Menu Tasting

Term from Mobile Catering industry explained for recruiters

Menu Tasting is a common practice in the catering and food service industry where potential clients sample proposed dishes before confirming their event booking. It's like a preview of the food that will be served at their actual event. Caterers use these sessions to demonstrate their cooking skills, presentation style, and portion sizes. Similar terms include "Food Tasting," "Tasting Session," or "Sample Menu." This process helps clients make informed decisions about their catering choices and allows caterers to adjust dishes based on client feedback.

Examples in Resumes

Conducted over 50 Menu Tasting sessions with corporate clients resulting in 90% booking rate

Organized weekly Menu Tasting and Food Tasting events for wedding clients

Led Tasting Session presentations for groups of up to 20 potential customers

Typical job title: "Catering Managers"

Also try searching for:

Catering Coordinator Event Planner Food Service Manager Culinary Consultant Menu Development Specialist Catering Sales Manager Event Coordinator

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle a tasting session for a large corporate client with diverse dietary requirements?

Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with managing multiple dietary restrictions, scaling recipes, presentation strategies, and describing how they handle feedback and modifications while maintaining profitability.

Q: Describe your process for planning and executing a tasting menu that stays within a client's budget.

Expected Answer: Should explain how they balance food costs, portion control, and presentation while meeting client expectations and maintaining profit margins. Should mention experience with cost analysis and menu pricing.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you organize a tasting session for multiple clients simultaneously?

Expected Answer: Should explain their system for scheduling, preparing samples, presenting dishes, and collecting feedback from multiple clients while maintaining quality and personalized attention.

Q: What's your approach to incorporating client feedback after a tasting session?

Expected Answer: Should discuss their process for documenting feedback, making menu adjustments, and communicating changes to both the kitchen team and the client.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What information do you collect from clients before a tasting session?

Expected Answer: Should mention basics like number of guests, dietary restrictions, budget, event type, and preferred cuisines.

Q: How do you present dishes during a tasting session?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic presentation techniques, explaining dishes to clients, and handling simple questions about ingredients and preparation methods.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic food presentation
  • Simple menu explanation
  • Client interaction basics
  • Understanding dietary restrictions

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Menu customization
  • Cost calculation
  • Client relationship management
  • Dietary accommodation planning

Senior (5+ years)

  • Advanced event planning
  • Budget optimization
  • Team supervision
  • Strategic menu development

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No knowledge of food safety regulations
  • Inability to handle dietary restrictions
  • Poor communication skills
  • Lack of cost management experience
  • No understanding of portion control