The festival of lights is almost here and so is your opportunity to throw a grand, Diwali dinner party!
The best way to do that is through food - dishes that have been close to your heart and can show your guests what Indian food is all about.
For the big party, you need a catering service that specializes in your favorite cuisine(s). Even a simple search for 'the best Indian catering in Bay Area' can get you many options.
But who can truly bring the right Diwali flavors alive? The answer is in subtle signs that we have come up for you.
5 tips for choosing the best Indian food catering this Diwali
Pick a master of different cuisines
If you’re a Punjabi, your love for Rajma Chawal is justified. But so is your love for a good dosa! We love home-cooked food but also other local classics of India. That’s what makes us different and intriguing to others.
Your Diwali bash would reflect the diversity of Indian cuisine. Choose a catering service that specializes in at least 2-3 Indian cuisines to introduce your guests to a plethora of dishes.
Plus, look for one that can highlight the beauty in every cuisine by crafting a well-balanced menu.
Judge their experience
Experience isn't always counted in years. When choosing an Indian caterer for Diwali, look deeper.
Can they curate a menu to fit your guests’ tastes? Do their options align with dietary restrictions (this is important since your guests might have allergies or intolerances)? Your vegan friends and health-conscious friends would like a menu that’s inclusive.
Pick an Indian catering company that welcomes these restrictions and has alternate recipes that offer Indian food in a flexible avatar.
P.S. Don’t forget to check their customer reviews and ask for references.
Go for full-service and beyond
A Diwali party needs deep planning and dedicated hosting. A full-service Indian catering company will ensure you're focused on the hosting part without worrying about serving or heating food.
Apart from this, you can check whether the company offers you additional suggestions on the menu and service to take your celebration to the next level.
The best Indian catering company will create the perfect Indian experience - from their menu to their hospitality. Things like cutlery and service attire matter too, don't shy away from asking your caterer about them.
Look for quality of service
Your guests would be curious about your Diwali food menu. They'd want to know the description, the preparation, or the story behind the dishes.
While you’re busy throwing a wonderful bash and catching up with the other guests, sometimes, the onus of explaining the dishes will fall on the catering staff.
Before finalizing a caterer, ask them if their staff knows about every dish and if they can communicate that. This will also ensure that the service staff knows about ingredients if there are alterations for those with food restrictions.
Check for authenticity
It's time to be a little nostalgic. Do you remember having your favorite Indian sweet? The reason we loved it was because time, effort, and love went into it.
If you want your Diwali dinner menu to invoke the same love, you should go for a caterer who believes in blending traditional cooking with a Western touch.
You can ask the Indian catering company if they use ingredients like desi ghee or indulge in our beloved slow-cooking processes like hand-rolling rotis, slow-cooking the dal makhani, and so on.
To understand their flavor profiles, you can request a tasting before confirming them.
Diwali is a once-in-a-year celebration and it deserves a premium catering experience.
We hope these tips help you find an Indian catering service that can make your Diwali party a "tasteful" bash, not only in terms of the food but also in presentation and service.