Offsite catering setup checklist before guests arrive

Offsite catering taught me not to trust a perfect prep sheet. The food can be ready and still the job can go sideways because nobody packed tape, serving spoons, trash bags, extension cords, or a backup lighter. The client only sees the missing item, not the kitchen work behind it. I started packing by station instead of by item: hot food, cold food, drinks, service table, cleanup, emergency…