By DON NAPIER
A catering event can be anything from a box-lunch at a golf tournament to a sit-down wedding dinner. The food may be prepared on site, cooked during the event, or the caterer may choose to bring prepared food and put on the finishing touches once it arrives.
Doug Scarlett, owner of Scarlett Catering in Crossville, has done and seen it all. A professional caterer for over 30 years, Doug and his partner-wife Sarah (pictured at right), provide catering “for all occasions.” Doug’s catering experience dates all the way back to 1965. He has managed restaurants, country clubs and been a resort chef. He also continues to do long-distance catering, such as his recent trip to Washington D.C. to cater a National Red Cross banquet.
He is not only a caterer, but a chef by profession. He graduated number one in his class from culinary and dietary school, and was the chef on Air Force One for two U.S. Presidents. The Scarletts have developed a great relationship with a large number of clients, a list he shares with prospective customers upon request. There is nothing like talking to a person who has previously hired the caterer to find out how the guests liked the food and how the caterer performed.
There are caterers who operate out of their home, and there is nothing wrong with that, but the Scarletts have invested in their business in a big way and operate out of their Catering Headquarters, a commercial building that has garage-style storage, a fully-functional kitchen, a large prep area and an office. When I visited them at their offices at 1896 East First Street, I was impressed by the large inventory of chafing dishes, punch bowls, and huge stacks of serving dishes, warmers, etc. The kitchen was also impressive, looking like professional kitchen at a large country club or restaurant.
A successful catering event
A successful catering event begins with an orientation, where the Scarletts meet with the client and discuss every aspect of the event, from theme decorating to the menu, and how many guests will attend.
Catering is usually sold on a per-person basis, meaning there is a flat price for each attending person. “Finding out the customer’s budget is how we begin the process,” Doug said. “Then we discuss the kind of food they are interested in, whether the customer wants glass or plastic dishes and utensils, desserts, drinks, the food served, etc.
“There are many decisions to be made before we get down to actual pricing, but it is always our goal to provide the very best quality of food,” he said. The Scarlett food menu is vast, illustrating their experience in a wide variety of foods. Ask for their menu to see a complete list.
Too often, the final decision on who is hired as the caterer is determined by price alone. Choosing your caterer on price is a recipe for disaster. We all want to get great food, but not everyone is willing to pay for it.
It’s been my experience when I hired a caterer, that I greatly benefitted from working with people I knew and trusted. No doubt, trust is the key factor in choosing a caterer. If you don’t know them yourself, you should talk to someone on the reference list of past clients.
I have very good memories of eating Scarletts’ food. They catered Highland Federal’s Christmas Open House back in December and I remembered arriving late, as the food service was being broken down. Doug personally went back to the kitchen, brought out some fresh items and even offered to make me a plate to go, which I allowed him to do.
The food was great, and his professional and friendly demeanor and the way he treated Highland Federal’s guests was really first class. I can see why he is so successful. Highland Federal’s Jack Chadwell said he was more than happy to give Scarlett’s his endorsement. Scarletts just catered a board meeting for the bank, right before this issue went to print.
Sarah Scarlett’s background has been in conferences and food service. “It is our goal to insure that your special event, whether large or small, exceeds your expectations,” said Sarah Scarlett. “We value our clients and want you to be completely satisfied with your results.”
If you would like to know more about the Scarletts, visit them online at www.scarlettcatering.com. Call Doug at 510-6119 or Sarah at 267-3158. Catering is different from most businesses, and they don’t deal with regular hours. They are available anytime you need them, basically 24/7.
