Special Requests for Caterers
Food is a very personal thing, and most people often take religious and moralistic values into consideration when they decide what sort of food to consume. Therefore, as a caterer, you must understand certain special requests, and you should be able to accommodate these requirements without wondering what they entail. Below are some of the most common food needs that clients will often ask of you, and you may want to do further reading concerning each topic.
Halal: Muslim clients will request that their food be halal. Literally, “halal” means “permissible,” and all halal foods must be marked “halal.” In general, forbidden foods include pork (this includes any sort of pig based item including gelatin); blood; animals slaughtered without the presence of a halal butcher; carnivorous animals (some Muslims believe this, others do not); and any sort of alcohol.
Kosher: although halal and kosher are similar, they are not the same thing. Jewish people cannot eat pork; birds of prey; fish that do not have fins and scales (no lobster, crab, or other shellfish); meat and dairy cannot be mixed (and they cannot be eaten during the same sitting); and all animals must be slaughtered in by a kosher butcher. There are many other kosher restrictions, so make sure to check with your client.
Vegetarian: contrary to popular belief, vegetarians cannot eat any form of animal – including chicken and turkey. Some vegetarians can eat eggs and dairy products, and some cannot – it is best to check with your client in regards to this topic.
Vegan: vegans do not eat any sort of animal product including eggs, dairy, honey, and anything else that comes from an animal. Vegan recipes are hard to come by, but they are not impossible to find.
Most likely, you will also be faced with people that are diabetic, have health concerns, and are on special diets. Other religions tend to have their own set of rules pertaining to food, so always check with you clients. In fact, it is a good idea to have a sheet of foods listed on a piece of paper, and ask your customers whether or not they can eat each food.
Halal: Muslim clients will request that their food be halal. Literally, “halal” means “permissible,” and all halal foods must be marked “halal.” In general, forbidden foods include pork (this includes any sort of pig based item including gelatin); blood; animals slaughtered without the presence of a halal butcher; carnivorous animals (some Muslims believe this, others do not); and any sort of alcohol.
Kosher: although halal and kosher are similar, they are not the same thing. Jewish people cannot eat pork; birds of prey; fish that do not have fins and scales (no lobster, crab, or other shellfish); meat and dairy cannot be mixed (and they cannot be eaten during the same sitting); and all animals must be slaughtered in by a kosher butcher. There are many other kosher restrictions, so make sure to check with your client.
Vegetarian: contrary to popular belief, vegetarians cannot eat any form of animal – including chicken and turkey. Some vegetarians can eat eggs and dairy products, and some cannot – it is best to check with your client in regards to this topic.
Vegan: vegans do not eat any sort of animal product including eggs, dairy, honey, and anything else that comes from an animal. Vegan recipes are hard to come by, but they are not impossible to find.
Most likely, you will also be faced with people that are diabetic, have health concerns, and are on special diets. Other religions tend to have their own set of rules pertaining to food, so always check with you clients. In fact, it is a good idea to have a sheet of foods listed on a piece of paper, and ask your customers whether or not they can eat each food.
posted by BrimstoneRecipes.com | 7:45 PM
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