Q: “We are not sure whether we want to use your Inn or an outside venue. Are you flexible to either one?”

A: We can work either way and we have three options:  Dropoff catering where we create your menu at our Inn, package it and deliver to your site only, On-site catering – where we create your menu at our Inn, package it and serve it at your location. Third option where you’ll have the event at our lovely Inn – Rosewood Country Inn. Our Inn has a dining room that seats 80 people and a fully licensed bar. If you need rooms for your guests, we have 11 rooms that can accommodate from 22 to 32 people.  For both outside catering as well as inside, we have a full staff with chefs and waitresses. The biggest difference between our Inn and an outside location is that we do not have license for outside alcohol but we have it for the Inn.

Q: “What is your catering service travel range?”

A: Our range is based primarily on travel time from our Inn in Bradford.  Generally we are willing to travel up to an hour and 15 minutes from our location.  This allows us to include Keene, Lebanon on the West and up to Wilmot and Tilton on the North East and down to Concord/Hooksett/Bow areas in the South East of us.  We provide catering for events and weddings to the west of Concord throughout the Dartmouth Sunapee region. 

We have a small, excellent team so catering is subject to availability. 

Q: What is your Travel/Delivery Fee?

A: Our catering travel/delivery fees do vary by destination. We do our absolute best to keep our events reasonable.

Q: What if I want catering but I do not need staff for the event?

A: That’s fine. We have plenty of events that are just scheduled for drop off service. Drop off catering is easy to coordinate with our guidance and advice.

Q: What if we need staff for our event, do you have staff?

A: Yes! We are so lucky and grateful to have an amazing catering staff that can be there to ensure your food service comes out beautifully.

Q: Do I have to include your staff in our food count?

A: No. We do not require our clients to pay for our staff meals. Of course, other vendors (photographer, officiant, DJ) may ask for you to pay for their meals. Be sure you get clarity on that.

Q: Do you offer bar services?

A: Yes and no. When we cater at the Inn, yes we have an alcohol license and bartenders. When we cater outside the Inn, no, unfortunately we do not have an off-premises license.

Q: Do you offer Gluten-Free, Vegan & Vegetarian options?

A: Of course we do! We are happy to work with you as we plan for your event to ensure you and your guests dietary preferences and any constraints (allergies, lifestyle, religious or simply preferences) are accounted for and we coordinate with you to create a fantastic menu for everyone of your group.

Q: What about food allergies?

A: Allergies do vary in severity. We are not a nut-free facility as an example. Guests with varying levels of allergies should use the same caution they use in daily life and while eating out.

Q: How do I know if I am ordering enough food without overdoing it?

A: We will always give you sound advice with the idea of not wasting food (or money). What you order will depend on your logistics. Meaning… Staffed events with per-person menus are portioned as such to be plenty of food for your guests.

The per person price of the menu covers this. When ordering appetizers it really comes down to how many you want available per guest. Again, we will help guide you in this process.

When ordering for drop off service it is just a matter of getting the amount you feel comfortable with.

Q: How does my food stay hot and fresh while traveling?

A: Your food will travel in equipment that will keep the hot food hot and the cold food cold.  This is taken into account when we consider the distance we are willing to travel for your event.

Q: What time do you arrive?

A: For drop off catering orders we aim to arrive a little earlier or on-time for the time listed on your contract and in our schedule. For staffed events we will generally arrive a minimum of one hour prior to your event. 

Q: What if I don’t know my guest count just yet?

A: That’s ok. Depending on how far out you are booking it is not expected you know your final guest count. All catering contracts are assigned a “Final-By” date. This is the date when you will give your final count and make any last changes to your order.

 Q: Can I make changes to my order after my final-by date?

A: We try to take a “case-by-case” approach to this one. Last minute changes can be challenging for logistics such as prep and product availability.

Q: How do I know how many appetizers to order for my guests?

A: If you’re only serving appetizers (small bites) you will want to keep in mind this might be your guests’ meal. You should order as such. For quick events where food is simply there as a gesture (think of an “open house for a business” as an example), you may consider keeping things light. When there is another meal coming after appetizers you’ll want to order based on if you want a light, average or heavy cocktail hour. While working with our clients we can offer guidance on various scenarios so you can decide which is best for your event.

Q: Have you been to “ABC Venue” before?

A: We get to new places all the time… including new function spaces, private residences and “Uncle Harry’s Barn.” In all cases we set ourselves and you up for a successful event by asking the relevant questions about the space. If possible, we will do a small visit prior to the event so we can get all the logistics (i.e. parking, walking distance, where we can set things, etc).

