Having party catered makes sense during holiday time

The holiday party is traditionally meant to be a joyous occasion, however, many seasoned hosts have thrown in the DIY towel for a much more relaxed catered event.

Gwen Azaar takes advantage of the bevy of local caterers so that she may enjoy the party from a pampered perspective.

“I love to give parties every holiday, from Halloween to Christmas, and did it all myself for 30 years,” said the retired homemaker. “It’s so much fun, and I think cheaper, to hire a caterer. It’s so fun to pick and choose your menu based on your budget and squeeze in so much good food. ”

The only work comes in finding a good caterer, she warned.

“Once you find a good caterer, and that’s not easy, hold on to them like you would a good man,” said Azaar, who has been married 45 years.

Finding a caterer online can be much like courting a mate via a dating site. The website may look great with a fancy font and polished pictures, but you want to know what you are getting into before you make a serious commitment.

“The key to hiring a good caterer is to look at their customer service and quality of food,” said Nico Nikpour, who opened Nevada Chicken Café at 6155 W. Sahara Ave. in 2005.

“So many people have events and don’t have time for cooking, or if they do they can’t enjoy their party, too,” said Nikpour, who has more than two decades experience in the restaurant and hotel industry. “It’s so much easier to hire a caterer. You can relax and enjoy your party and, believe it or not, it’s much cheaper to cater than to cook and shop and do all the work yourself.”

His restaurant offers catering from $8 to $12 per person, with lunchbox and other packaged catering starting at around $6 per person.

The walk-in restaurant serves fresh salads, soups, chicken, beans and other items. He arrives at 6 a.m. daily to begin the preparation for the pico de gallo, mashed and roasted potatoes, bakedbeans, black beans, fresh fruit, broccoli pasta and chicken pasta salads.

“We also have our famous chicken chili soup, which is very popular,” Nikpour said.

The key to the success of his business is in his efforts to create affordable menus with fresh products.

“We are into helping people save,” he said. “We give away gift certificates, you can get 20 percent off when your order is over $100, and we have buy-one-get-one-free offers. It’s very important these days that people feel comfortable, so saving is a big priority in our business.”

A good caterer will always offer fresh ingredients, Nikpour said.

“We get our supplies daily, from our chicken to our produce, and we do not use a microwave or freeze our food before it comes to you,” he said. “Our ribs are so popular because they are cooked differently. We are selling 100 slabs of ribs daily. They are marinated and cooked right from the grill, like a steak. Our baby back rib is marinated and finished on a mesquite charcoal grill. And we sell 2,000 pieces of chicken daily. We have gourmet wraps and sandwiches, pulled pork sandwich and the wrap is all homemade. We make our own tortillas.”

When considering a caterer, consider your budget, he said. You can do a lot with a little if you do your homework and shop for a caterer that fits well with your needs, both epicurean and financial.

“We listen to people’s needs,” he said. “If you tell us all you need, we will make it happen.”

Doreen Drago, partner and head decorator of Drago Sisters, agrees.

It’s important to discuss all your needs, down to dietary specifications and intricate design ideas, as well as listen to what the caterer is and isn’t saying, said Drago, whose 5-year-old catering business at 6870 S. Rainbow Blvd. specializes in personalized cakes and baked goods for any occasion and small weddings.

“With all the flavors of cake, icings and fillings that we offer, a client has a lot to choose from,” the longtime chef said. “A tasting and personal consult helps them pick what combinations they like best as well as gives them design ideas that will go well with their budget.”

The most popular item on the Drago Sisters catering menu is a light, fluffy dessert that fits well with most budgets and holiday party themes.

“Tres leches is by far our best-seller,” Drago said. “It’s a vanilla cake soaked in three different kinds of cream, then topped off with fresh whipped cream.”