4 Top Tips for Choosing Event Catering

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4 top tips for choosing catering bundaberg4 Top Tips for Choosing Catering

Planning an event can be hard work.  Catering your event can be a daunting task! If you are in Bundaberg or Maryborough we want to make life a little easier.  We’ve compiled a list of some important considerations when choosing your menu.  Here are 4 Top Tips for Choosing Catering:

1. How would you describe your guests?

think about who you have invited… what do they like? how old are they? what is the purpose of your function? if the majority of your guest list is made up of health-conscious, dairy free, vegans we wouldn’t suggest hot finger food platters (although perfect for an after work get together).  Our Pesto Pumpkin Salad Boxes on the other hand, would be a sure winner.  Likewise, if your event is about networking then choose smaller food items that are easier to hold and digest mid-conversation.

Fortunately, we’ve be doing this for over 10 years, so our food is designed for all types of functions, guests and food size requirements!  To see our entire menu, visit https://orders.alowishus.com.au/menu

2. What time of day is the function?

Are you starting early with a breakfast or perhaps a pre-dinner drink? This may be obvious but no one really wants to have a brekkie yoghurt with a G&T! Once you determine your time of day it is very easy to narrow down your food decisions.

3. How many guests and how long are they staying?

If you are going for an all dayer, it’s important to remember you will need more food over the time.   If you’re only doing a pre-dinner drink function you will not be needing such large amounts of food.  You can see the number of pieces and recommended guest numbers on our website.  4 Top Tips for Choosing Catering

4. What is your space?

Where will your function be held? What facilities and equipment do you have? What are you prepared to do pre and post the function?

When ordering with Alowishus all your food will arrive beautifully boxed so all you need to do is open the lid.  

We hope you found these 4 Top Tips for Choosing Catering helpful.

Order Catering online – Click Here

Handy tips – How To Make the Most of the Alowishus App

 

We’ve Been Working Hard to Make Things Better for You

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While these past few months sure have been crazy times, it’s also been a chance to get better and create some new ways to make dining at Alowishus easier for our awesome customers.

Some of those you’ve already seen….

No doubt the biggest change you would have noticed is the all-new Alowishus Out Front making it easier to collect your take-away coffee and food orders and, much easier to social-distance than in the arcade. In fact, if you order using the Alowishus app, you don’t need to come down the arcade at all.

Also, have you tried the new option to order from your table when dining in?

It’s really easy…

  • Find a vacant table
  • Open the app on your phone and click ‘How are you ordering today?’
  • Choose ‘Order at Table’ and enter your table number (which is on a token attached to the table)
  • Follow the instructions to add items to your cart and pay
  • Sit back and relax while we prepare your order and bring it to you

Speaking of preparing your order, you might have noticed that at certain times of day it can get a little busy at Alowishus.

One of the things we pride ourselves on is giving you fresh tasty food…fast! So, we can’t leave you waiting around for too long now can we?

That’s why we are working on a major overhaul of our kitchen to make it waaay more efficient. If you’ve been in, you might have even noticed some work going on.

But it’s not just about making more room and moving things around. We have been looking very carefully at where the bottlenecks are in the preparation process as well as revising our staffing levels so we can be even better.

It’s all about making your Alowishus experience even better whether you are looking for a coffee, a quick bite to eat on the run, or you are catching up with friends for lunch.

Come check out what’s new at the always improving, Alowishus Delicious.

Did you know – Alowishus Nights Are Back!

Handy tips – How To Make the Most of the Alowishus App

WATCH – Have you seen Alo Out Front?

Alowishus Nights Are Back

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Did you know that one of the reasons Alowishus Delicious was started was so that the people of Bundaberg could have a café that was open late? One of our original ‘reasons for being’ was to provide a hub where people could enjoy a casual supper, a special dessert, or a social nightcap.

Over the last few months, having to limit our hours to daytime only has made us feel like a special part of Alowishus has been missing.

That’s why we are super-excited to let you know that we are open again open on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 pm in Bundy and 9pm in Maryborough.

What’s more, we are going to have some special offers to make it easier for you to come and relax with us on a Friday or Saturday night.

There will be dessert specials after 6 pm and, if you sign up for the Alowishus Good News newsletter, we will let you know about some other awesome late night offers.

We are really happy about this and we can’t wait to see you for nightcap or dessert at Alowishus soon.

Read more about why we started Alowishus.

See how we support our community.

WATCH – Have you seen Alo at the front?

Wanna Go Green? Love Caffeine? Go Green Caffeen!

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Alowishus introduces Green Caffeen.

Did you know that over a billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away each year in Australia? Most end up in landfill or the ocean.

