Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Barbecue Catering for Different School & University Events

Are You Looking For Food Truck Catering For a Campus Event?

When it comes to any university and school event, professional catering companies can bring a wide array of foodstuff, beverages, and other delectable items for students, faculty, and guests to devour and enjoy. Aside from providing excellent meals, you can expect food truck catering companies like Q Up BBQ to provide exceptional customer service as well.  

Casual Events Call for Casual Barbecue Catering Services

There are quite a number of school and university events that are casual in nature thereby calling for casual food services to be offered to the people in attendance. Usually, the food items offered during these events are categorized as quick sit-downs or grab-and-gos. A majority of the available food products are easy to prepare, easy to eat, and sometimes, quick to eat as well. Sandwiches, soup cups, salad bowls, and the like are rather common. As for Q Up BBQ, we make the experience even more special by offering our delectable barbecue plates that you will not find elsewhere. Aside from the type of food being served, you can also expect caterers to work with minimalist setups. In some cases, tables and chairs may be limited with people comfortably eating their meals while standing up or sitting by the bleachers. Here are some of the school and university events that welcome casual barbecue catering services:
  • Inter-school basketball games
  • Inter-school football games
  • Multi-event sports fests
  • Carnivals or fairs
  • Miscellaneous parades
  • Fundraising events
  • Open house (before the start of the school year)
  • Parent-teacher-student functions
Depending on the venue, schools and universities also have the ability to enjoy both inside and outside food catering. For example, if the venue is a conference hall or auditorium then Q Up BBQ can set up food stations within the school premises. The beauty of this is that there is no need for school officials to worry as all of the preparations and cooking will be done outside, on the catering company’s food truck. This means that there is minimal cleanup necessary. There is also no need to infiltrate the cafeteria to get a hand on various cooking equipment. For venues that are outside the school building, it is possible for Q Up BBQ to either set up our food truck to enable customers to directly get their meals from or set up stations for service. Regardless of the need, our barbecue catering company will be able to accommodate it.  

Formal Food Catering Services for Formal School Events

Schools and universities also hold a series of formal events during the calendar year. Here are some of the formal events where reliable barbecue catering may also be needed:
  • School year welcoming ceremony
  • Prom
  • Ball
  • Graduation ceremony
  • Student exhibitions
  • Musicals and plays
These are events that require a gourmet meal that can be enjoyed in a seated setting. Aside from having plates directly delivered to each table and guest, these events may also call for buffet-style setups if necessary and this is where Q Up BBQ can be a big help. Whatever school event it is that you need delicious fare for, do consider teaming up with Q Up! BBQ catering for some of the best food experiences possible.

The following article Barbecue Catering for Different School & University Events was originally published on http://qupbbq.com/

Monday, December 19, 2016

Gourmet Barbecue Catering to the Office

Make a Difference by Bringing In Q Up! BBQ to your Phoenix Office

There are plenty of ways to boost employee morale and a number of them are relatively inexpensive. Something as simple as offering free lunch can get the job done. This is not something that has to be done daily but will be greatly appreciated if done. Providing the employees with freshly made, healthy, and delicious lunches every now and then will not only give them something to look forward to, but can help with productivity. Doing so, you can show them how much you appreciate their contributions to the company. The thing about having good company morale is that it makes employees happier thereby more productive. It increases their drive leading your team to do better work generating outputs of a higher quality over time. As the company reaps the rewards of these efforts, the benefits are slowly reflected in the company’s bottom line. A job well done, one leading to higher profits, more than makes up for the cost of these occasional gourmet meals. Aside from showing one’s appreciation, by bringing gourmet barbecue catering to the office courtesy of Q Up BBQ, the entire team can actually enjoy their lunches together. This helps improve the cohesion of the team. This also increases productivity as well because chances are, staff members will be discussing business whilst they eat. Doing so, more ideas flow to the table and more work can be processed within any given day. By providing a healthy, freshly prepared meal, companies can also rest assured that their employees don’t fall victim to unhealthy eating habits while in the office. By bringing in a gourmet barbecue meal, fast food intake or the onset of missed meals are significantly reduced. A good meal is known to boost productivity as the sluggish feeling that comes with an empty stomach or junk food binge is eliminated.  

But What Can You Expect From a Gourmet Barbecue Lunch Caterer Like Q Up BBQ?

