, glassware and silverware, but we also have access to fine china, crystal, and specialty linens. We can also arrange for larger items such as canopies, stages and dance floors. Once you make your choices, we will order and arrange for delivery of rental items. We also coordinate the set up the day of your event. - How about tents, tables and chairs?
A full range of styles and sizes are available from our rental vendors. Usually we have the rental company tent person come to your location to measure for tent needs. - Do you require a contract?
Yes. E-mail us at info@hannibalscatering.com if you would like a copy. - Do you charge a gratuity on your bill?
Gratuities are not itemized in the bill, nor are they required. They are, however, graciously accepted by our staff for a job well done. Gratuity of $20-$50.00 per staff member or a percentage of the total is customary.
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