That’s why we’ve already gone to great lengths to make sure our takeaway cups are made from eco-friendly materials that break down quickly and completely.

But now we are taking things a step further….

We are super-excited to up the ante on our mission to reduce waste by becoming a Green Caffeen café. Best of all, if you want to do your bit to help us reduce landfill even more, it’s FREE.

So, what is Green Caffeen?

Green Caffeen is a FREE reusable cup system for eco-focused cafes and coffee lovers across Australia. The goal is to make it incredibly easy for coffee lovers to make the switch from disposable cups to reusable cups.

In their words, “Cafes love it, coffee drinkers dig it and the planet high fives you for it.”

How Does It Work?

Step 1 – Ordering Your First Green Caffeen at Alowishus

Download the Green Caffeen app and fill in your details to register. 

NOTE: You will be asked for some credit card details even though the program is free. 

“But why?” you may ask. 

Well, you know how if you keep a library book you eventually get charged for it? If you keep your cup for more than 30 days, you will be charged $12.99 to recover the cost. 

Step 2

Order your coffee at Alowishus as usual (we give you 20 cents off for going green).

  • If ordering at the counter, let us know you are a Green Caffeen user
  • If ordering on the Alowishus app, select Green Caffeen cup when choosing your drink size

Step 3

Using the Green Caffeen app, scan the code which you will find on a sticker at the register or at the coffee machine – pick up point.

Step 4

Enjoy your coffee in your Green Caffeen cup knowing you are doing the planet a favour.

Step 5

Next time you order a coffee from us or another participating café (you can find them all on the Green Caffeen app), simply hand over your old cup and scan out a fresh one.

Here’s a Few Questions We’ve Been Asked Already…

What if I forget my cup?

Don’t worry, you can have up to two cups scanned out at any one time. Just make sure you return it to a participating café within 30 days.

Do I wash my cup before I return it?

Unless you love the smell of stale coffee in your car or office, it’s probably a good idea to rinse it out. But like all our cups, dishes, and cutlery we will wash it thoroughly and sanitise it before giving it to another customer. 

Can I just return a cup without ordering coffee?

Yes. Just hand us the cup and scan the code to say you have returned it.

What do I say to people who point out my reusable cup is plastic?

Green Caffeen cups are made from FDA-approved food-grade recycled plastic, which means they’re even greener than they look.

They’re also:

  • BPA free
  • 100% Australian made
  • Energy efficient to produce
  • Fully recyclable, when they eventually pack it in.

Be assured you’re part of the solution rather than the problem.

Got more questions?

Check out the Green Caffeen website here – they have lots of info on their website. 

Or just ask us how to enjoy your coffee and be kind to the planet.


READ – How we have reduced our waste to landfill by two whole industrial bins per week!

READ – Alowishus, queen of the Instagram feed

WATCH – A bit of background on our Pay It Forward Program at Alowishus Delicious

How To Make the Most of the Alowishus App

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Lots of our wonderful customers have taken the brave step of embracing technology and are enjoying the rewards that come with using our app.

Now, we know there are some who just want to order and pay the traditional way and that’s perfectly fine.

But… we also know that there are some people who would love to use our app more often but just aren’t sure about a few things.

Hopefully, we can clear some of those up for you.

I’ve ordered and paid for a takeaway coffee on the app. Do I let them know at the register?

No. Just come straight to the pick-up point and wait for your order to be called. We’ll also send a text message to your phone to let you know it’s ready if you happen to get distracted on your way.

Can I ‘dine in’ and pay using the app?

Sure can. 

  • Select ‘Pay In-Store’ when the app asks how you are ordering
  • You will see a number on your screen that our staff can also see on our system to match up your order
  • Go to the register and order as usual and let the staff member know you are paying with the app

I can only order drinks on the app when I order ahead – what about food?

You can order food from our Maryborough Location.  For our Bundy Grab and Go Locations, just choose what you want in store and pay at the counter with your app. See the answer above to see how to pay with the app and earn points.  

How do I make sure the app uses my rewards credit, not my stored payment method?

So long as you have redeemed points for credit, the app will automatically use that before charging your stored payment method.

Speaking of points, there’s no page on the app that tells me what I can get for ‘X’ amount of points…

Every dollar you spend earns you 10 reward points, or part thereof.  For example, if you spend $5 you get 50 points and if you spend $4.90 you get 49 points.

Once you get to 500 points the app will prompt you to redeem your points for a $5 credit. If you don’t redeem it, you will be prompted again at 1000 points to redeem for a $10 credit.

Does that help?

If you’ve installed the app but have been feeling a bit uncertain about using it, we hope that clears a few things up and gives you the confidence to go ahead and start earning points.

