On-site barbecue with a chef: What exactly does he do?
A barbecue with an on-site chef is a barbecue where a chef from the catering company grills the meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes on site and monitors their placement on the grill throughout the event.
In short: At De Catering Compagnon, every barbecue is staffed by a chef. We provide on-site grilling services in Amsterdam, Landsmeer, and Zaandam for groups of 40 or more.
You can have a barbecue delivered and grill the food yourself. That works—until you, as the host, end up spending an hour standing at the grill instead of with your guests. That’s why we always send someone along with the barbecue, just like with catering services that include staff in Amsterdam.
On-site barbecue with a chef: what he does during the day
He sets up the grill, decides on the layout of the grates, and starts grilling before the first guest arrives. During the event, he grills in batches rather than preparing everything in advance.
That last point is the biggest difference compared to grilling at home. Whatever comes off the grill goes straight to the guests. Nothing sits in a serving dish for half an hour.
He also keeps track of what’s selling. If the meat is selling out faster than the fish, he adjusts the order. That’s tricky when you’re grilling and hosting at the same time.
The distribution across the schedule
Halal chicken is always grilled. The cook keeps the different sections of the grill separate where necessary and uses separate utensils for those sections.
Stuffed portobello mushrooms are the vegetarian main course and are placed in their own section of the grill, next to the meat and fish. They are not a side dish that is added later.
Fish from Volendam is available, either wrapped in foil or as a whole fish. To find out what else goes on the grill, check out the barbecue section at De Catering Compagnon.
Why a barbecue with an on-site chef makes all the difference
A barbecue takes longer than a buffet. Guests arrive at different times, eat in shifts, and often stick around. A grill that’s full at the start and then stays empty can’t keep up with that.
Because someone is there, the food coming off the grill at the end of the afternoon turns out just as well as it did at the beginning. That’s exactly when grilling on your own goes wrong.
If the weather is bad or space is limited, he makes adjustments. To learn how we set up a barbecue on-site, check out “On-Site BBQ for Businesses in Amsterdam.”
What we need at your site
A spot for the grill on your own property: a courtyard, a parking lot next to the building, a company garden, or the outdoor area of a rented venue. In Amsterdam’s public spaces, virtually nothing is allowed.
There’s also space to set up and a place to charge your devices. If there are any house rules regarding open fires or specific times, please mention them in your request.
We can provide a barbecue for groups of 40 or more. If your group is smaller, a buffet for 30 or more people or appetizers for 15 or more people are good alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a chef come with every barbecue?
Yes. At every barbecue we host, there is a chef on site who grills the food and tends to the grill.
What does the chef do during the event?
He grills in batches, keeps track of what’s being used up, and adjusts the order so that nothing sits waiting in a bowl.
How is the schedule divided up?
Halal chicken is always grilled, and the cook keeps the different cuts separate where necessary, using separate utensils.
Where can we put the barbecue?
On private property: a courtyard, parking lot, company garden, or the outdoor area of a rented venue. Virtually nothing is allowed in public spaces.
From how many people do you provide a barbecue?
For groups of 40 or more. For smaller groups, a buffet for 30 or more people or appetizers for 15 or more people are alternative options.
Are you looking for a barbecue in Amsterdam or the surrounding area where you don’t have to stand behind the grill? Contact us, and we’ll discuss the options and provide you with a customized quote.
