FAQs

Serving Size Guide

AM & PM Tea
For a morning or afternoon office tea, we recommend 1-3 pieces per person. Popular choices include sandwiches, fruit, and pastries.

Lunchtime
For lunch, we suggest 3-5 pieces of finger food or canapés per person. This can include a mix of sandwiches, sliders, easy-to-eat finger foods, fruit, and slices.

Canapé Dinner Event
For events in the late afternoon or early evening, we recommend serving food in 15-20 minute intervals. Start with lighter, cold items and gradually move to more substantial dishes. This can be a mix of canapés, platters, and sweets.

Pick Up

Our canapés come fully cooked, presented in eco-friendly BioPak boxes, and ready to reheat or serve at room temperature to your guests. The food is arranged on disposable platters and/or boxes with clear lids for your convenience. For items like burgers, skewers, and arancini, simply place the boxes (without the lids) in a 160°C oven for about 5-10 minutes. Standard pick-up hours are from 7 am to 4 pm. If you need to pick up outside of these hours, please let our catering manager know, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

Delivery

We offer delivery to your specified address, with delivery charges quoted individually. Your food will arrive fully cooked and presented in eco-friendly BioPak boxes, just like with pick-up. If you don’t have the oven capacity to reheat, we can deliver the food hot, so your guests can enjoy it right away.

Assembly Required

Not all of our items travel well and may need a bit of assembly by an organiser to ensure they're at their best. Clear instructions will be provided to help you serve these items perfectly.

Cook & Delivery Only

We cook, present, and arrange delivery or pickup for your items. From cooking to serving and cleanup, we ensure a seamless experience. Should you wish to elevate your experience, you can arrange to hire staff to assist.

Minimum Spends

Monday-Friday: $250
Saturday: $500
Sunday & Public Holidays: $1000

Packaging

At Bendigo Gourmet Catering Co, we choose to use BioPak for our packaging needs because of their commitment to environmental sustainability. BioPak's eco-friendly, compostable food packaging aligns with our values of providing fresh, simple, and tasty food while minimizing our environmental impact. Their carbon-neutral products, made from plant-based materials, help us contribute to a more sustainable future and ensure that our catering services remain both high-quality and environmentally responsible.

Staffing Guidelines

To ensure excellent service at your event, we recommend one staff member for every 25 guests. For events requiring on-site cooking, a chef may be necessary. Our professional and friendly staff members are fully uniformed and trained to provide exceptional service, making your event run smoothly and efficiently. Please note that staffing costs are additional to the food and beverage charges, and we only hire out staff for catered events, not for dry hire. Additionally, travel fees may apply*.

Canapés Events

For canapés events with 100 or more guests, especially if serving hot food, we recommend staffing to ensure smooth service over 2-4 hours. Our team will arrive early to set up, start food service at the designated time, and engage with guests while offering food. They are knowledgeable about dietary specifications and provide courteous service. After food service, our staff will pack any leftover food into takeaway boxes or leave it out for guests to enjoy, ensuring a tidy and enjoyable event for you. For canapés events, we recommend one chef per 50 guests and one waiter per 35 guests.

Plated Meals and Sit-Down Events

For plated meal and sit-down events, we recommend staffing based on the number of guests to ensure efficient service. Our team will use the on-site kitchen to serve food and clear dishes, ensuring a seamless dining experience. Adequate kitchen space is essential for the smooth operation of these events. For sit-down events, we recommend staffing based on the final number of guests attending.

Grazing Buffet Events

For grazing buffet events, our staff will heat the food using your facilities and have the buffet ready at your specified time. One team member is typically sufficient for this setup, but additional staff can be arranged if needed for larger events.