Friday, April 25, 2014

Choosing A Soul Food Catering Chicago Company

By Essie Osborn


What we eat is often about more than eating in order to survive. Often it is associated with family, memories and a certain amount of nostalgia. This is very much the case when it comes to soul food. If you want the best examples of this for your event then it is worth choosing the right soul food catering Chicago company.

The term originated in the Sixties. This was around the time of the Civil Rights movement. African American people would identify themselves as soul brothers and sisters. The term soon extended to the music they listened to and the cuisine they ate. The idea was about something authentic that was strongly associated with the family and the community.

One common misconception is that this type of cuisine is synonymous with the southern States. While it is true that a lot of the cuisine they serve such as ribs and fried chicken are also associated with the Southern states you do not necessarily need to be from this area in order to create an authentic version of this food.

The soul aspect tends to refer to the family and the community. The recipes tend to be handed down through the generations as they all learn the recipes and hand them down. There is also the community aspect as people come together and share their dishes and it is this that often gives people good memories of sharing it together with friends, family and neighbours.

Another crucial aspect is to test what they make and try it for yourself! You have to think about how the dishes taste and whether or not what they have cooked will be suitable for your guests. For a lot of people authenticity is an important aspect of these kinds of dishes. Ideally it helps if you know someone who either cooks this type of cuisine or enjoyed this kind of cuisine when they were growing up.

It is best to meet companies in person. As well as discussing their background it is a good chance to find out about their experience and qualifications. Ideally you want someone who is aware of local regulations. This is especially important with regards to health and hygiene and they should be able to demonstrate that they are aware of these and have the appropriate qualifications for your local area.

You also need to find out if they can adapt to your needs. Ideally you want someone who will listen to what you want and the requirements of your guests. For example they should have vegetarian alternatives and be able to adapt if your guests have any specific dietary requirements such as a lactose or gluten intolerance. It is also important to clarify whether you want a sit down meal or if you want a buffet for your event as this will affect the amount of food they will have to prepare. Remember to get a sample of the food in order to gauge whether or not you think it will be appropriate for you and your guests!

A quick search online will give you results matching you with various caterers in the local area. It is recommended you compare at least three so you can compare the quality of their work as well as the price of their menu. With the right approach you will find the ideal caterers for your event.




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