Catering Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of food do you serve at Anna Lee Catering?

ALC prepares all types of cuisines from Italian, Asian, and French.

What information should I have available when inquiring about catering?

An estimate of the number of guests you plan to invite, a date and the type of location you are considering is helpful. The parameters of your budget are also important.

How far in advance do I need to place my catering order?

For a corporate or social event, please allow at least a 48 hour notice. We do allow last minute event orders if we are not fully booked and limited to what our kitchen can prepare at a short notice. Holiday dates are filled very quickly and best reserved 1-2 months in advance to guarantee your date choice. Wedding receptions are best reserve 2-8 months in advance. We suggest reserving your date as soon as it is confirmed and we allow 48 hours to confirm the final guest count.

When do I need to decide on a final guest count? What happens if that number goes up or down shortly before or the day of the event?

We require your final minimum guest count one (1) week prior to your event. This number will be used to establish ordering quantities for food, rentals, numbers of staff, etc. After this final guaranteed minimum number is given, we will make every effort to accommodate increases to your final count made within three (3) business days of your event, but we cannot lower your final count for billing purposes after the first deadline. When a price of the menu is quoted for the number of guest, if the guest count goes up and the budget would remain the same, but If the guest count drops in the final guest count as calculated on the proposal, this will affect stated cost estimates and the price per person is subject to a slight increase.

What menu style am I looking for?

Hors d’ Oeuvre? A Buffet or Station? Sit Down Dinner? Check out our menu styles for ideas.

What service style am I looking for?

Full Service? Partial Service? Delivery and Set-Up? Check out our service styles for more ideas.

Are you licensed?

Yes, we are fully insured and have all of the appropriate health permits and we have liability insurance.

Do you have a liquor license?

No, at the moment we do not have a liquor license and our staff cannot serve any alcoholic beverages at your event, but we can recommend companies that are licensed and fully insured to serve alcohol at your event. We would be happy to recommend a few quality companies so you can to contact them directly.

Will I need rental equipment? Can my caterer provide this?

We can provide china, glassware, place settings. skirted tables, tables, chairs, and more through a equipment rental company. We can assist you in placing the order with the rental company and you can pay them directly for your order.

Do you have children’s menu and special pricing?

Yes. We offer special menu options and pricing for children. Our event coordinators can help with any special requests.

Do you offer tastings?

Yes. We provide a complimentary tasting of our food. Complimentary food tastings are limited to four (4) menu selections. If additional entrees are requested, there will be a small charge which will be applied toward your balance for service if you contract with us for your event. Tastings are generally held Monday through Friday between 12-4 pm and occasionally on Saturdays with appointment. Please call to schedule an appointment.

Can I make up my own menu or make changes in your menus?

Absolutely! Our chef would be delighted to help create your special menu for your event or to even recreate a special family recipe that you provide.

Can you provide for vegetarian and special dietary needs?

We have wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and organic menu options. We understand the importance of making sure everyone in the group can enjoy a wonderful meal, regardless of dietary restrictions.

Beside Delivery, do you set up and clean up after the event?

We will do just about anything! From complete setup of your buffet tables with decor and linens, serving your guests, clearing and bussing the guest tables to cleaning the service/kitchen area, leaving it as we have found it.

Do you provide disposable service wares and linens for your corporate/social functions?

Our corporate/social menu pricing include paper plates and heavy duty plastic eating utensils. We also provide linen for the buffet table and all portable heating equipment with serving utensils. We can also provide a full line of China, silverware and glassware which are available at an additional charge.

Is there a charge for cutting the cake?

Absolutely not! We include complimentary wedding cake cutting services, when your event requires our professional servers.

Minimum Orders

Weekdays/Night events require a $300 food minimum. Saturdays & Sundays require a $1000 food minimum.

Besides the cost for food, what other charges can I expect for a catered event?