If you haven’t installed our app yet, go ahead and do it, there’s a nice surprise waiting for you – we’ll give you a $5 credit upfront to get you started.

Of course, as always, if you want to chat with us in person, we’re always happy to help.

 

Order catering in Bundaberg and Maryborough https://orders.alowishus.com.au/menu

 

READ about the evolution of our takeaway coffee cups.

READ – 9 Coffee Puns Guaranteed To Spruce Up Your Next Coffee Date ☕️

WATCH – The day we won Triple M’s Best Coffee in Bundy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR9-NjtvtcU

Our Greatest Gelato Hits

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Gelato is a bit like music really…

For some people, their choice of flavour might depend on their mood at the time. Maybe you need something deep and comforting? Or perhaps you are feeling light and boisterous?

On the other hand, some people know exactly what they like and they don’t want to try anything else.

Either way, that’s fine with us. We’re not here to judge. In fact, all of our flavours are a bit special to us because they all have a reason as to why we make them.

That’s why we thought we’d share a bit about some of our most popular flavours (gelato hits!) at the moment…

Caramilk

Caramilk is super popular right now but like many chart-toppers, we don’t know how long it will be around for or if it will ever make a comeback after its time is done.

What we do know is that presently we have to engage some ‘Covert Caramilk Agents’ around town to let us know when they see new stock come into the shops. It can be that hard to get.

Roasted Macadamia and Salted Caramel Liqueur

This one is just SOOO rich and creamy and is a massive hit with the grown-ups. At its heart is a combination of two iconic local products – macadamias from Macadamias Australia and liqueur from Bundaberg Rum.

This flavour was originally crafted especially for Winterfeast a few years ago but from time to time we like to bring it back. When we do, it sure sells out fast.

Vegan Options

Our vegan gelatos are growing in demand as more and more people make the choice to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. Our vegan gelatos are soy-based and the delightful flavours include Chai, Vanilla Bean and Strawberry.

All of our sorbets are also suitable for vegans.

What’s Your Favourite Gelato?

Do you have a favourite you stick with all the time or do you like to mix things up? Or perhaps you have an idea for a flavour we don’t have yet? Please feel welcome to let us know.

By the way, did you know we have a special website for our gelato? If you always feel indecisive when you get to the counter, you can always do your homework first.

Check it out here: https://alowishusgelato.com.au/

Check out some of our greatest gelato hits at Alowishus soon!

READ about our gelato journey.

READ about Libby’s love affair with icecream!

WATCH more of Libby’s gelato journey below.

The Christmas Story Comes Alive at Bethlehem Live

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Christmas is such a special time of year and over the last few years Bethlehem Live has added another magical element to Christmas time here in Bundaberg.

Held at Central State School, just a short stroll down Barolin St from Alowishus, you could say that Bethlehem Live is like the most elaborate and realistic nativity scene ever, combined with an immersive history lesson and good old family fun.

Many volunteers come together to capture the experience of being in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth.  The streets of our very own Bethlehem Market Place are filled with people doing exactly what they would have been doing when Mary and Joseph arrived while on their way to take part in the census.

It is a reminder that the spirit and meaning of Christmas are well and truly alive over 2000 years on.

What Else Is There?

Once you are finished exploring the streets of Bethlehem, there will be plenty of yummy food on offer, including gelato from the Alowishus Gelato Cart. While you enjoy your gelato, you can take in some live music and the various displays by several community groups.

The Details

If you are looking forward to Bethlehem Live as much as we are, here’s what you need to know…

When: 17th – 20th December 2019

Times: 6pm to 9pm each night

Where: Bundaberg Central State School

For full details, visit the Bethlehem Live website at www.bethlehemlive.com.au or keep up to date on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bethlehemlivebundaberg/

Bethlehem Live is presented by the Combined Churches of Bundaberg in partnership with SU Queensland. Alowishus Delicious is proud to be a sponsor of Bundaberg’s very own Christmas festival once again in 2019.

We’d love to see you there to help celebrate Christmas!

By the way, if you find that the inn is full, you are welcome to come rest a while at Alowishus after visiting Bethlehem Live. We are open late on the Thursday (9pm) and Friday (‘til 11pm) for a nightcap or a light snack.

READ about WHY we like to be involved in the local Bundaberg and Maryborough communities

FIND OUT HOW you can help some of the most vulnerable members of our community this festive season.

WATCH the 12 Days of Alowishus for a bit of a laugh!

Creative Ways to Win the War on Waste

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We absolutely love hearing about the creative ways that people use some of our ‘waste’ items. As a business committed to sustainability, it’s a relief to us to know that people can use some of the items that would otherwise have to go in the bin. Reducing our waste has a significant impact on the environment, and protects our oceans and coral reefs.