Catered gourmet lunches do not only have to be well-prepared and delicious but they should actually be planned in accordance with what your employees like. Meat eaters will love the delectable fall-off-the-bone barbecue while vegetarians will find the fresh and delicious salads quite appetizing. Q Up BBQ will also handle every aspect of the lunch service on your behalf so you need not worry about a thing. When the employees show up in the cafeteria, they will have hot meals that are ready to be eaten. Given that Q Up! BBQ has its own prep kitchen and food truck, this means that all of the preparations and cooking will be done off-site so you can expect cafeteria cleanup to be a breeze. You also have the option of having your employees dine outside the office, directly from the food truck, for a nice change of environment. Prior to the catering schedule, a gourmet barbecue caterer will work with you to create the perfect menu selection. Aside from accommodating your ideas, you can also expect the company to make suggestions with regard to ingredients and meals. Soups, salads, and sandwiches that are easy to prepare may be included or more formal food items might be offered. The beauty in this is that you can schedule multiple lunch catering sessions without having to worry about palette fatigue. By having something different on the table every single time, your employees will surely be looking forward to office-sponsored lunches. Boost the morale of your employees, show them your appreciation, and share with them some amazing lunch meals and you won’t regret it. With the help of Q Up BBQ, having a gourmet barbecue catered lunch brought to the office will be as easy as pie.  

The following blog post Gourmet Barbecue Catering to the Office Read more on: follow QUp BBQ here

Monday, December 12, 2016

Q Up! BBQ Catering From the Food Truck

What Can You Expect From a Top-Rated BBQ Food Truck Catering Company?

Starting a food business is never easy. Especially when you are in the business of catering, you need to invest in proper training, quality equipment, and ample advertising. You also have to make sure that you and your people work as hard as possible in order to succeed. For example, you cannot expect to be a top-rated BBQ food truck catering company without any effort put in. Catering professionals can be compared to chefs that work in hot kitchens all day long but there are a handful of additional challenges that the former needs to attend to. When it comes to any catering business, the caterer must address business matters which do not only include active marketing and human resources. It is also important to monitor things such as accounting, customer relations, and of course, food quality testing. Considering how competitive the commercial food industry is these days, it is important for caterers to stand out from the crowd. This can be done with the provision of unique offerings, reliable services, reasonable prices, and delectable dishes. But what can you expect from a top-rated BBQ food truck catering company like Q Up BBQ?  
  1. Fine Cooking

The foundation of any catering business is the food it serves. The venue can be extremely beautiful, elegant decorations can be strewn from wall to wall, place settings may be meticulously arranged, and so on, but if the food does not taste good, everything is lost. At Q Up BBQ, every item on the menu is prepared and cooked with love. Everything is made fresh and cooked on site.  
  1. Cleanliness

Food safety is extremely important. Q Up BBQ complies with all food safety laws and ensures that everyone who tries their food will not end up with stomach aches and what not. Aside from the food truck itself, all of the internal equipment are cleaned daily and prep stations are as hygienic as can be.  
  1. Applaudable Customer Service

Businesses run when customers come. Without supporters, caterers will not be able to make a living out of their passion for cooking. A top-rated food truck catering company, apart from its own offerings, will work with the client to design a suitable menu for any upcoming event. Q Up BBQ respects what the client wants and will do everything to accommodate their food wishes.  
  1. Flexibility

There are times when certain clients want something special on the catering menu. There are also times when adjustments to the recipes have to be made to accommodate allergy concerns. The great thing about Q Up BBQ is that it is highly flexible. If there is a need for recipe or prep process tweaking, you can rest assured that they will comply with any special request.  
  1. Attentiveness to Detail

A top-rated food truck catering company will not only assist clients via the provision of quality meals. You can also expect a high attentiveness to detail. There are times when caterers need to attend to event components that are not related to food prep. Table arrangements, food presentation, decor, and the like are just some of the things that a catering company may be responsible for and companies like Q Up BBQ never fail to impress. The thing about the catering business is that it is important for interested proprietors to learn the ins and outs of the business before jumping in. When it comes to the food being offered, perfecting the recipes and maintaining a certain level of quality and consistency are also very important in ensuring that more people will support the chain. When it comes to a top-rated food truck catering company like Q Up BBQ, we provide the best quality possible.  

Types of Events We Cater to:

The following article Q Up! BBQ Catering From the Food Truck is available on Q UP

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Corporate Party Catering Phoenix

Why Choose Q Up! BBQ for Catering Your Corporate Party

Planning a corporate party with all the top brass folks in it can be quite stressful. That’s why the upbeat and scrumptious catering services of Q Up! BBQ can be a delightful and surprising twist  

Get Things Setup for a Corporate Barbecue

If you are planning a company party for a holiday or special occasion, this is a perfect time to hire Q Up! BBQ and let our team handle the catering for your guests. We have been in the Valley for 5 years and have outstanding reviews on Yelp! Q Up! BBQ will handle the food catering so that you can work on other more important details. Remember that the catering and the type of food you serve should be the least of your worries.  

Wide Variety of Options

It’s a barbecue, right? Doesn’t that leave out the vegetarians? Don’t worry. Q Up has the vegans covered in our barbecue menu as well. We can whip up some great options for the vegetarians of the group. Our best sellers are the Gangsta Grilled Cheese and our Three Meat Plate. If you want something on the spicy side of things try our People’s Choice plate. Want to add some Mexican flavor to the menu? We have pork tacos and you can add some fries, mac and cheese, or some slaw into the fray.  

