Culinary Excellence Reviews

Reviews

Awards

31

+26 User photos

• Carolyn J. Sent on 03/29/2024
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  Wonderful to work with

  From our first conversation everything went so smoothly. Culinary Excellence are so easy to work with, they have lots of options for dietary needs, lots of options for rentals. The food was great and everyone there on the day was so nice and helpful. Sierra helped us make a last minute rain plan and everyone on their team kept things running smoothly. Everyone we've worked with was so down to earth and easy to talk to

  From our first conversation everything went so smoothly. Culinary Excellence are so easy to work with, they have lots of options for dietary needs, lots of options for rentals. The food was great and everyone there on the day was so nice and helpful. Sierra helped us make a last minute rain plan and everyone on their team kept things running smoothly. Everyone we've worked with was so down to earth and easy to talk to
• Jennifer L. Sent on 12/31/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Finally, after 3.5 long years...

  Where do we begin? We met the extraordinary team of Jessica and Chris at an open house in the Brazilian Room back in 2019 for an April 2020 wedding. And then the pandemic hit. Little did we know we’d wait THREE and a half long years to finally have the event, and it was so perfect, I don’t think we could have done it without them. I especially developed a close relationship with Jess as she is my sister witch (we are both Potterheads) and I am convinced she has magical powers.
  
  Firstly, the food. CE was an excellent partner in making our vision come to life. Food was my number one priority, so it was key to have a vendor that excelled in this. Since we were going to have a daytime wedding, we worked together to create a great brunch menu. Chris knocked it out of the park and made this flavorful, juicy, crunchy, bone-in, non-greasy fried chicken, and delicious waffles with freshly made pumpkin butter–perfect for the fall! We also had a tater tot bar, a mimosa bar, their delicious red banana and papaya salad, and many more. The passed hors d’oeuvres were *outstanding,* too. My guests continue to rave about the food to this day.
  
  Second, the decor and coordination. Honestly, if we had the budget, I would have let Jess handle everything from wedding prep. But because we didn’t, we did the day-of ala carte service where Jess would handle our day-of vendor coordination and make sure everything ran on time. I highly recommend getting CE to coordinate for you. If Jess had a magic wand, it would be a maestro’s baton, because she orchestrated everything for us from the ceremony to the very end and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. She is worth her weight in gold. For our prep, Jess provided me with honest feedback on the best ways to do things on a budget, answered all of my questions, and made a comfortable space in which I could provide feedback, too. In the end, everything was set up so beautifully and exceeded my expectations. Despite my one priority being food, the setup and decorations were simply stunning, especially considering our budget.
  
  Thirdly, I have to sing (more) praises about Jess. Her years of experience shone and it was fantastic seeing her in her element the day of the wedding. But more than that, she’s become my friend. Not only did she earn our trust during the process, but she went above and beyond in working with us to achieve a perfect day for our family and friends. CE will now be my local go-to for any catering needs or milestone celebrations.
  
  Should you (be fortunate enough to) work with them, my advice is to make sure to give them honest feedback as early as possible, ask for *their* feedback and approach it like a collaborative partnership, ask as many questions as you need to, and trust the process. They know what they’re doing.

  Where do we begin? We met the extraordinary team of Jessica and Chris at an open house in the Brazilian Room back in 2019 for an April 2020 wedding. And then the pandemic hit. Little did we know we’d wait THREE and a half long years to finally have the event, and it was so perfect, I don’t think we could have done it without them. I especially developed a close relationship with Jess as she is my sister witch (we are both Potterheads) and I am convinced she has magical powers.
  
  Firstly, the food. CE was an excellent partner in making our vision come to life. Food was my number one priority, so it was key to have a vendor that excelled in this. Since we were going to have a daytime wedding, we worked together to create a great brunch menu. Chris knocked it out of the park and made this flavorful, juicy, crunchy, bone-in, non-greasy fried chicken, and delicious waffles with freshly made pumpkin butter–perfect for the fall! We also had a tater tot bar, a mimosa bar, their delicious red banana and papaya salad, and many more. The passed hors d’oeuvres were *outstanding,* too. My guests continue to rave about the food to this day.
  
