If planned carefully, throwing a party in the office can be more fun and in fact provides more social interaction than going to a restaurant. You can mingle around and colleagues who otherwise couldn't attend can just pop by and have a quick bite. Everyone's included!

One of the key ingredients in making your office party a success is the caterer. After all - parties are first and foremost about the food.

Here's a few tips to help you deal with a caterer:

1. Once you have narrowed down your list of caterers, give them the date or probable dates of your party. The worse thing to happen is to get the menu all firmed up only to know that the caterer has already been fully booked for another event on the same date. Oh, we suggest that the maximum number of caterers you should deal with at this stage is three - otherwise you'll be so confused.

2. The tricky part is firming up the menu and this can get very confusing. It is better to tell the caterer your budget, the number of people you expect and what kind of food you want and get them to give you a quote. Some people we know prefer to get them to give the menu up front and then negotiate from there. This can be time consuming and very hard to do cross comparisons between caterers. (We at foodvenue.com has come up with a very easy to use tool for getting quotes from caterers. Why not check it out today!)

3. Do a comparison from the quotes provided and see which caterer gives you a better deal. Remember that prices should not be the only thing to look out for. Check out what extras they provide - like number of personnel on duty, what sort of drinks they provide and what equipment and consumables are provided (eg trash bags, cutleries, serviettes etc). After you have made a decision, contact the caterer and get his confirmation in writing.

4. Remember to call up your caterer the day before the party. This will avoid any disappointment on the party day.

Okay, you're ready to go!