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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I place an order?

Please review our menus on the site, and then either call or e-mail your order. Please let us know:

  • Your full name and the name of your organization, if applicable.
  • Full contact information including phone, physical and e-mail address.
  • Number of people you are needing to feed.
  • Date of your desired order.
  • Time of pick up or delivery.
  • All orders require a credit card number guarantee.

Once your order has been placed via phone or e-mail, a detailed order form will by sent for you to review for accuracy and acceptance. Upon confirmation, this final order will be sent via Docusign for electronic signature. Once we have received your Docusign an electronic invoice will be sent to you via Quickbooks for online payment processing.

How do I pay for my order?

All confirmed orders will receive an emailed QuickBooks invoice for payment processing. 

You are welcome to pay with a debit or credit card, ACH transfer, cash, or electronic check.

3.75% card processing fee will be applied to all card transactions.

1.5%processing fee will be applied to all ACH transfers. To avoid this charge, please pay via cash or check.

Payment is due no later than 2 days prior to your event.  Please note, that food will not leave the FFT premises without full payment, unless previous arrangements have been made with management and agreed on by both parties.

How much notice do I need to give for a catering or special order?

We usually require at least 7-10 business days notice for all orders. During particularly busy seasons, more than a week’s notice may be required (weddings and holidays). In case of an unanticipated event, such as a memorial service, we try our best to respond as quickly as we can. In case of a staffed event, we usually require at least fourteen business days advanced notice.

Please keep in mind that we sometimes book up for a particular day and must stop accepting orders. We always recommend placing your order as soon as you decide to use us to cater your event.

What can I expect when I order from food for thoughts?

All of our food is prepared to order from scratch in our kitchen at FFT, showcasing the highest quality regional and organic ingredients available. Our philosophy is “Good Clean Food.” We do not use food additives, preservatives, trans fats, or seed oils, and utilize only the fresh highest quality ingredients available. We are a unique food establishment in Bozeman, where your order can be presented in a variety of different fashions:

  • Take-in heat-in aluminum pans with detailed cooking/heating directions
  • Plated on FFT’s dishware with serving utensils and a detailed menu card, delivered and set up at your home or business. (Charges Do Apply)
  • Delivered hot with buffet set up and pick up services.
  • On site staffed full catering services available (weddings, large gatherings, business meetings, parties, and graduations)

Please let us know what type of food and services you are looking for and we will do our very best to accommodate your needs and provide you will all of the helpful information you may need to place your order.

Can I change my order once it is placed?

We are usually able to accommodate changes made at least 10-14 full business days prior to your event. Please let us know when submitting your order if you are anticipating making any adjustments so that we can plan accordingly. The more changes made to your initial order the more the room for error grows. Please be sure to carefully review your custom order form including the menu, date, location, guest count, time, and all other logistics to ensure proper execution.

Please note we consider all orders final, upon receipt of your docusigned order form, as your menu and event is considered custom and crafted specifically for your individual needs. Because our team processes multiple orders weekly, all with custom menus and services, change requests will be accepted only if the requested changes can be made in a manner that will not affect the successful outcome of the week’s confirmed schedule. If we are able to accommodate changes after the 14 day deadline, we reserve the right to charge an additional fee or service charge for our time, supplies and perishable ingredients as we see fit.

Is gratuity automatically added to my order?

This depends on the type of order and services requested. Pick up catering and/or special orders DO NOT have gratuity added to them. Please tip the kitchen or wait staff as you see fit.

Orders with gratuity and service charges automatically applied:

  • Box Lunch Orders
  • Corporate/MSU lunch deliveries and pick ups
  • Off-site, unstaffed and staffed events

What is your delivery policy?

Deliveries are arranged on a first come, first served basis contingent on our current event schedule. Please note if you are located outside of the Bozeman city limits, we do a mileage assessed delivery fee. There may be times where we cannot accommodate a delivery but would be happy to have your order ready for pick up at our Four Corners kitchen facility.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your order or event.  Orders canceled less than 11-14 days before the scheduled event will be charged 50% of the estimated total.  Orders that are canceled less than ten full days before the scheduled event date will be charged 100% of the total invoice.  These charges cover, food/supplies/ingredients that cannot be used, labor, rental goods, and most importantly jobs we may have declined in order to accommodate your event.  

We reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee to recoup our losses of events canceled where food products and supplies have been ordered, staffing has been arranged, and other organizational items have been set into place.

How are the items on your menu packaged, presented, served, etc.?

Your order can be presented in a variety of different fashions depending on your needs, desires, and budget

  • Disposable Catering Trays: Clear Plastic Locking Lids With Black Bottoms, Bamboo Platters, or Aluminum Baking Pans.
  • All take and heat and pick up orders are clearly labeled, and come with a detailed menu card listing all allergens, with clear and precise reheating and serving instructions.
  • Delivery and pickup up on FFT’s dishware.
  • If you would like your order to be arranged on FFT’s dishware with serving utensils and a detailed menu card, an appropriate service charge will be applied to your order for this service. FFT’s items must be returned within 24 hours, rinsed, and free from any food. If any items are not returned, lost, or damaged, please note that your credit card will be charged to cover the full price of these items.

What is the best way to contact you with questions or to place orders?

If you have any questions, please call, e-mail, or simply make an appointment and we will be more than happy to answer all of your questions and walk you through placing your order. We do our very best to return all calls and messages within 2 business days. Please note that the office is closed on the weekends, with our regular office hours operating between 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Monday-Friday.

Hundreds of Happy Customers

Food for Thought Catering is an incredible company. From start to finish, Emily and her team helped us craft the perfect evening, and the food was outstanding. The passed hors d’oeuvres were amazing (elk skewers & bison meatballs!!), the meal was all-around delicious (served buffet, very professional). The staff was incredible and very personable.

– Travis Brew

Emily could not have been more gracious in working to plan our family’s trip to Big Sky. The menus were thoughtful, locally sourced and responsive to the needs of our group. I would highly recommend Food for Thought and their extensive offering of services for your next catered event.

– Holly Fussell

Voted Best in Bozeman

We’re honored to have been voted No. 1 for seven years in Bozeman Magazine’s “Bozeman’s Choice Reader’s Poll”. See for yourself why clients love Food For Thought!

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