Navigating the complex landscape of catering services can often feel like conducting a symphony of gastronomy. The success of your event rests heavily on the shoulders of your chosen caterer. Therefore, it is essential to approach this decision-making process with a proactive mindset, arming yourself with insightful queries that delve beyond the surface.

An analogy could be drawn between selecting a catering service and performing a due diligence on an investment. Both require a detailed understanding of the subject, a comprehensive risk assessment, and a keen eye for potential opportunities for value maximization. While the latter belongs to the realm of finance, the former, too, demands a similar level of rigor.

The first vector of consideration is understanding the caterer’s culinary capabilities. This is similar to evaluating the asset portfolio of a potential investment. Inquire about their specialty cuisines, dish preparation procedures, and sourcing of ingredients. This careful examination can provide insight into whether the caterer's strength aligns with your event’s theme, dietary restrictions, or personal preferences.

Comparatively, inquiring about a caterer's flexibility and adaptability is akin to assessing an investment's ability to weather market volatility. Ask about their policies regarding last-minute changes, dietary restrictions, and unforeseen circumstances. This will give you a measure of their operational resilience, much like a Beta coefficient in finance would indicate an investment’s sensitivity to market swings.

Next, it is prudent to scrutinize the caterer's previous experience. This mirrors the practice of analyzing a company's historical performance before committing to an investment. Ask for references, feedback from previous clients, and even tangible evidence like pictures or tasting sessions. This empirical evidence can serve to validate or refute the caterer’s claimed expertise.

Furthermore, much like in economics where the law of diminishing returns dictates that a point is reached where the benefits gained are less than the amount of money or energy invested, the same concept could be applied to the catering services. Inquiring about the price structure, hidden charges, and the caterer’s ability to provide value for your budget can help you avoid over-capitalization.

Also, bear in mind the potential externalities, the concept borrowed from economics, representing the indirect impact of an economic transaction. In the realm of catering, this may manifest in aspects like environmental sustainability of their operations, waste management, and community engagement. The caterer's approach to these considerations can have far-reaching implications on your event, much like how externalities can affect market equilibrium.

Lastly, consider the caterer’s level of service and professionalism. This is comparable to evaluating the corporate governance structure of an investment. Ask about their staff-to-guest ratio, staff attire, and overall service protocol. Their responses could shed light on their organizational effectiveness, in the same way that strong corporate governance indicates a well-managed enterprise.

In conclusion, the selection of a suitable caterer requires rigorous due diligence comprising a series of insightful questions. By practicing the same level of scrutiny as one would when picking an investment, you can rest assured of selecting the perfect catering service for your event. Although this process might seem daunting, remember that the devil is in the details, and a quest for a delightfully catered event is well worth the effort.