Q: Are your menus set? Or, Can we change things around?

A: Our menu on our website is there to give you some basic ideas.  We believe catering your event should mean your preferences are truly “catered too”, so while your tastes may be similar to another party we did ‘just last week’ you can always ask if we can substitute menu items.  Some choices will not impact the cost at all. Example… We want garlic mashed potatoes instead of plain mashed or roasted potatoes? That’s an even swap. Some changes or add-ons will change your price. Example… Want pulled pork, or lobster meat with your Mac n Cheese Bar? Those will each add to your cost, just a matter of how much.

Q: What if I want something that I do not see on your menu?

A:  Since we consider our menu just a jumping off point for your event planning we are quite used to this, to the point of it being normal.  We will discuss with you your preferences and work with our chef to ensure the components are available to create your dish and continue on.  We enjoy expanding our repertoire and working with our customers to create the menu they had envisioned.

Q: For outside events, do you offer plates, flatware, glasses?

A: No, we do not.  In general we find most of our off-site events find it’s less expensive for you to rent these from an outside tent and event supplier, if want china, flatware and water goblets for guests. For many of our more casual events, simple disposables work well too.

Q: For Inn events, do you have plates, flatware, glasses?

A: Yes we do. We provide everything as a complete service at the Inn. According to your needs and style, we can provide all china, flatware and goblets or all disposables if you so desire.

Q: Who cleans after the event ends?

A: When we do a simple dropoff, you will be responsible for cleaning everything from your event.

When we involve our staff at your location, we will take care of packaging up, cleaning up our area and all cleaning up any rental plates/cutlery/glassware used during the meal, or alternatively throwing away disposable items using during the meal.  Once the food service has been completed, we will package up any remaining food for you and place in the designated location you provided. 

When we cater at our Inn, we will clean and store any leftover food for you. We will either pack the leftover food to take home, or when we have an event with rooms at our inn, we will store everything in our butler’s pantry for you to have as a midnight snack.

Q: Can you do plated dinners or buffet?

A: We can do either. Our preference is buffet but we can do plated for smaller parties. We can only accommodate 20 people for plated but for buffet format anywhere up to approximately 150. 

Q: If I just want to use disposable plates, etc. for my event is that OK?

A: Of course. Many spaces are better suited for disposables.

Q: How much table space will I need for food?

A: If at the Inn, we have plenty of space. For outside catering, it will depend on what you order and if you want to put all the food out at once. For a staffed event we will let you know how much table space you need for cocktail hour, dinner and dessert. Standard Buffet set up is two, eight foot tables. If you also have appetizers you may want smaller tables set at varied locations to allow your guests to wander from group to group having different conversations.

Q: What if my venue does not have a kitchen?

A: A venue kitchen is not necessary. Even if a venue does have a great kitchen we will plan on using it only for last minute touch ups. For staffed events we just require a “catering space” to be available for us to use. A catering space could be a separate tent for outdoor events or a separate room for an indoor event. The logistics and details of your event will determine the best space within your venue. We’ll help you figure it out.

Q: Can we meet with you in person to discuss our event?

A: You are certainly welcome to come to visit with us at our Inn in Bradford, NH.  Our simple request is that you schedule a time with us so that we are sure to be there and be prepared for our conversation.  We will ask that once your menu is decided that you review our event summary document to ensure all that we have captured on our “source” document matches your intent, we will share this via email.

Q: Do you offer Event Planning Services?

A: As part of our menu planning we always incorporate some elements of event planning.  However at this time, we do not have a specific event planner on staff for off-site events.  If you are holding your event here at our Inn, we will build more elements for your event into what we provide. 

Q: Can I get a quote?

A: We offer a basic starting price for your event once we get the basics from you on your event:  here at our Inn, off-site at your location, date, number of guests you are planning on inviting etc.  Once those basics are established we ask you about ideas for the menu and help provide guidance on pricing as well as how well certain dishes do in your environment.   We work to ensure your catering contract includes any applicable fees, so you are fully aware of the final cost (possible fees include): Delivery/Travel, Staffing/Service Charges, Basic SetUp (for drop off), NH Tax and Gratuity.

Q: How do tastings work?

A: We will coordinate with you to establish a menu of what you would like to taste as well as  when it fits your schedule as well as ours.  Tastings do include a fee, and that fee will be dependent on the number of folks coming to the tasting.

Q: What is the best way to coordinate with you to plan my event?

A: We are available for our clients in person, by phone, and email. Our clients frequently comment on how much we helped them plan for a fantastic event!