  Second, the decor and coordination. Honestly, if we had the budget, I would have let Jess handle everything from wedding prep. But because we didn’t, we did the day-of ala carte service where Jess would handle our day-of vendor coordination and make sure everything ran on time. I highly recommend getting CE to coordinate for you. If Jess had a magic wand, it would be a maestro’s baton, because she orchestrated everything for us from the ceremony to the very end and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. She is worth her weight in gold. For our prep, Jess provided me with honest feedback on the best ways to do things on a budget, answered all of my questions, and made a comfortable space in which I could provide feedback, too. In the end, everything was set up so beautifully and exceeded my expectations. Despite my one priority being food, the setup and decorations were simply stunning, especially considering our budget.
  
  Thirdly, I have to sing (more) praises about Jess. Her years of experience shone and it was fantastic seeing her in her element the day of the wedding. But more than that, she’s become my friend. Not only did she earn our trust during the process, but she went above and beyond in working with us to achieve a perfect day for our family and friends. CE will now be my local go-to for any catering needs or milestone celebrations.
  
  Should you (be fortunate enough to) work with them, my advice is to make sure to give them honest feedback as early as possible, ask for *their* feedback and approach it like a collaborative partnership, ask as many questions as you need to, and trust the process. They know what they’re doing.

  • +2 photos
• Jordan H. Sent on 08/09/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Excellent experience

  We had our wedding August 4th at the Brazilian Room. We reached out to Culinary Excellence because they were a preferred vendor at this venue. We are so happy we did. Right off the bat Sierra was super helpful and responsive. She scheduled a tasting with us and right away we knew that we wanted to work with her and the rest of the staff. Our big day couldn’t have been pulled off without them. The food was excellent! The staff was attentive, and Sierra was the best. She set everything up just the way we wanted it. If our guests had a question or needed something she took care of it right away. The prices are more then competitive. If you are looking for a caterer I highly recommend Culinary Excellence, you won’t be disappointed.

  We had our wedding August 4th at the Brazilian Room. We reached out to Culinary Excellence because they were a preferred vendor at this venue. We are so happy we did. Right off the bat Sierra was super helpful and responsive. She scheduled a tasting with us and right away we knew that we wanted to work with her and the rest of the staff. Our big day couldn’t have been pulled off without them. The food was excellent! The staff was attentive, and Sierra was the best. She set everything up just the way we wanted it. If our guests had a question or needed something she took care of it right away. The prices are more then competitive. If you are looking for a caterer I highly recommend Culinary Excellence, you won’t be disappointed.
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• Ben H. Sent on 07/03/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Great Caterer!

  We are so happy that we worked with Culinary Excellence for the catering and floral arrangements for our wedding at the Brazil Room. They took the suggestions we gave them at our initial meeting and made them even better. On the day of our wedding we were able to relax and know that we were in good hands. The staff were friendly and easy to work with (especially Sierra) and made sure that we had everything we needed for our wedding to go off without a hitch.
  
  The day of, the food was delicious, the dinner and venue staging was beautiful, and the floral arrangements were gorgeous. Everyone was very impressed by the service, and so were we. Our dinner was a buffet, but they served the two of us at our table and one of the staff members even found us after we came back from photos and made sure we got a tray of the appetizers.

  We are so happy that we worked with Culinary Excellence for the catering and floral arrangements for our wedding at the Brazil Room. They took the suggestions we gave them at our initial meeting and made them even better. On the day of our wedding we were able to relax and know that we were in good hands. The staff were friendly and easy to work with (especially Sierra) and made sure that we had everything we needed for our wedding to go off without a hitch.
  
