5 Things Producers Wish They Knew About On-Set Catering (Before It Became Their Problem)

Producing a shoot is like being the captain of a very chic, very chaotic ship. The lights, the talent, the last-minute wardrobe malfunction that no one planned for—you’re juggling it all. And just when you think you’ve got everything under control, someone asks the question that sends a chill down your spine:

“What’s for breakfast?”

Suddenly, your calm, well-oiled production turns into a lawless wasteland of hangry stylists, shaky-handed assistants, and talent who “doesn’t eat carbs” but is now demanding a croissant.

Welcome to the unspoken battleground of on-set catering. We’ve been in the trenches, and trust us—here’s what every producer wishes they knew before food became their biggest headache.

1. CRAFT SERVICES AND CATERING ARE NOT THE SAME THING

First things first, let’s clear this up before someone gets stabbed with a coffee stirrer.

Craft services = The snack table. It’s your chips, granola bars, sad fruit, and that one lonely pack of gum someone stole from their intern’s desk.

Catering = Actual food. Meals that arrive hot, on time, and don’t involve fighting over the last half-eaten protein bar.

If you think your crew is surviving on some warm hummus and a handful of trail mix, just wait until hour six when your DP starts giving you the death stare.

2. PEOPLE WILL EAT LIKE THEY HAVEN’T SEEN FOOD IN WEEKS

It doesn’t matter if you hired models who claim they ‘just need a matcha’ or crew members who swear they ‘aren’t that hungry.’ Once the catering trays come out, it’s a free-for-all.

Your best bet? Order extra. People will tell you they “only need something light” and then inhale an entire platter of scrambled eggs before the lighting team even shows up.

3. TIMING IS EVERYTHING—YES, EVEN WITH FOOD

A meal that arrives five minutes late might as well have never arrived at all.

Here’s the reality: If breakfast shows up after call time, your crew is already spiraling. If lunch isn’t ready exactly when expected, someone’s definitely rage-texting their assistant about the betrayal of cold sandwiches.

At Pheasant, we time meals like we’re landing a plane—on schedule, no surprises, no stress.

And we get it—because we’ve been on your side of the business.

Pheasant’s fearless founder, Cat Alexander, started in Film & TV, working as a Coordinator, Production Manager, and Line Producer before she leaned into her true passion for design, art direction, and food styling. She knows the pressure of keeping a production running, which is exactly why Pheasant built a catering service that doesn’t add to your stress—it solves it.

4. THE COFFEE SITUATION CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR SET

You could serve the best avocado toast in New York, but if there’s a lack of caffeine, you’ve got a mutiny on your hands.

People will forget their call times, snap at PAs, and stare blankly at a light stand like it personally wronged them.

We recommend going big on coffee. Not just one sad carafe but cold brew, espresso, maybe even a dairy-free milk station if you want to be an icon.

It’s the fuel that keeps the creative machine running—and it keeps your DP from flipping a C-stand out of pure frustration.

5. SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL, & CHIC CATERING EXISTS—AND IT MATTERS

Here’s the thing: Production food has a reputation. And it’s not always good.

Styrofoam containers, mystery meat sandwiches, and that one catering company that showed up with microwave lasagna like it was 2004.

But this is 2025. We can do better.

Pheasant sources local, sustainable, actually delicious food that won’t make your production assistant question their life choices. No mystery ingredients. No waste. Just fresh, high-quality meals that look as good as your set.

Because let’s be honest: A well-fed crew is a happy crew. And a happy crew means a smoother shoot—and fewer passive-aggressive comments from the lead stylist. Which is a win right?

FINAL TAKEAWAY- DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR CATERING.

You’ve already got enough to deal with—let us handle the food.

• Industry-tested, production-approved

• No stress, just great food

• Built by people who know this business inside and out

So hit us up for your next shoot. Your crew (and your sanity) will thank you.