Some of the items that we give away rather than put into waste include:

  • Small plastic buckets
  • Egg cartons
  • Bottle lids
  • Vege scraps
  • Used coffee grounds

So, what do people do with this stuff? Check out some of these ideas…

On the Farm

Splitters Farm take kitchen scraps and fruit pulp to feed their rescue pigs and chickens. They also take small buckets for general use around the farm such as storing seeds and portioning out feed for the animals. Visitors even use the buckets to collect eggs on the weekend tours. Carly says she loves the sense of community created by working with other businesses to reduce waste along with the social aspect of coming to town to collect the bins.

At School

We have several schools, kindies and day care centres who use our buckets to store loose bits and pieces such as buttons, beads and eye balls used for art and craft. The egg cartons get cut up and made into everything from tiny seed planters to rocket ships. One person even takes our bottle lids as they make great learning aids for tasks such as counting and probability.

On the Worksite

We are told our buckets are the perfect sizes for tradies who need to keep small amounts of excess paint, fibreglass and oil.

In the Garden

We have several people who take our used coffee grounds to add to their compost or directly to the soil. Apparently worms love it and if the worms are happy then it’s a good sign the soil is packed with nutrients. Our buckets also get used for small pot plants. They are the perfect size to start seedlings off until they are ready for transplanting.

Fundraising

Some groups use the buckets for raffles. They are especially handy when you need several containers for multiple draws.

…and Something a Bit Unusual

One of our ‘bucket beneficiaries’ uses them in their coral collecting business. They are much stronger than the single-use ones used by many in that industry and having something that can be reused is obviously much more sustainable.

What Can You Use?

If there is something you can use and help us to minimise waste in the process, please feel welcome to get in touch so we can let you know what’s available. We’d love to have you on board as part of the movement towards a more sustainable way of doing business.

READ – How we have reduced our waste to landfill by two whole industrial bins per week!

READ – 13 Ways to use Old Coffee Grounds

READ – More about out War on Waste!

WATCH – Come along with us as we visit some our suppliers and surprise them with some of our delicious, house-made gelato – made using their very own produce.

https://youtu.be/b8CpIY0caiw

Collaborate…. The Best Way to Help a Mate

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We love to collaborate with other hospitality businesses and events to help each other out whenever we can. It’s better for our business, their business and the whole community.

Here’s how we have worked with a few of our friends lately…

Our Christmas Party

When we had our last staff Christmas party, some amazing people from other cafes actually came and worked at Alowishus. These incredibly selfless people were Zac from Oodies, Bec from Water Street Kitchen and Kylie from Eleven Acres. We absolutely loved and appreciated this gesture because it meant that most of our team could enjoy some social time together.

Our Gelato

Love our gelato? We also supply it to HSG at the Gardens (and previously Penny Lane under the former owners). We even supply Gelato in the summer and Hot Soup in the winter to Bella Donna Hair & Makeup. They surprise and delight their clients with a sweet treat or hearty soup. Oops! The cats out of the bag now.

We love this relationship not only because it is a compliment to our product, but it is an easy way for another café to expand their range without reinventing the wheel gelato.

Great Neighbours

We have an excellent relationship with our neighbours at Nourish Café. It is a pleasure working together to make our little arcade a thriving friendly hub where people can enjoy conversation, coffee and fresh delicious food. We also combine to promote Cafesmart, an annual initiative to raise funds for the homeless.

Good Coffee – The Lifeblood of Every Café

No matter what else you do, when you run a café you simply MUST make a good coffee. When Cuppatime Café in North Bundaberg reached out to us, one of our hotshot baristas, Brendan, visited for a few hours and helped their team refine some skills to ensure that Cuppatime was producing the best coffee possible.

Community Events

Our staff have worked on site at various events including business conferences and trade expos at venues such as the Multiplex and Citicoast Church. We also recently supplied staff members to assist Sunrise Rotary in their marquee at Oceanfest. It went so well, we are joining forces again in 2020 to do something even bigger and better.

These event collaborations are a fantastic way to connect with the community away from our café and it’s also satisfying to contribute to having better events in the region.

Collaborate and Always Go for the Win/Win

Here at Alowishus we think that success is way more fun when you can help others have a win at the same time. Go find a mate, and collaborate!

Read more about how we support the Bundaberg and Maryborough communities here.

Learn more about CafeSmart here.

Watch our visit to local supplier Tinaberries below.

WHY – HOW – WHAT – Community & Alowishus

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At Alowishus our goal is to help the local community thrive, by encouraging business, community spirit, family connections and individual achievements.

Read more