  The day of, the food was delicious, the dinner and venue staging was beautiful, and the floral arrangements were gorgeous. Everyone was very impressed by the service, and so were we. Our dinner was a buffet, but they served the two of us at our table and one of the staff members even found us after we came back from photos and made sure we got a tray of the appetizers.
• Lianna L. Sent on 04/12/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Culinary Excellence Fangirl Forever

  We hired Culinary Excellence for our March 2023 wedding at the Brazil Room. The team there was so professional and helped the big day go smoothly.
  In particular, Jessica was a rockstar. She answered all my questions very quickly and provided the right information for me to make decisions confidently. Culinary Excellence's food was delicious and offered a variety of options that allowed us to have a delicious buffet wedding complete with vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options that were a delight rather than a cop-out. Several of our guests complemented the quality food and scrumptious dessert bar.
  The staff day-of was very familiar with the venue space and set up/break down was entirely handled by their team. Lastly, Culinary Excellence has rental options. We were able to get all of our flat ware, table ware, linens, cocktail tables, and even easels without having to find another vendor for rentals. In retrospect, this made logistics so much easier for my wedding day. Thanks so much to the Culinary Excellence team for their hard work and diligence.

  We hired Culinary Excellence for our March 2023 wedding at the Brazil Room. The team there was so professional and helped the big day go smoothly.
  In particular, Jessica was a rockstar. She answered all my questions very quickly and provided the right information for me to make decisions confidently. Culinary Excellence's food was delicious and offered a variety of options that allowed us to have a delicious buffet wedding complete with vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options that were a delight rather than a cop-out. Several of our guests complemented the quality food and scrumptious dessert bar.
  The staff day-of was very familiar with the venue space and set up/break down was entirely handled by their team. Lastly, Culinary Excellence has rental options. We were able to get all of our flat ware, table ware, linens, cocktail tables, and even easels without having to find another vendor for rentals. In retrospect, this made logistics so much easier for my wedding day. Thanks so much to the Culinary Excellence team for their hard work and diligence.

  Culinary Excellence's reply:

  Lianna,
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words!
  It was such a pleasure to get to work with you to make your wedding day come to life.
  Jess
• Desi M. Sent on 06/06/2019
  5 out of 5 rating

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  The BEST It Gets!

  Culinary Excellence and their team were one of the best aspects of our wedding day at the Brazilian Room at Tilden Park in Berkeley. The team was incredibly professional, kind, courteous, and obviously invested in making this a special day for us, our friends, and our family. On the day of, the team was friendly and took great care to make sure the venue looked beautiful. We never had to ask for service or wait for basic needs. They went above and beyond to ensure that our guests had what they needed. Jess, our Day-Of Coordinator, was absolutely phenomenal. Seriously. I have been a wedding/event planner and coordinator for years, and I can say honestly that she is the best of the best. She has a high attention to detail, a kind and fun demeanor, an immense amount of knowledge about the industry, the venue, and her team. I always felt incredibly supported and cared about. She was quick to respond via email when she could, and it is so clear that she invests time, energy, and effort into every event that she oversees. She is a true professional, and I could never share enough to feel like I've adequately explained what a treasure she is. If I could offer one piece of advice to brides, add the day-of coordination package on for your event. You won't regret it - worth every penny and more. Lastly, the FOOD. The team absolutely knocked it out of the park. The food was delicious at the tasting, and even more delicious at the wedding itself. It was presented beautifully, had great flavor, and the family style dinner service was executed perfectly. One of the most special parts of our wedding was that the chef at CE was able to recreate a treasured family recipe for a groom's cake, and it tasted exactly like his grandmother's would have. It was a perfect surprise and so unique.
  We can't thank Culinary Excellence and Jess enough for what they contributed for our wedding day. I could continue on and on about their fantastic service, professionalism, and care. They are the best of the best, and we would recommend them time and time again!

