Catering Services Glossary

Buffet Service

This style of service allows your guest one pass through a self serve, two sided table. Rolled silverware is placed on the buffet table and a beverage station(s) is set for your guest to help themselves. Prices are based on a one time pass through the serving line per guest. Buffet service requires a minimum of 25 people.

Preset Service

A style of service that has your beverages, salad, dessert, and utensils on the table prior to your arrival. Entrees can be served, buffet style or preset.

Served Meal

A served meal format has the linens and tableware set on the table. The beverages and all parts of the meal are served by a wait staff in courses. There are variations of this type of service which can be tailored to your specific requirements.

Standard Meal Packages Include

Table linens for food service tables, flatware, linen napkins, table skirts for buffet and head table, beverage service and china. Additional linen, china, and flatware may be rented. Linen rental fees: Cloth Table Skirting—$15.00 per table; Table Cloths—$6.00 each.

Specialized Items

You may desire to enhance your event with items which are not normally a part of the food presentation. This would include ice sculptures, specialty theme decorations, floral arrangements, centerpieces, and modified service style. These items may be subject to an additional charge.

Catering

Campus Dining at Centenary College by Sodexho provides full-service catering. Our expertise ranges from early morning coffee services to breakfast, lunch, dinner, picnics, and receptions. We are proud to serve student, staff, faculty, and visitors.

We have a full selection of preconfigured menus available and can work with you to customize our catering services to fit your particular needs.

Planning Your Event

Call Catering Director Paul Schiro at 318-869-5716 to get started with catering your event. Alternatively, you can email Paul at

The information below may help you plan your event and consider practical issues associated with catering.

Deciding the Nature of your Event

Will it be a dinner? A reception? Will the guest stand or be seated? Will it be casual, formal, or in-between? Do you want food to be served hot, preset, or do you prefer a boxed lunch?

Timelines for Working with the Catering Office

We require a minimum of seven business days to properly plan and staff your catering event. Some arrangements can be made by phone, others require an appointment with the Catering Manager.

After your menu and details have been finalized, you will be sent a confirmation order of all the arrangements, via fax or campus mail. Review the information, sign the confirmation order and return it within five (5) business days to the Catering Office before your event.

We require a final head count three (3) working days before the event. This count is your guaranteed number. On the final bill you will be charged for the guaranteed number or actual attendance, whichever is greater.

Billing Issues

Events sponsored by off-campus groups must place a 50% deposit on the estimated total fourteen (14) business days prior to the event. The balance of your final bill is due at the time of the event.

If your event is to be billed to a Centenary College account, the account number must be supplied at the time your guarantee is given. Any event not billed to a Centenary College account, must be paid at the time of service, either by check or cash.

Tax exempt groups please provide the Catering Office with a tax I.D. number before billing.

Cancellations

Any cancellations made after the three (3) day guarantee will be subject to a charge of 50% of the total cost of the menu items ordered plus any specially ordered items. Cancellations made the day of the event will result in a 100% charge for all items ordered.