25 guides
Catering Equipment
Catering Equipment
Backyard BBQ for 100 Guests: The Complete Equipment List
Everything to rent or bring for a backyard barbecue for 100 guests: grills, tables, tent, chairs, cooling, serving gear, trash and a layout.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Buffet Line Layout: How to Serve 100 Guests Fast
How to lay out a buffet line so 100 guests are served in 30 minutes. Single, double-sided and island layouts, order of foods and table math.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Cake Stand Sizes for Wedding Cakes and Cake Table Setup
Choose a cake stand or cake table size that fits your tiers, serves your guests and survives the venue: sizes, servings and a tier-to-stand chart.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Catering Prep Tent and Back-of-House Space: Size and Layout
How big a catering tent needs to be, what goes in it, and how to place it near the event tent for a backyard or park event in the Chicago area.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Cotton Candy Machine Rental: How Much Floss Per Guest
How many servings a cotton candy machine makes, the sugar and cone count for 50 to 200 guests, power needs and humid-weather tips for Chicago events.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Dessert Table Equipment Checklist: Stands, Plates and Layout
What to rent for a dessert table: cake stands, risers, plates, forks, signs and linens, plus a count for 50 to 200 guests and a layout diagram.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Drop-Off Catering Equipment Checklist: What to Rent to Serve It
Drop-off catering arrives in foil pans and no equipment. Use this checklist to rent heat, tables, linens, plates and tools to serve it properly.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Food Safety at Home Parties: Temperatures, Timing and Gear
The temperatures, time limits and equipment that keep guests safe at a home party or backyard event, from chafers to coolers and a simple checklist.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Food Station Ideas and the Equipment Each One Needs
Ten food station ideas for weddings and parties, with the tables, heat, power and tools each needs, plus a station count by guest list.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Grill Rental for Events: Size, Fuel and Safety Rules
How to choose a rental grill for a party or wedding: propane vs charcoal, grill size per guest count, safety clearances and Chicago-area rules.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
How Many Beverage Dispensers Do You Need for a Party?
How many 3 and 5-gallon beverage dispensers to rent for 25 to 200 guests, with serving math, ice, flavors and a Chicago summer vs winter guide.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
How Many Chafing Dishes Do You Need for a Buffet?
Count chafing dishes by menu items, not guests. A simple formula, a chart for 25 to 200 guests, fuel times and Chicago winter and summer tips.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
How Many Coffee Urns Do You Need? Cups per Guest Chart
Plan coffee for 25 to 200 guests, with urn sizes, cups per guest, brewing time and a tip to keep coffee hot at Chicago events.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Ice Cream Sundae Bar Setup: Equipment, Toppings and Counts
Plan an ice cream sundae bar for 25 to 150 guests: freezer and dry ice options, scoops per guest, toppings, bowls and a layout that avoids melting.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Keeping Food Cold at Outdoor Events: Coolers, Ice and Timing
How much ice and how many coolers to plan, how to hold cold food at 41 F or below, and how to stay safe in a hot Chicago summer.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
How to Keep Food Hot at an Outdoor Event
Practical ways to hold food at 135 F outdoors: insulated carriers, chafers, wind shields, timing and a Chicago spring and fall wind guide.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Nacho Cheese Dispenser and Hot Dog Roller Rental Guide
Party concession gear explained: how many hot dogs a roller holds, nacho cheese quantities, power needs and food safety for Chicago events.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Pizza Oven Rental for Events: Capacity, Fuel and Safety
How mobile pizza ovens work for parties and weddings: pizzas per hour, guests served, wood vs gas, space needs and Chicago safety and permit tips.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Plated vs Buffet vs Family Style: What Equipment Each Needs
Compare plated, buffet and family-style service by equipment, staff, space and chairs, with a checklist for each. Written for Chicago-area planners.
5 min read
Catering Equipment
Popcorn Machine Rental: Sizes, Supplies and Serving Math
How to choose a popcorn machine for your party, how much popcorn and supplies you need per guest, and where to set it up at a Chicago event.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Serving Utensils Checklist: Tongs, Spoons and Ladles for Every Dish
A dish-by-dish serving utensils checklist for buffets and stations, with counts per guest list and the mistakes that slow down the line.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Snow Cone Machine Rental: Ice, Syrup and Servings per Hour
How much ice and syrup to buy for a snow cone machine, servings per hour, cup counts for 50 to 200 guests and where to put it on a hot Chicago day.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Tables and Linens for Caterers: Buffet, Prep and Service Tables
What tables, skirting and linens a catered event needs for buffets, bars, prep and back of house, with counts by guest list and cloth sizes.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
Trash, Recycling and Composting Stations for Events
How many trash cans, recycling bins and compost stations to place for 50 to 200 guests, where to put them and how to plan hauling in Chicago.
4 min read
Catering Equipment
How to Work With a Caterer and a Rental Company Together
A practical guide to splitting the equipment between your caterer and rental company: who brings what, questions to ask, timelines and a handoff checklist.
4 min read
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