How to Choose the Right Catering Experience for Your Next Event
Planning a party often starts with the same sentence: “I need catering.” But catering can mean two very different things, depending on how much of the hosting you want to hand off.
At Palmer’s, we offer two distinct services: Gourmet to Go and Full-Service Catering. The right fit isn’t about guest count or occasion type, it comes down to one question: do you want us to make the food, or help run the party?
Here’s the fastest way to figure out which one fits your event:
- Want the food handled, but you’ll run the party yourself? Choose Gourmet to Go. You order, we prepare it, you serve it and clean up.
- Want a full event team on-site? Choose Full-Service Catering. We plan, staff, set up and run the event so you can be a guest at your own party.
- Ordering within the week? That points to Gourmet to Go, built for flexible, shorter-notice timelines.
- Planning months out? That points to Full-Service Catering, which includes event planning support from the start.
- Still not sure? A 30-person birthday at home can go either way — it comes down to whether you want to run the party yourself or hand it off entirely.
GOURMET TO GO: We Cook, You Host
Gourmet to Go is effortless entertaining without an event team in your home. You order from our menu, platters, entrées, desserts, and more, and pick up or have it delivered ready to serve.
Best for:
- Birthday parties, showers and graduations
- Casual cocktail parties and holiday gatherings
- Office lunches and weekend brunch
- Backyard get-togethers
You put out the food and handle the rest — no event planner, no on-site staff, just great food you didn’t have to cook.
FULL-SERVICE: You Host the Guests, We Run the Event
Full-service catering means we send more than food, we send an event team: a captain, chefs, servers and bartenders, coordinated from planning through cleanup.
What’s Included:
- A dedicated event planner and, for private homes, a site walkthrough
- On-site chefs preparing and plating your menu
- Servers and bartenders managing the event
- Rental coordination for tables, linens, china and more
This is the right fit when you want to actually enjoy your own party instead of managing it.
Plan Your Next Event with Palmer’s
For years, Palmer’s has helped hosts throughout Connecticut and Westchester County choose the right catering experience for their event, whether that means a beautifully packed Gourmet to Go order or a fully staffed off-site event. We’ll always point you toward Gourmet to Go if that’s the better fit, even though it’s a separate Palmer’s service.
- Two distinct services, so you’re never paying for more than you need
- A team that’s been doing this for years, not a one-size-fits-all caterer
- Honest guidance, even when the answer sends you to our other service
- Every event backed by the same standard of food, whether it’s a delivered platter or a fully staffed dinner