  Culinary Excellence and their team were one of the best aspects of our wedding day at the Brazilian Room at Tilden Park in Berkeley. The team was incredibly professional, kind, courteous, and obviously invested in making this a special day for us, our friends, and our family. On the day of, the team was friendly and took great care to make sure the venue looked beautiful. We never had to ask for service or wait for basic needs. They went above and beyond to ensure that our guests had what they needed. Jess, our Day-Of Coordinator, was absolutely phenomenal. Seriously. I have been a wedding/event planner and coordinator for years, and I can say honestly that she is the best of the best. She has a high attention to detail, a kind and fun demeanor, an immense amount of knowledge about the industry, the venue, and her team. I always felt incredibly supported and cared about. She was quick to respond via email when she could, and it is so clear that she invests time, energy, and effort into every event that she oversees. She is a true professional, and I could never share enough to feel like I've adequately explained what a treasure she is. If I could offer one piece of advice to brides, add the day-of coordination package on for your event. You won't regret it - worth every penny and more. Lastly, the FOOD. The team absolutely knocked it out of the park. The food was delicious at the tasting, and even more delicious at the wedding itself. It was presented beautifully, had great flavor, and the family style dinner service was executed perfectly. One of the most special parts of our wedding was that the chef at CE was able to recreate a treasured family recipe for a groom's cake, and it tasted exactly like his grandmother's would have. It was a perfect surprise and so unique.
  We can't thank Culinary Excellence and Jess enough for what they contributed for our wedding day. I could continue on and on about their fantastic service, professionalism, and care. They are the best of the best, and we would recommend them time and time again!

  Culinary Excellence's reply:

  Desi,
  Your sweet kind words mean so much to me and the team! You were so amazing to work with, and I know all of my staff truly loved working for you. The thank you note you gave us ahead of time, really made their day!
  We are so thrilled for you and Andrew, and hope we get to see you both soon.
  Love you two!
  Jess and the CE team
• Jenelle S. Sent on 06/06/2021
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Great food and service

  We were so glad that we chose to work with Culinary Excellence for our wedding in May 2021. The food was amazing and all of our guests commented on how delicious the appetizers and food were. We also had them supply some of our furniture and beautiful drapes for the wedding. Samantha was so great to work with. She was our primary contact point and our day of coordinator. She really helped us stay on task during the wedding and helped as we planned. We had booked them pre COVID and there were lots of changes along the way, but they were very flexible during all the up and downs and reassuring as we went. The serving staff and bartenders were really friendly and did a great job. I would highly recommend them for your wedding!

  We were so glad that we chose to work with Culinary Excellence for our wedding in May 2021. The food was amazing and all of our guests commented on how delicious the appetizers and food were. We also had them supply some of our furniture and beautiful drapes for the wedding. Samantha was so great to work with. She was our primary contact point and our day of coordinator. She really helped us stay on task during the wedding and helped as we planned. We had booked them pre COVID and there were lots of changes along the way, but they were very flexible during all the up and downs and reassuring as we went. The serving staff and bartenders were really friendly and did a great job. I would highly recommend them for your wedding!
• Michaelyn R. Sent on 06/14/2021
  5 out of 5 rating

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  HIGHLY recommend!

  We cannot recommend Culinary Excellence more! I intentionally left "Catering" off that last sentence because they are so much more than just a catering company. For starters, they include linens for NO additional cost. They have anything else you could possibly need for rental at a very reasonable cost. And most importantly the food was delicious - we received many compliments from our guests. We worked with Jessica Murphy, Senior Event Coordinator - she is AMAZING! Jessica is professional, responsive, efficient and wonderful to work with. She worked with us to keep our needs within budget, made the most beautiful floral bouquets and provided day-of coordination help which kept things moving to keep within our venue timeline. I don't know how we would have gotten through the stress of a COVID wedding without her.

  We cannot recommend Culinary Excellence more! I intentionally left "Catering" off that last sentence because they are so much more than just a catering company. For starters, they include linens for NO additional cost. They have anything else you could possibly need for rental at a very reasonable cost. And most importantly the food was delicious - we received many compliments from our guests. We worked with Jessica Murphy, Senior Event Coordinator - she is AMAZING! Jessica is professional, responsive, efficient and wonderful to work with. She worked with us to keep our needs within budget, made the most beautiful floral bouquets and provided day-of coordination help which kept things moving to keep within our venue timeline. I don't know how we would have gotten through the stress of a COVID wedding without her.
• Mina Y. Sent on 08/31/2020
  5 out of 5 rating

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  The Best Ever!

