Do I have to hire staff to work the party? We provide staffing for every position required for an event. Staffing recommendations depend on the type and style of the event, the menu items, the duration of the event and the event’s flow. We cater many events that require staff members, and have a full complement of professional staff to fill each required position. However, we also offer take home catering services that do not require staffing. We can help you decide which type of service best suits your event.

What happens to the leftovers? Items that have been prepared for your event but not consumed at the party will be properly stored and can be left in a cooler  or in your home refrigerator. We provide disposable containers so you do not need to worry about having them on hand. Items that are not prepared are returned to our commissary and sometimes donated to a local food bank. Items that were left out for an extended period of time or presented at a station or buffet are discarded.

How much experience do you have? The chefs and event planning team have well over 20 years of experience planning and preparing for catered events. They have an outstanding portfolio of successful events, beautiful photographs that show off the food and the ambiance of the parties. In addition, we have a long list of satisfied clients, whose testimonials speak volumes about our ability to prepare for and execute a perfect event.

Do you have any idea how much I can expect to spend? We have packages that provide baseline pricing that will give you a good idea depending on your event. Staffing, rentals, facility fees, service charges and taxes are additional and require careful planning. Our professional event planning team can work with you to provide a full proposal that takes into account all aspects of your event. In short, we can get you a ballpark price from the start, then work with you to help you stick to your budget and still have a wonderful event!

Are you available to cater my event? We hope so! Each event we cater is special, and we do not allow ourselves to overbook events because the quality suffers. We do get extremely busy with wedding events, especially in the spring, and with parties around the holidays, so it’s best to plan ahead and reserve your date early. You may find that the first date you prefer is booked, but if you are flexible with your dates and times, we will be happy to accommodate you.

Who does what and when? Planning an event is always complicated, no matter how many guests are expected. We encourage all of our clients to let us do as much as possible. It’s what we do best! We will help you plan every aspect of our event, from the menu to the table design. We ask that you provide final head counts and final menu selections two or three weeks in advance of your event. A 30% deposit is due when you sign the contract. Depending on the type of event, some take years to plan and some take weeks, we’ve prepared for all types and are here to help you be able to relax and enjoy your event, confident that we will take care of every detail.

To tip or not to tip? At Jamie Hollander’s, we pay our staff according to the amount you are charged for staffing for your particular event. There are no hidden fees in the staffing costs. On your invoice, you will see that we charge an administrative fee of 18% that contributes to our insurance costs, licensing fees, vehicle maintenance and travel costs. This charge is not a gratuity. Our hard working staff greatly appreciates tips, but they are not expected. Instead, tipping is at the discretion of the client. Most clients are so impressed with the staffing service they kindly offer a gratuity to show their appreciation!

Will I run out of food? No! It is very important that our event planning team works with you to coordinate factors such as proper head count, menu selections, staffing and other considerations in order to ensure that the quantity and selection of food items are appropriate for your unique event. We have never catered an event where there has not been enough food. Proper planning is the key to avoiding any embarrassing situation, and with over 20 years of experience, we have the expertise to create the perfect menu with appropriate quantities.