Only the Best Meats and Veggies

If you want the best barbecue you should only get the best quality meat and produce. The taste of the food will definitely depend on the quality of the ingredients you use. With Q Up! BBQ you can be sure that your rib eye will come from the best lean meat available.  

Smoking Your Food

The entire process of smoking meat and other food usually takes a long time. Some even take all night and to make sure we are available, call sooner rather than later to make sure we are available for your company party. Company Party Catering You need a caterer that can get things started early, keep their commitments, and get your food smoked and smelling tasty in time. You don’t want to keep the guys in the office waiting.  

Convenience in a Truck

Most traditional caterers will require a lot of time in advance to get things prepared for a corporate party. That won’t be an issue for Q Up! BBQ. Remember, we have food trucks and everything is mobile – everything is a quick and easy setup. Do you want to make a unique twist to your next corporate party? Make it a corporate barbecue and let Q Up! BBQ take care of your catering needs.

Corporate Party Catering Phoenix was originally published on QUP BBQ food truck

Friday, November 18, 2016

Planning an Outdoor Wedding: Things to Consider

Having an outdoor wedding can sound like a really brilliant idea and if you can pull it off it can be something that’s absolutely amazing. However, just like any wedding, the planning part can be absolutely stressful. The following are some of the most important things you should consider in case you are planning an al fresco wedding.  

Don’t Let the Bugs Bite

You’re in the outdoors and you’re having a wedding. Who would be your first party crashers? It’s the bugs! You prepare for an onslaught of insects come D-day. That means you should have the site of your wedding sprayed by an exterminator about a couple of days ahead. To help keep the insects away on the actual day of your wedding ceremonies and the reception, you can arrange to have citronella plants in the perimeter. Another option is to have citronella candles spread throughout the wedding venue.  

Get the Necessary Permits

Make sure that you have all the necessary permits to perform a wedding ceremony in your desired spot. You should understand the rules set in by the land owners and regulations in place by your town, city, or county.  

Prepare for the Upcoming Weather

This is one of the inherent disadvantages of an outdoor wedding. You can’t predict exactly what the weather is going to be like. You may have scheduled your wedding during the summer in a place where it hardly rains, but hey, what if it does? You should also arrange to have weather appropriate accessories at least for the bridal party and of course for your parents. You may want to have umbrellas, scarves, gloves, and even a tent ready on hand just in case you would need them.

Speaking of Tents

Tents provide shelter for your guests and they allow you to take refuge if the weather turns for the worse. You should have at least some tents set up for the reception. Note that there are lots of different tent configurations. Some are easier to set up than others. Just make sure that the ones you choose will match the setup you have for your outdoor wedding.  

Indoor Backup Setup

And speaking of the weather going freaky, you should also have an indoor area ready for a quick setup just in case. It doesn’t matter if your tent was weather proofed. No tent can withstand crazy weather. This is especially true for people who will have their ceremony in an area where the weather can be a bit unpredictable. And speaking of crazy weather, here’s a money saving tip: make sure that your wedding insurance package covers unexpected changes in the weather – like a sudden downpour for instance. That way you can recover some of your expenses in case you need to postpone the ceremonies.  

Better Have Extras

It’s better to have a few extras of everything. That includes extra chairs, extra tables, extra curtains, extra cushions, or even an extra tent that’s easy to set up in case you need one unexpectedly. If you’re working on a really elaborate setup then make sure to reserve the space where you will have your ceremony the day after as well. It took you a long while to get things set up – tearing everything apart might also take a day.  

Provide Everything You May Need

Make the entire place nice and cozy. You might also get the lighting setup by a professional – outdoor setups are bit more tricky than usual. Make sure you have enough chairs, tables, plates, drinks, and food. You should also have the men’s room and ladies room secured.  

Photographer

photographer-shooting
Step 1: Settle on a Style Before you begin researching photographers, you'll need to first decide what type of photography style you prefer, as that will help determine which kind of photographer you'll want shooting your wedding. Do any of the following appeal to you? Step 2: Do Your Homework Start your search by reading reviews from recent brides and browsing hundreds of local listings. Carefully review potential photographers' websites and blogs to check out photos of other weddings they've shot, which will give you an idea of their style. The design of the website may also give you clues about the photographer's personality and sensibility. Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages too, if possible. Is the feedback from clients positive? How does the photographer respond? Step 3: Set Up Interviews This is not a decision that can be made on looks alone—you must meet your potential photographers in person. If you like what you see on their sites—and their fees are in your ballpark range—call to see if they're available for your wedding date. If the photographer is already booked on your date, you may want to see if they have an associate or can recommend another shooter with a similar style. Set up in-person meetings with three to five potential photographers who are available on your wedding date to look at more of their work and assess whether your personalities mesh. Be prepared to talk about your venue, your wedding style and what you envision for your photos. Read all the rest of the tips by visiting https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-photography-getting-started
 

Oh the Flowers

If you intend to make an elaborate and flowery display, then let the guys who will setup your flowers get to the place as early as they can. You can also do a spot inspection before changing into your wedding attire.  