  Culinary Excellence was an absolute godsend for us when my daughter and her now husband were insistent on getting married a few weeks ago…in the middle of a global pandemic. We had the ceremony covered, as it was outdoors, but since indoor dining was still prohibited, we needed to come up with a safe alternative for the reception. With a month notice, we decided to shift the reception location to the backyard, and with the help of Culinary Excellence (CE), we were able to make it happen and in the safest manner possible. Jessica of CE is so good at what she does. She visited the backyard and helped us conceptualize where everything could go. Jessica is a dream to work with. She is so responsive and suggested ways to make the event comfortable and safer for all. CE is a one stop shop—they provided us with all different sizes of tables to accommodate different size social bubbles, chairs, linens, lighting, AV equipment, and of course the most AMAZING food EVER! Chefs Christian and Chris can cook! CE has a super extensive menu and our guests were raving about the food for days! They even have delicious prepared meals that can be delivered to your home twice a week. The entire CE team from delivery to set up to take down followed all COVID precautions. Thank you Jessica and Culinary Excellence for making our kids’ dreams into a reality. :)

  Culinary Excellence was an absolute godsend for us when my daughter and her now husband were insistent on getting married a few weeks ago…in the middle of a global pandemic. We had the ceremony covered, as it was outdoors, but since indoor dining was still prohibited, we needed to come up with a safe alternative for the reception. With a month notice, we decided to shift the reception location to the backyard, and with the help of Culinary Excellence (CE), we were able to make it happen and in the safest manner possible. Jessica of CE is so good at what she does. She visited the backyard and helped us conceptualize where everything could go. Jessica is a dream to work with. She is so responsive and suggested ways to make the event comfortable and safer for all. CE is a one stop shop—they provided us with all different sizes of tables to accommodate different size social bubbles, chairs, linens, lighting, AV equipment, and of course the most AMAZING food EVER! Chefs Christian and Chris can cook! CE has a super extensive menu and our guests were raving about the food for days! They even have delicious prepared meals that can be delivered to your home twice a week. The entire CE team from delivery to set up to take down followed all COVID precautions. Thank you Jessica and Culinary Excellence for making our kids’ dreams into a reality. :)
• Sheiva Y. Sent on 02/28/2020
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Loved Everything!

  From beginning to end, Jessica was a pleasure to work with. She was on top of everything we requested and was thoroughly organized.
  
  She, Chris (the head chef), and the lovely staff helped put together the most amazing and unforgettable experience during our wedding at the Brazilian Room in Berkeley.
  
  Guests were raving so much about the food!! The avocado toast, sliders, salad, salmon, chicken, veggies, steak, donuts, and BISCUITS. Omg those biscuits were a HIT. My husband and I are still dreaming of them.
  
  They also made the most beautiful cutter cake ever. I requested a smeared/naked pumpkin spice cake that was dairy-free, it was heavenly!
  
  We can't thank them enough. Everyone said so many good things and left with full bellies.

  From beginning to end, Jessica was a pleasure to work with. She was on top of everything we requested and was thoroughly organized.
  
  She, Chris (the head chef), and the lovely staff helped put together the most amazing and unforgettable experience during our wedding at the Brazilian Room in Berkeley.
  
  Guests were raving so much about the food!! The avocado toast, sliders, salad, salmon, chicken, veggies, steak, donuts, and BISCUITS. Omg those biscuits were a HIT. My husband and I are still dreaming of them.
  
  They also made the most beautiful cutter cake ever. I requested a smeared/naked pumpkin spice cake that was dairy-free, it was heavenly!
  
  We can't thank them enough. Everyone said so many good things and left with full bellies.
• Theresa H. Sent on 04/26/2019
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  Best tasting experience

  The staff at Culinary Excellence is awesome. They made us feel comfortable and the food was superb. We fell in love with the fact they are family oriented and so aboslutly professional. My fiance and soon-to-be father in-law had a blast. I previosly met Jessica and knew they would appriciate her as much as I did. Thank you so much for a very informative experience.

