How
to choose Halal caterers for your wedding
Muslims
today form one of the largest communities in the
UK and a majority of them follow halal food standards
particularly on important occasions such as weddings.
To provide for their needs, there are many
halal caterers in the UK who specialize
in halal catering and follow the mandatory dietary
rules and halal processes.
Halal
caterers offerings includes a mix of vegetarian
and non-vegetarian dishes and meats prepared based
on the halal guidelines. Before elucidating how
to find halal caterers in the UK, it is important
to have a basic understanding of what sets halal
caterers apart from other Asian Caterers.
There
are some food items that the sacred text Qur'an
forbids from consuming. Halal
caterers keep these guidelines in mind when
preparing a feast for a wedding. Pork and carrion
are forbidden. In fact halal caterers will not prepare
meat of animals that were not killed in the name
of Allah.
Foods
that contain traces of blood are not served. While
preparing meat, halal
caterers will make sure that every spot
of blood is completely wiped out. Given that the
Quran prohibits alcoholic drinks, halal
caterers will not include them in the menu
or prepare any dish which has alcohol as an ingredient.
Most
halal
caterers also follow the Dhabiha process
when it comes to slaughtering an animal. The process
mandates killing an animal causing the minimum possible
pain and at the same time ensuring that the meat
remains pure.
How
to find halal caterers for your wedding?
Most
halal caterers will be more familiar with
regional speciality dishes of Pakistan, Bangladesh
and North India. Word-of-mouth is a good option
and so you could talk to your married friends and
see what they have to recommend.
You
can search for halal caterers in Your Dream Shaadi's
Asian wedding directory. Our Asian wedding directory
lists websites of companies offering halal catering
services for weddings and special events. Browse
through the websites of the halal
caterers to see what they are offering,
their sample menus, catering services, and client
feedbacks. Shortlist a few halal
caterers and note down their email or phone
numbers to contact them for a personal meeting.
Before
going to interview the halal
caterers, note down the questions which
you wish to ask in order to make an informed decision.
You should have an idea of what your budget per
head is and the number of food items you would like
to serve. This will make easier to choose a halal
caterer who fits your tastes and can work with your
budget.
Halal
caterers will often have a printed menu
available, which will give you an idea of the food
they can cook and how much it will cost. Ask the
halal caterer if the menu can be customized or if
substitutions can be made. You can also find out
how long the halal caterer will be present at the
event, and if they charge overtime fees. Also ask
how they will handle last minute changes, such as
changing or adding a menu option.
The
halal
caterers should offer you a food tasting
- the real proof of the pudding of their talents
- and that too for the dishes that you would include
on your wedding menu. The food tasting is the ideal
occasion to modify dishes in terms of spiciness,
oil content, salt etc. The caterer you choose should
have a health permit and carry liability insurance.
Don't hesitate to ask for a proof of these things.
A good halal caterer should also be able to provide
you with a list of references.
Also
find out how much money the halal
caterer requires for a deposit to book the
wedding, and when the final amount is due. Ask how
much notice you need to give if you decide to cancel,
and whether the deposit is refundable.
Once
everything is on board, sign a contract with the
halal caterer you have chosen. Do make sure
the contract is transparent and there are no hidden
charges and that you are happy with the terms and
conditions.
You
can also consult your parents about dietary preferences
in the family. This is because dietary preferences
and religious restrictions vary from culture to
culture and so the menu should include something
for all guests.
Log
on to Your Dream Shaadi's Asian Wedding Directory
and look up 'Asian caterers' and you will come across
a range of industry leading companies specialising
in Asian catering services.
To
do comparative shopping, it is advisable to create
a checklist with columns such as cuisine specialization,
sample menus, price, experience, references etc.,
so that you can make an informed decision.
While
most Asian caterers are up to the task of providing
a mix of different types of cuisines of the Indian
subcontinent, you may wish to try out Asian caterers
who specialize in a specific type, say Halal, Gujarati,
Punjabi, South Indian, North Indian etc.
Do
make sure that the Asian caterers you select have
the right experience and are willing to give you
an obligation free food trial so you can sample
the cuisine. Given the fact that your wedding is
the most momentous day of your life, you really
cannot leave anything to chance.
You
can also contact the Asian caterers through phone
or email and clarify any doubts you have. Genuine
caterers will not hesitate to provide you answers
or give you references of clients they have served.
Based on their response, you can shortlist the Asian
caterers that seem to fit in with your needs.
Once
you have shortlisted the Asian caterers, you can
arrange a personal interview to ensure that the
company can fulfil your requirements. During the
interview, you can ask questions such as: Will the
food will be prepared on site or reheated? Will
the Asian caterer provide other services such as
linen, cutlery etc.? Will there be a menu on each
table? You can also clarify if the Asian caterer
would be providing waiter services, buffet service,
karahi stands etc.
Before
making a final decision, it would be a good idea
to look at the pictures or videos of the food presentations
that the Asian caterers have made for their clients
in the past.
Finally,
before signing the dotted line, make sure you have
everything in writing and that there are no hidden
charges hidden in the contract terms.
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