Frequently asked
Catering questions, answered
The things people ask us most often, grouped by subject. Where something genuinely depends on your event or your venue, the answer says so rather than giving a number that would not hold.
Booking
Enquiring, confirming dates and what happens next
How far in advance should I book catering?
As early as you can, particularly for weddings and for dates during festival and wedding season, when calendars fill up quickly. For smaller functions, shorter notice is often workable. Send us your date and we will tell you straight away whether we can take it.
Will you look at the venue before the event?
For larger functions, and for any event where the setup is unusual, it helps to see the space or at least go through photographs and measurements with you. It tells us what is realistic for live counters, buffet layout and service flow.
What happens after I send an enquiry?
We come back to you to understand the occasion, the guest numbers and any food requirements, then put together menu options and a quote. Once you are happy with the menu, we confirm the details in writing before the date is held.
Jain & No Onion, No Garlic
How we handle Jain and sattvic requirements
What does your Jain food exclude?
We prepare Jain menus to the requirements you specify. Commonly this means no onion and no garlic, and no root vegetables such as potato, carrot, beetroot, radish or ginger. Requirements vary between families and communities, so we ask you to tell us exactly what should be excluded rather than assuming, and we confirm that list back to you before the event.
Is Jain food kept separate from the rest of the menu?
Yes. Where Jain or no onion, no garlic dishes are part of a wider menu, they are prepared separately and kept separate through service, with their own serving utensils.
How will guests know which dishes are Jain?
Jain and no onion, no garlic preparations are labelled at the counter so guests can identify them without having to ask. For seated service, our staff are briefed on which dishes are which.
Can the entire menu be Jain rather than just part of it?
Yes. A complete menu, from welcome drinks through to desserts, can be prepared without onion, garlic and root vegetables. Many religious functions and housewarmings are catered this way.
Do you provide Jain catering?
Yes. We are a pure vegetarian caterer, and menus can be prepared to Jain requirements on request. Tell us what your function needs when you enquire and we will confirm what we can arrange.
Can any dish be prepared as a Jain version?
Many can, but not all. Some preparations depend on ingredients that would be excluded, and substituting them changes the dish rather than adapting it. If there is a particular dish you want, ask us about it and availability can be discussed while finalising your menu.
Can you prepare food without onion and garlic?
Yes. Dishes can be prepared without onion and garlic, either across a whole menu or for one section of it. Gravies are rebuilt around curd, cashew, tomato or besan rather than simply having the onion left out, because omitting it without adjusting the base changes the dish for the worse.
Guest Numbers
Quantities, minimums and changing headcounts
Is there a minimum number of guests?
We cater for a wide range of event sizes, from family gatherings through to large functions. Tell us how many people you are expecting and we will let you know what format works best at that size.
How much food is needed for my guest count?
It depends on more than the headcount: the time of day, how long guests are staying, whether the event is seated or standing, and how many dishes are on the menu all change the quantities. Give us those details and we will plan quantities rather than leaving you to estimate.
What if our guest numbers change after booking?
That is normal, particularly for weddings. Tell us as soon as you know. We will agree a point by which the final number needs to be confirmed so that quantities and staffing can be set.
Can you cater for large events?
We cater for a range of event sizes. What we can take on depends on the date, the venue and the menu, so share your expected numbers when you enquire and we will confirm straight away.
Do you cater small family functions?
Yes. Smaller gatherings, house functions and intimate celebrations are planned the same way a larger event is. Tell us the guest count when you enquire and we will confirm what we can arrange for that size.
Service
Staff, equipment and how service runs on the day
Do you provide service staff?
Yes. Service staff can be arranged according to the guest count and the service format, whether that is buffet, seated service or a combination.
Do you bring your own equipment and serveware?
Yes, we bring what the agreed setup requires, including chafing equipment and serveware. Where a venue supplies its own, we will work with what is already there. This is confirmed as part of the quote.
Do you travel to venues outside your usual area?
Tell us where the event is and we will confirm whether we can cater there and whether any travel cost applies.
What types of functions do you cater?
Weddings and engagements, birthdays, housewarming and griha pravesh functions, corporate events, religious functions and ceremonies, festival meals and family gatherings. If your occasion is not on that list, ask us about it.
Pricing
How quotes are put together
How is catering priced?
Catering is usually quoted per guest, and the figure depends on the menu you choose, the number of guests, the service format, the date and the venue location. Because those vary so much between events, we quote per enquiry rather than publishing a fixed price list.
What is included in a quote?
The quote sets out the agreed menu, the quantities, the service format, staffing and any equipment we are bringing, so you can see exactly what is and is not covered before you confirm.
Packages
Starting points, and how they get adjusted
Can catering packages be customised?
Yes, and most are. A package is a starting point that shows how a menu is usually put together. Dish counts, courses, cuisines and service format can all be changed around your event.
Do you have fixed per-person pricing?
No. What a package costs depends on the dishes you choose, the guest count, the venue, the date and the service format, so we quote per event rather than publishing a fixed per-person rate.
Can I add more starters or desserts to a package?
Yes. Items can be added to or removed from any package. Tell us what you want more of and we will adjust the menu and the quote accordingly.
Can packages include live counters?
Where the venue allows them, yes. Live counters need space, power and clearance from the venue, so we confirm what is possible before adding one to your menu.
Event Preparation
Venues, access and getting ready for the day
What do you need from the venue?
Typically access for setup ahead of service, space for the counters or serving area, and water and power where cooking happens on site. For home catering we will check kitchen space and access before finalising the menu.
When do you arrive on the day?
Setup time depends on the menu and the scale of the event. We agree an arrival and service time with you in advance and plan backwards from when guests need to be eating.
Contact & Quote
Getting in touch and what a quote needs from you
How do I get a quote?
Send your event details through the quote form, or call or message us. We will come back with questions about the menu, timings and service format, and then put together a menu and a quote built around what you need rather than a standard price list.
What information should I include when requesting a quote?
The kind of event, roughly when it is, roughly how many guests, and whether there are Jain or no onion, no garlic requirements. If you already know the venue, the meal times and whether you want a buffet or seated service, include those too. Anything you are unsure about can be left blank and worked through with us.
Where We Cater
Gwalior, venues and events held further out
Do you provide catering in Gwalior?
Yes. Gwalior is our home city and where most of our catering takes place, from small house functions through to full multi-day wedding programmes.
What kinds of events do you cater in Gwalior?
Weddings and receptions, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, housewarming and griha pravesh functions, religious and community gatherings, corporate events and family functions at home. If your occasion does not fit a category, ask us about it.
Do you provide Jain catering in Gwalior?
Yes. Menus can be prepared without onion, garlic and root vegetables, either for a whole function or for a clearly marked section of a wider menu. Tell us exactly what should be excluded and we will confirm that list back to you before anything is finalised.
Can you cater an event outside Gwalior?
Possibly, depending on the venue, the date and the size of the function. We have not set a fixed travel radius, so rather than guess, tell us where the event is being held when you enquire and we will give you a straight answer.
Still have a question?
If your question is not answered here, ask us directly. We would rather answer it before you book than leave you guessing.
Contact us