When we provide your customized menu, we list of all of our estimated charges in order to provide you with a complete bid. Our proposal are broken down into the following:

 

  • Menu price
  • Silverware, china, glassware and linens (if needed)
  • Cost of table and chair rentals (if needed)
  • Labor charges for service staff
  • 10% Catering Operations/ Admin Fee
  • Sales tax

 

Catering Operation/Admin Fee

A 10% operation/admin fee applies to all orders. The operation/admin fee is not a gratuity, but is an additional charge that is used to cover certain additional costs that are associated with each event. The front of the house service staff that works the event does not receive any part of the operation fees. The operation/admin fee covers the following cost: direct cost such as administrative order taking, employee scheduling, product ordering, tasting, delivery scheduling and tracking, event logistic, multiple trips to deliver and returning to pick up our equipment, high fuel cost, vehicle repair. We also have other indirect costs such as office & setup staff that work behind the scenes on every event, but aren’t included in your food price or labor fees. Liability insurance required to cover any damages or injuries caused by our staff or our equipment to any guests or property. This relieves the client of liability or responsibility when an accident is our fault. The operation/admin fee helps offset the costs of going the extra mile, such as handling the rental equipment and assisting with the non-catering related elements of a corporate event/party, wedding or event.

 

Buffet Staffing

For a buffet for every 100 guests you need 2 Service Staff and if you are having a served dinner you need 2 servers for every 60 guests. The cost for the Service Staff is $25.00 per hour per staff person with a minimum of 5 hours. Events are based on a five -hour maximum, requiring 2 hours for set-up, 2 hours of food service, and one hour of clean-up. At the client’s discretion, any extra tip/ or gratuity will go directly to the service staff. If your event should run longer than anticipated, your invoice will be adjusted

How much are the rentals?

We estimate approximately $4-$8 per guest for rentals. This number will vary based on the type of linen, from sizes to materials that you choose, and the number of plates & glass wares that you may need based on the type of service you choose.

What type of event is the most budget conscious?

Don’t worry; we get this question all the time. Surprisingly, buffet meals are the most economical meals to serve. One would think that a hors d’oeuvres party is less expensive, but because of the numbers of smaller items that are handmade, this option is typically a little more expensive with a lot less food since they are bite size. A seated dinner would be the next step up due to the extra service and culinary staff needed to execute your event.

Will Anna Lee Catering handle renting the rentals for me?

Yes. We take care of all the arrangements, including a delivery schedule and pick up schedule. The rental costs can be billed directly to you from the rental company.

Catering Policies

ORDERING POLICY:

Due to time needed to prepare your order, we require a minimum of 48 hours notice. New order placed or change order with in the 24 hours of delivery may incur a rush fee of $35. Please place your online orders as early as possible to avoid the rush fee. To ensure timely processing of your last minute order, it has to be received no later than 3:00 PM the day before your event. (Some hot menu items may require longer notice, so your menu may be subject to substitutions if less than two days’ notice is given). Office hours are 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Monday through Friday.

DELIVERY CHARGES:

**An additional “Delivery Fee” will apply for deliveries outside of our 15 miles delivery zone. This fee is calculated based on travel time and distance, event location and whether a return trip is required to pick up our equipment.

DELIVERY TIME WINDOW:

We recommend clients add an hour prior to their event start time when placing their orders so our drivers will not be tardy. Most deliveries are allotted a 30- 45 minute window that ranges from 45 minutes prior to 15 minutes, past your scheduled arrival time. Circumstances due to traffic, bad weather, delay in entering secured office buildings, and waiting for escorts or last minute changes to original order are beyond our control. But we will notify clients as soon as possible, if any circumstances occur that will cause your delivery to be later than anticipated. During peak lunch and dinner periods, deliveries may be made up to one hour prior to your designated time. Our food is prepared fresh daily in our licensed commercial kitchen and stored at safe temperatures at all times.

**Late afternoon and evening deliveries will be picked up on the next business day unless special arrangements between the client and the catering department have been made.

ORDER CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS:

For wedding and large corporate or social events, a non-refundable deposit is required to hold the date for your events. A credit card will be required to be held on file. Final guest count confirmation for your event is required, 3 days prior to the event. Additional guest count received after the third days may not be fulfilled. If guest count drop 10% or more, the per person cost is subject to price increase. A 72-hour advance notification of cancellation is required to cancel a confirmed order. If there are costs incurred as a result of your cancellation, you will be billed only or those costs and not the entire cost of the event. Residual amount can be applied for future catering and is limited to one year from the cancellation date. Please call us at 215-808-8181 to cancel an order.

 

**Do not e-mail last-minute cancellations — you must speak directly to one of our Catering Coordinators. Any email message to our staff members or on our voice mail is not a valid cancellation.

 

Your changes are not confirmed until we have contacted you either by e-mail or a phone call from our event coordinators to confirm your changes. Every Anna Lee Catering event is prepared to order. We have no way to re-use your food when they are already made. We would be happy to arrange delivery of your order to a different location or, if you prefer, we can make a donation in your name to a food bank and deliver the receipt to you.

