Example listing
Mediterranean buffet caterer
Grilled platters and mezze for 30–300. Vegetarian and halal menus. Office lunch and iftar experience shown on profile.
The food is the event. Plan it like it matters.
Food For Event matches office lunches, weddings, graduations, and iftars with caterers who actually do that kind of event — and gives you the quantity math so 80 guests never get food for 50.
Browse by event
Four events we know cold.
Every event type has its own rhythm — delivery windows, dietary spread, serving style. We build caterer matching around the event, not just the cuisine.
How it works
- Tell us the event
Date, headcount, ZIP, and event type. Dietary needs and budget if you have them.
- Compare real quotes
Matched caterers send menus priced for your exact headcount — no "call for pricing."
- Book and host
Confirm one caterer, get a delivery-or-staffed plan in writing, and go be the host.
Plan the quantities
Headcount estimator
The most common catering mistake is ordering per person instead of per event. Set your numbers and get a working estimate — all math happens in your browser.
Your working estimate
| Main dishes | — |
|---|---|
| Sides | — |
| Bread / rice base | — |
| Drinks | — |
| Dessert portions | — |
| Typical budget range | — |
A planning estimate, not a quote. Real pricing depends on menu, city, and service level — your matched caterers confirm exact quantities.
What a listing looks like
Caterer profiles built for comparing.
We're onboarding our first Chicago caterers now. These sample cards show the format every listing follows — the tiles below are illustrations, not real businesses.
Example listing
Boxed-lunch specialist
Individually labeled boxes with dietary icons, delivered in timed waves for offices and conferences.
Example listing
Full-service wedding caterer
Plated and station service with staff, rentals coordination, and tasting sessions before you book.
For caterers
List your catering business.
You cook for events every week; we bring you the ones that fit your kitchen. Founding Chicago caterers set their own minimums, delivery radius, and lead times — and keep direct contact with every customer.
- Requests arrive with date, headcount, and budget already attached
- No pay-to-rank: profiles are ordered by fit to the event, not by fees
- Free to list during the Chicago launch period
Questions, answered plainly
FAQ
Is Food For Event live yet?
Not yet. We're building the Chicago marketplace first and onboarding founding caterers now. Searching and booking open at launch; until then, the headcount estimator above works fully in your browser.
Does using the marketplace cost event hosts anything?
No. Hosts compare quotes and book for free. At launch, caterers pay a small fee on booked events — never for placement in results.
Can you handle dietary requirements?
That's the point of matching by event. Requests carry dietary counts (vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, allergies), and caterers respond only if they can cover them, with labeling included.
What sizes of event do you cover?
From a ten-person team lunch to several hundred wedding guests. Each caterer sets their own minimum and maximum; your matches already fit your headcount.
How accurate is the headcount estimator?
It uses standard catering portion planning — roughly a half pound of mains per adult, scaled by service style and crowd. Treat it as a planning floor; your caterer confirms final quantities against the actual menu.