GOOD CLIENTS MAKE GREAT CATERERS

J-BAR-H has the best clients. Very easy statement to make and it couldn't be more true. Given that we started this company among friends, we are blessed to have grown with clients that love us and that we love back. We offer corporate catering, church catering, Non-Profits and Fundraisers as well as Backyard BBQ's and Steakhouse Menus. All of our Hostesses, meeting planners, PTO's and Pharmaceutical reps are special to us and are considered friends.

Every now and then you get a client that grows you and helps you to become a better caterer. I have one of those, and the story of how we came together is pretty hilarious. Long story short, we were hired to do an event for a group associated with a political party. The person referring me knew that I was a member of the other political party but knew they would love our food, I just had to keep things on the down-low. So we do the party in political icognito and come to find that the other side looks and acts just like normal people. The hostess was a gracious Southern Lady with whom I immediately hit it off, and the rest is history. She has used us 6 times since then and is really just one of my favorite people.

We had a chance to cater her Valentine's Day party and really enjoyed cooking for her and her very interesting group of friends. Menu was Steak and Lobster from Anderson Brothers, grilled asparagus and a few sides that the guests provided. Absolutely perfect and fun. The pictures here are from this party.

J-BAR-H loves our clients, and is thankful that we get a chance to make people happy doing what we love and are good at.

We are rolling out our Weddings Made Easy program today and are really looking forward to showing Houston that weddings can be affordable AND still leave a great impression on their guests. This fits nicely with our unwillingness to participate in the recession and passing that sentiment on to our clients! Given that we ONLY do buffet catering, we are already ahead of the competition on price.

We have also developed some decor packages that they can use, even if they don't have us do our full buffets. They are called Wedding In A Box and come complete with table linens, chair covers, centerpieces and other decor items. This, coupled with our great catering prices, will really help the budget-conscious bride push her costs way down.

I know there is a lot of money to be made in weddings, and we are definitely not afraid to ask for our fair share, but I think there is also alot of money that can be saved, with some minor adjustments in expectations. If budget is an issue, and I know it is not in many cases, then is it absolutely necessary to have sit down service? Each server is going to cost upwards of $150 and most weddings end up needing 8 or more plus chef time and dish rental. Are ice sculptures even relevant any more? They are cool and get noticed, but how many weddings have you gone to where they didn't have one? Do we do them because we have to, or are expected to, or because we just love perishable artwork cliches? How about full bars? Thousands can go down the drain in a few hours and then someone has to deal with the drunks. Better to set a few bottles of wine on the tables and some beer on ice and when it runs out, it runs out. This saves not only on booze, but on labor and liability as well. There are many ways to save money on weddings while still producing an affair to remember, we just need to identify the trade-offs and who to make it pop without the missing elements.

In todays sensibilities, I think a nice, reserved wedding, with great quality food is going to be appreciated not only by the guests, but the brides and whoever is footing the bills. We look forward to helping our customers make fabulous memories!