  The staff at Culinary Excellence is awesome. They made us feel comfortable and the food was superb. We fell in love with the fact they are family oriented and so aboslutly professional. My fiance and soon-to-be father in-law had a blast. I previosly met Jessica and knew they would appriciate her as much as I did. Thank you so much for a very informative experience.

  Culinary Excellence's reply:

  Theresa,
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words!
  I am so excited to be bringing your wedding to life and can't wait to celebrate your amazing day with you!
  
  Jess
• Roneet R. Sent on 08/21/2019
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Amazing with Personal touches and Utmost Professionalism

  We knew we were getting something good when we hired Culinary Excelence for our wedding when we first met Jess, then we tasted the food, then they made our cookies for our dessert table, then they made our flowers. They made our lives so much easier, I really felt like all the planning I had been putting was matched and just as much love and attention to detail was involved on their end. Everything was top notch - service on the day, working with their team over the year of planning, the esthetic and attention to detail used in decorating the Brazilian Room (our reception venue in Tilden Park), and the food! It was better than we even remembered it and we are still getting so many comments from friends and family about how tasty everything was. Honestly loved CE and can't say more nice things about them. Definitely recommend, would give them more stars if I could!

  We knew we were getting something good when we hired Culinary Excelence for our wedding when we first met Jess, then we tasted the food, then they made our cookies for our dessert table, then they made our flowers. They made our lives so much easier, I really felt like all the planning I had been putting was matched and just as much love and attention to detail was involved on their end. Everything was top notch - service on the day, working with their team over the year of planning, the esthetic and attention to detail used in decorating the Brazilian Room (our reception venue in Tilden Park), and the food! It was better than we even remembered it and we are still getting so many comments from friends and family about how tasty everything was. Honestly loved CE and can't say more nice things about them. Definitely recommend, would give them more stars if I could!
• Jason Sent on 05/12/2019
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  The Wedding of our Dreams!

  Culinary Excellence completely outperformed our imagination! Their in-house flower team made centerpieces that everyone commented on and sourced my favorite flowers, which are impossible to find in stores (I checked). The service and attention to detail was top-notch. The chef, whose food is divine, even made a special dish for one of our guests who had discovered she had celiac disease two weeks before the wedding! Thank you Allie and team!

  Culinary Excellence completely outperformed our imagination! Their in-house flower team made centerpieces that everyone commented on and sourced my favorite flowers, which are impossible to find in stores (I checked). The service and attention to detail was top-notch. The chef, whose food is divine, even made a special dish for one of our guests who had discovered she had celiac disease two weeks before the wedding! Thank you Allie and team!

  Culinary Excellence's reply:

  Jason and Mia,
  
  Thank you so much for the kind words! We absolutely loved getting to know you both and celebrating in your big day! We are so excited for you two. We are always here if you need anything.
  
  -CE team
• Julie Sent on 11/21/2018
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  Best Wedding Food Ever!

  
  Culinary Excellence was absolutely wonderful for our wedding at the Brazilian Room. We are so happy we went with them. We loved that they provided more than catering services and we went with them for our flowers, decor, chuppah, coordination, and cake. All of it was fabulous. They were professional, caring, and attentive throughout the whole process. Chris is a wedding pro and truly does whatever it takes to make your wedding perfect. Before the ceremony he checked in on us and brought us water and even thought to bring me a straw so I wouldn't mess up my lipstick! So many people commented that the food was the best they ever had at a wedding- and we agree! It was beautiful, fresh, and delicious.
  
  The Culinary Excellence team took the stress out of wedding planning and the wedding day and allowed us to be present and truly enjoy our wedding. Hire them- you won't be disappointed!
  

  
  Culinary Excellence was absolutely wonderful for our wedding at the Brazilian Room. We are so happy we went with them. We loved that they provided more than catering services and we went with them for our flowers, decor, chuppah, coordination, and cake. All of it was fabulous. They were professional, caring, and attentive throughout the whole process. Chris is a wedding pro and truly does whatever it takes to make your wedding perfect. Before the ceremony he checked in on us and brought us water and even thought to bring me a straw so I wouldn't mess up my lipstick! So many people commented that the food was the best they ever had at a wedding- and we agree! It was beautiful, fresh, and delicious.
  