The Food

3 Meats and Mac Plate - Q Up BBQ The food you serve can make or break everything. Get a trusted professional caterer to handle all that for you like Q Up BBQ for instance. Q Up! BBQ is a food truck that offers catering and can handle many patrons very fast. This is gourmet barbecue right off the grill for your wedding party.

Planning an Outdoor Wedding: Things to Consider is republished from http://www.qupbbq.com/

Sunday, August 21, 2016

10 tips on how to market your restaurant

1. Create a customer database so you can market to your customers. It's much easier to market to people who already like you than try to convert new business. Obtain your customer's details by using a business card draw with an appealing prize. Use your database to remember their birthdays, anniversaries, favourite dishes, likes and dislikes. Capitalise on building a relationship with your customer throughout the evening - talk to them if it's appropriate and take note of what they're saying. Few industries allow real-time feedback on customer experiences or purchase of goods/service. The database doesn't have to be complex - an Excel spreadsheet will do. The most important thing is to start one now.

2. Communicate regularly to your customers. Avoid the connotation of spam by considering frequency and always including relevant interesting information. Provide details of upcoming special events, new dishes on the menu, or behind-the-scenes snippets - make sure there's something in it for the customer. Develop a personality, preferably authoring it from the owner or the chef. If you are not a natural writer, you should enlist some help. Implement a regular newsletter schedule so customers come to expect and look forward your email, rather than resent a desperate flurry of spam that is spruiking a one-off event. Marketing research has found that the best time to email is 10.30am-11.00am on a Tuesday, just when people are having their first break for the day. Mondays are too hectic as people catch up on weekend emails.

3. Target your marketing. Generic advertising is a shotgun approach that has a high risk and low conversion rate. At best it will increase enquiries for Friday and Saturday nights - times you don't need customers. Instead target your marketing so people will come when you want them - on a Monday or Tuesday. Attract them by waiving corkage, having theme nights, cellar nights or hosting cooking classes. One restaurant organisied a special networking lunch on Tuesdays for local doctors and chemists in the area - it was hugely popular and effectively created a new market audience.

4. Identify your marketing radius. Almost every restaurant has an area which is the source of 90% of their customers. Find out who they are and how you can look after them. This area is not always geographical - it can be an online community or a group united by a special interest.

5. Talk to your neighbours and find out who they are and what they're doing. Investigate the possibilities of cross-promotion or whether you can work together on an event.

6. Can you explain your business offering in one sentence? If you can't succinctly articulate what your business does or offers uniquely, then maybe your customers don't know either.

7. Deal with your complaints. A complaint is not just a negative criticism - it's an opportunity to not only win back a customer, but to significantly raise their perception of your business to another level. Listen to their feedback and address their concerns. Respond personally. Turn their experience into a positive and people will be impressed. Wow them with your earnestness and they are likely to tell their friends and colleagues about what a great restaurant you are.

8. Restaurants live or die based on the quality of their front-of-house. Good service can save a bad meal, but even the most amazing meal can't save poor service. Your customers should feel special, attended to, and believing their experience was above-average. Make sure your internal operations are right before you even consider marketing your restaurant. Your customers will soon find you out and not return. You will only end up wasting your money.

9. Eat out to see what others are doing. Are you aware of what trends or changes are happening in dining? Could you improve your own booking processes by observing how others do it? Don't get stuck in a time warp - are you meeting the demands of today's customers?

10. Remember young customers are your future business. Understand they are looking online (often on the street with their iPhone), they are less patient and they want real value for money. Attract them with value offerings like tasting menus or all-you-can-eat pizza on Mondays. Develop products that are more affordable or different - you don't have to discount. Create an experience opportunity they will enjoy. Tap into things they want or appreciate, like wireless access, Fair Trade coffee or cocktails - cocktails that always sell are the ones with quirky or exotic names and ingredients. Be inviting and polite. Treat them with the same amount of attention you would give an older diner. Don't ignore them or offer poor service. Understand that Gen Y are your future customers and they have the potential to be your best vocal advocates. If they are happy, they will naturally spruik you online and on social marketing channels. Tap into the online community, network actively and genuinely, use Facebook, get onto Twitter, start a blog and make sure you're listed on relevant iPhone applications like Urbanspoon. Be an early adopter of these online technologies whilst the market is still relatively uncrowded.


First published here: 10 tips on how to market your restaurant