LAST MINUTE REQUESTS:

If you can be a bit flexible as to menu selection and time of delivery, we will be happy to be of service. Additional fee may apply to last minute orders placed with less than 24 hour notice.

NUT, DAIRY, GLUTEN, OTHER FOOD ALLERGY AND SPECIAL DIET

Anna Lee Catering cannot guarantee full omission of all ingredients we use in our kitchen. Our catering kitchen is an open plan facility and allergens such as nuts and gluten are present, so there is always the possibility of cross contamination even when taking every possible precaution. Anna Lee Catering will not assume any liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed, or items an individual may come in contact with, at any event catered by Anna Lee Catering.

PAYMENT TERMS AND GRATUITY:

All Catering orders require full payment prior to the event. A5% fee may be assessed to the balance if payment is not received by the day of the event. Anna Lee Catering does not accept payment upon delivery but will accept direct billing with established corporate account, check or corporate credit card prior to the event. Personal check requires a 3 days waiting period to clear the bank. For corporate clients and purchase orders to be billed, terms are Net 30 Days. Accounts over thirty (30) days shall accrue interest at one and one half percent (1.5%) per month. Past due account over 90 days will be refrains from ordering. Payment with credit card for wedding and large social event will incur a 3% transaction fee. No fee will be imposed on deposit paid with a credit card. Any other terms can be prearranged with us by calling 215-808-8181. Gratuities are not required and are not automatically added to your invoice, but they are graciously accepted by our staff.

SALES TAX:

The State of Pennsylvania requires sales tax to be applied to service charges, hot and carbonated drinks, hot food items, or events served by Anna Lee Catering. Sales tax applies to all Labor related to the event, rentals and operation/admin fee. Tax-exempt organizations must provide documentation with first order.

PRICES:

Prices on our menus and website may be subject to change due to market price fluctuation, addition charges by your venue to caterer and product availability. Substitutions and additions on any menu will reflect price changes on the final invoice. We recommend clients request a new price quote if there are any additions or substitutions.

STAFF CHARGES:

Professional staff rate is $25.00 per hour with a minimum of 5 hours. Staff hours are estimated and are billed portal-to-portal. Billing starts at arrival time and ends after departing the event site- on events held in the delivery zone. The same rate may apply for staff travel time to out of area event. If your event should run longer than anticipated, your invoice will be adjusted. The balance of the adjusted invoice is due within 7 days of billing if the client has a direct bill account. Accounts over thirty (30) days shall accrue interest at one and one half percent (1.5%) per month.

DAMAGES AND LIABILITY:

Client’s responsibility is to ensure that the table for setup and any flammable items including our decor material are protected from the heat source of our chafers. If our staff is not hired to be present at client’s event, client will be responsible for unattended chafing dishes and all other Anna Lee Catering equipment. Anna Lee Catering does not assume or accept any responsibility due to negligence by the client or any attendees of the client’s event that causes any damage as a result. Missing or damaged equipment, decor, place settings, centerpieces, linens, serving utensils, salad bowls and all other Anna Lee Catering property will be billed to client at replacement cost. Candle wax on linen rental is consider damaged since they cannot be cleaned and will be bill at replacement cost. Please avoid wax on linen at all times. It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that all of Anna Lee Catering property is present when the driver arrives to pick it up. Any items not picked up may incur additional charges if the driver has to make an additional trip to client’s location to retrieve the items. Equipment and other items are not picked up on the same day requires the same responsibility by the client to ensure that equipment and other items are not lost or damaged.

PROVIDING FOOD FROM OTHER SOURCES:

Due to our liability insurance, no food items prepared by anyone other than ALC or another contracted vendor are permitted to serve their food at our catered events. Cakes are not included in this policy.

FOOD LEFTOVER POLICY:

It is our policy that any leftover food will be discarded after the event. We will leave or pack leftovers that are safe to consume, such as leftover cookies, brownies or canned beverages, if the client requests beforehand. We do not recommend serving leftovers after the event as we cannot anticipate how long leftover food has been held at unsafe temperatures, nor are we qualified to evaluate the condition of the leftover food. Under no circumstances can leftover food be given to guests. The client will assume full responsibility for any liability as a result from consuming leftover food after the event.