  The Culinary Excellence team took the stress out of wedding planning and the wedding day and allowed us to be present and truly enjoy our wedding. Hire them- you won't be disappointed!
  
• Leah Sent on 04/23/2018
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  Used as the caterer for our wedding and the food and service was great!

  Used as the caterer for our wedding and the food and service was great!
• Meghan Sent on 10/12/2016
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  I can not recommend Culinary Excellence highly enough. First off, they are very responsive, even from the very beginning. I was surprised other caterers were not as on top of it, quick to respond, but CE was GREAT! They are an approved vendor for the Brazilian Room and so they knew that place extremely well. Alanna was our coordinator from CE and she was AMAZING, really! I was a little bit more of a relaxed, care free bride that wanted things really simple. I never felt pressure from Alanna to change or felt she was up-selling, she just listened to what I wanted and made it happen...beautifully! CE can be a great resource for many things as well. In addition to our brunch meal (we had a morning wedding), they also did all of our desserts, bar, flowers, day of wedding coordination, sound for mics during the ceremony and toasts (we didn't do a DJ), set up our lawn games, and so much more. They can do just about anything you need them to do. The food was great, the wait staff was great, Alanna was great. As I said, I can not recommend them more highly!

  I can not recommend Culinary Excellence highly enough. First off, they are very responsive, even from the very beginning. I was surprised other caterers were not as on top of it, quick to respond, but CE was GREAT! They are an approved vendor for the Brazilian Room and so they knew that place extremely well. Alanna was our coordinator from CE and she was AMAZING, really! I was a little bit more of a relaxed, care free bride that wanted things really simple. I never felt pressure from Alanna to change or felt she was up-selling, she just listened to what I wanted and made it happen...beautifully! CE can be a great resource for many things as well. In addition to our brunch meal (we had a morning wedding), they also did all of our desserts, bar, flowers, day of wedding coordination, sound for mics during the ceremony and toasts (we didn't do a DJ), set up our lawn games, and so much more. They can do just about anything you need them to do. The food was great, the wait staff was great, Alanna was great. As I said, I can not recommend them more highly!
• Rosa Sent on 06/07/2016
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  If you're looking for a caterer for your wedding, then look no further. Culinary Excellence is absolutely amazing. We had our evening wedding at the Brazilian room in Berkeley and CE is one of the approved caterers. It was the best decision we made. From the start, Jess was highly responsive and helpful with all our questions. We knew after our first bite of the appetizer tasting that we'd book them. We requested Persian food and everything we had on our wedding night was delicious, the guests were very happy! They are a full service catering company, so if you need lights, flowers, a cake - they can do it all! We decided to get uplighting, market lights for the patio, and the cake from CE. The staff were excellent, professional, and accommodating. I didn't have a wedding coordinator and Jess stepped in to help coordinate the timing of the ceremony and the reception (I always wear a watch and had a minute by minute schedule of the ceremony, but on the day of, you do not wear a watch with your wedding dress!). She let us know when it was time for toasts, etc. Book CE for all your catering needs! Jess and her team will not disappoint!

