Anyone who has ever planned or attended a social event or convention knows that the quality of the venue's catering services often makes-or-break the experience. No matter how much work goes into planning your event, it's hard to compensate for lousy food and service. Whether you're hosting a social event, a multi-day convention, or a small-medium sized meeting, the event venue's catering staff bear enormous responsibility for the success of your gathering. Fortunately, anyone hosting an event at The Salem Convention Center in downtown Salem, Oregon can always count on our first-class catering staff. We have organized thousands of corporate and social events over the years, and years of irreplaceable experience at all levels of event management. Here are six features that make our catering services stand out from other event venues in Oregon. #1- Strong Leadership. Outstanding event catering requires a reliable, professional event team that runs like a well oiled machine, and that can only be achieved with strong leadership. With a dream team of leaders like Salem Convention Center's General Manager, Chrissie Bertsch, Executive Chef, Tory Knaus, Director of Catering, Theresa Greco, and Director of Banquet Operations, Robert Maple, the catering staff at The Salem Convention Center is set up for success. #2- Exceptional Service The quality of our catering staff is one of the primary reasons our client satisfaction ranking is so exceptional. When we asked event coordinators and former guests what made the event stand out to them, many of them told us it's the quality and excellence of the food service. It is not uncommon to hear feedback from our guests, which includes comments like``the plated food service was delicious” or “The kitchen produced meals and snacks that wowed our guests and kept everyone fueled throughout the day.” Here are some other actual testimonials of Salem Convention Center's catering services posted in Google Reviews. “The catering service here is amazing - been multiple times and every time the food is delicious!” Summer B. “Great venue. I attended a catered event here, and the food and service were amazing!” - Adam W. “They did an amazing job preparing the salmon for a huge banquet dinner!” Jennifer B. “The food is exceptional! Fresh, flavorful, and clearly labeled if food is gluten free, dairy free, etc.”- Kristen M. “Very nice facility and very nice staff. The food and deserts they prepare are of exceptional quality. Do not hesitate to book your events here.” - Michael M. #3- Customized Menus Being an outstanding caterer also means building customized menus to meet a client's specific needs. We like to meet one-on-one with our clients to talk through their preferences, favorite foods, event themes, etc. We take multiple factors into account such as the type of event planned, budget, the size of the crowd, desired beverage services, dietary restrictions, food allergies, whether the event is elegant or casual, preferences on plated or buffet style service, and more. To establish an appropriate balance with their menu, we advise our clients on dishes they can afford to be a little more daring (like passed hors-d'oeuvres, side dishes, desserts) and main entrees would be better suited for a diverse group of people. By using local seasonal produce and making smart choices, our dynamic catering team knows how to create a menu that is special, but not overly costly. #4- Flexibility Not only are they flexible with customized menus, our catering team can move seamlessly from an afternoon business meeting with box lunches to an elegant black-tie charity gala with passed hors-d'oeuvres, plated food service and a full bar all in the same day. That can only be accomplished through strong leadership, knowledge and experience. #5- Our signature “all-under-one-roof” approach Corporate and social event planners in the Mid-Willamette Valley and beyond have come to appreciate and depend on our “all-under-one-roof” service through the years. This means that in addition to full catering services, you will have access to our on-site event coordinator, tables, chairs, centerpieces, linens, reliable staff to set up and tear down the room, large dance floors, entertainment staging, complete audio-visual services and more. This approach not only makes event logistics easier, but also saves our clients time and money (not to mention less stress!). #6- Our Commitment to Using Sustainable Produce & Fresh Seasonal Ingredients What makes Chef Tory's catering menus so unique, yet widely appealing? Perhaps it's his love for cooking with the seasonal bounty you can only find in the Willamette Valley, and his die-hard passion for creating locally sustainable menus using these culinary treasures. Chef and his team continually strive to serve the freshest, finest local cuisine at each event here at the Salem Convention Center. Our culinary team's inspiration is to support local growers and farmers by bringing the Northwest's freshest bounty to your event. This passionate approach is our hallmark in serving consistent and high quality cuisine, while supporting Oregon's sustainability. Let us cater your perfect meal! Not only will we ensure the quality of the food and beverage service is top-notch, but we will also seamlessly coordinate the logistics of menu selection, place settings, room layout, decoration, and other key elements. Whether it's a selection from our extensive menu, or a special menu tailored to your specific needs, the Salem Convention Center has arrived on Oregon's culinary map! In addition, event attendees enjoy the convenience of having The Grand Hotel in Salem and Bentley's Restaurant attached to the facility. Ready to get started? We are now booking events through 2022! Start now by completing our Request for Proposal form or calling us at 1-866-614-1900. For more information about our catering services, please contact our catering department at 1-866-614-1900 or email us at catering@salemconventioncenter.org.
