Catering by Mcleod's

05/25/2026

Some people do not understand how much work goes into catering, shopping,preparation,cooking, employees and decorating but give you a price on what they want you to charge, I just wish people understood the word catering.

05/20/2026

We will open back up June 1st. Thank you very much.

05/13/2026

June 13th Booked
June 20th Booked
July 4th Booked
August 22nd Booked
October 1st Booked

05/11/2026

Doing a brunch menu....
Do people still get oatmeal?
Do you eat salmon croquettes?
Pan seared toast?
Plantains?
Fruit salad?

04/10/2026

All Love

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

Snapper and Grits

04/08/2026

We will be closed May 19th-May 25th 2026.

03/30/2026

03/16/2026

02/18/2026

Quick Southern dinner sale in my Hometown!!

02/14/2026

Book Venues 2 Rentals and we will show up!!

02/13/2026

Good morning. Let's get up and get at it!!!!

02/12/2026

A MUST READ
THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THIS DOWN

🚨 LET’S TALK REAL CATERING NUMBERS (Educational Breakdown) 🚨

This post is strictly educational. No emotion. Just math.

Event inquiry: • 103 guests
• Total budget: $1,200
That equals:
$11.65 per person

Now let’s be very clear:
The breakdown below reflects the bare minimum cost to execute a very basic catered buffet.
Not luxury.
Not elevated.
Not premium.
Just a simple, entry-level catered meal.

🍗 FOOD COST ALONE (Bare-Bones Menu)
Example basic menu: • Chicken (no premium protein)
• One starch
• One vegetable
• Salad
• Bread

Estimated conservative food cost per guest:
• Chicken (6–8 oz cooked yield) → $3.25
• Starch → $1.25
• Vegetable → $1.40
• Salad + dressing → $1.10
• Bread + butter → $0.75
• Oil, seasonings, prep supplies → $0.85
Minimum food cost per guest: ≈ $8.60
$8.60 × 103 guests = $885.80

And that is strictly groceries.
No staffing.
No transport.
No service equipment.
No profit.

👩🏽‍🍳 LABOR (Minimum Staffing Model)
Even a basic buffet requires:
• 10–14 hours kitchen prep
• Cooking time
• Packing & loading
• 2–3 onsite staff for service
• Setup and breakdown
Bare minimum labor allocation:
$800–$1,200
That is not luxury staffing. That is essential staffing.

🚗 OPERATING COSTS (Required to Legally Operate)
• Chafing dishes & serving equipment
• Sternos & utensils
• Fuel & vehicle wear
• Insurance
• Licensing
• Health compliance
• Disposable dinnerware
• Administrative overhead
Minimum allocation:
$400–$700
These are fixed costs required to run a legitimate catering business.

📊 TRUE MINIMUM COST TO EXECUTE
Food: ~$886
Labor: ~$1,000
Operating Costs: ~$500
Total Bare Minimum Cost: ≈ $2,386
That equals: $23.16 per person — just to break even

This is not a premium experience. This is not steak or salmon. This is not plated service. This is not upgraded décor. This is not specialty desserts.

This is simply a standard, basic catered meal executed professionally and safely.

💰 COMPARISON: BUDGET VS REALITY
Client Budget: $1,200 total
Actual Bare Minimum Cost: ~$2,386
Difference: $1,186 short
Per person: • Budget supports: $11.65 • Basic professional catering costs: $23–$30 minimum

🎓 WHAT THIS MEANS
At $11 per guest: • You are below grocery store catering pricing
• Below most fast-food combos
• Below sustainable operational cost

When a professional caterer quotes $25–$35 per guest for buffet service, that is not inflated pricing.

That is the economic reality of food cost + labor + compliance + overhead.

If your per-person budget is under $20, realistic options may include: • Drop-off only (no staff)
• Simplified menu (2–3 items max)
• Disposable pans only
• Reduced guest count

This breakdown reflects the floor — not the ceiling.
Education allows clients to plan properly. Education allows vendors to operate responsibly.
Professional catering is logistics, labor, compliance, and ex*****on — not just food on a plate.
— Yae’s Eats & Catering LLC

01/31/2026

Jerk pork
Rice and peas
Fried chicken

01/18/2026

First Babyshower of 2026
Epic
This just wasn't a babyshower...
This was pure love
Smiles
Laughter
Dancing
Love filled the room
Legend has a village
Dreams do come true
We were honored to cater this beautiful event
Congratulations again
Tati Howard and Iesha EJ Dunbar!!! And how did we have on matching colors lol
Menu
Honey wings/ Mild Jerk wings/Fried wings
Seafood rice
Baked beans
Meatballs
Pasta salad
Angel Eggs
Fruit/cheese/Crackers
Punch
Simply yet good
Rotel dip and chips

12/23/2025

Hard work pays off