  If you're looking for a caterer for your wedding, then look no further. Culinary Excellence is absolutely amazing. We had our evening wedding at the Brazilian room in Berkeley and CE is one of the approved caterers. It was the best decision we made. From the start, Jess was highly responsive and helpful with all our questions. We knew after our first bite of the appetizer tasting that we'd book them. We requested Persian food and everything we had on our wedding night was delicious, the guests were very happy! They are a full service catering company, so if you need lights, flowers, a cake - they can do it all! We decided to get uplighting, market lights for the patio, and the cake from CE. The staff were excellent, professional, and accommodating. I didn't have a wedding coordinator and Jess stepped in to help coordinate the timing of the ceremony and the reception (I always wear a watch and had a minute by minute schedule of the ceremony, but on the day of, you do not wear a watch with your wedding dress!). She let us know when it was time for toasts, etc. Book CE for all your catering needs! Jess and her team will not disappoint!
• Jo Sent on 06/02/2016
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  Culinary Excellence are amazing! They catered our wedding on 5/29/16 and Jess also served as our day-of coordinator. Jess was super prompt and organized about responding and helping us plan the event, and she oversaw the setup of all our decorations at the wedding. They looked perfect! She also helped us set up our surprise light saber duel "first dance" by hiding our light sabers so we could grab them, but none of our guests had any clue about it until we actually did it (and it was freaking awesome). We had a buffet with tri-tip, ravioli and sweet potato souffle, and our food was absolutely fantastic, which we know because we actually got to eat dinner at our own wedding(!) and many of our guests told us the food was wonderful. One of the serving staff even brought a plate of appetizers to my husband and me while we were taking photos after the ceremony and HOLY HELL THEY WERE AMAZING. All the appetizers were really good, but especially the fig and goat cheese flatbread, salmon lollipops and mushroom tartlets. I'm pretty sure the moment I ate the first fig and goat cheese flatbread was the second happiest moment of my evening (after getting married, of course). We had a small cutting cake that was spice cake with cream cheese, which was also delicious. I didn't actually get to try any of our dessert buffet because I was too busy talking to people, but I heard it was also fantastic. The price was also quite reasonable compared to other catering companies we looked at; Culinary Excellence definitely gave us more bang for our buck. Overall this was the best experience I ever could have hoped for and they made our wedding completely stellar. Thanks so much!

  Culinary Excellence are amazing! They catered our wedding on 5/29/16 and Jess also served as our day-of coordinator. Jess was super prompt and organized about responding and helping us plan the event, and she oversaw the setup of all our decorations at the wedding. They looked perfect! She also helped us set up our surprise light saber duel "first dance" by hiding our light sabers so we could grab them, but none of our guests had any clue about it until we actually did it (and it was freaking awesome). We had a buffet with tri-tip, ravioli and sweet potato souffle, and our food was absolutely fantastic, which we know because we actually got to eat dinner at our own wedding(!) and many of our guests told us the food was wonderful. One of the serving staff even brought a plate of appetizers to my husband and me while we were taking photos after the ceremony and HOLY HELL THEY WERE AMAZING. All the appetizers were really good, but especially the fig and goat cheese flatbread, salmon lollipops and mushroom tartlets. I'm pretty sure the moment I ate the first fig and goat cheese flatbread was the second happiest moment of my evening (after getting married, of course). We had a small cutting cake that was spice cake with cream cheese, which was also delicious. I didn't actually get to try any of our dessert buffet because I was too busy talking to people, but I heard it was also fantastic. The price was also quite reasonable compared to other catering companies we looked at; Culinary Excellence definitely gave us more bang for our buck. Overall this was the best experience I ever could have hoped for and they made our wedding completely stellar. Thanks so much!
• Shelby Sent on 07/30/2016
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  If I could give Jessica and Culinary Excellence a 100 stars, I would happily do so! Jessica and I emailed over 150 times over 9 months, and she promptly responded to each one! All of the details she put into our special day made everything come together so well. All the other vendors raved about working with Jess! Jessica and Culinary Excellence did our food, bartending, flowers, dessert table, rentals (chairs, barrels, tables, linens, etc), and lighting (uplighting and bistro lighting outside). She had such great taste and vision in making our day so beautiful. She helped us create a gorgeous outdoor barrel bar for our wine-themed wedding. She did beautiful flowers with the succulents I had grown in my garden, as well as hydrangeas, lavender, roses, scabiosa pods, etc.. I told her I wanted a lot of texture, and she nailed it! As a former wedding catering staff myself, I was very insistent that I wanted great service from the staff. I was very impressed with the staff of Culinary Excellence. Jessica also went out of her way to buy these awesome cork water bottles for the table, since she thought they would go so well with our theme. It really helped to tie everything together.
  I've had SO many people rave about the food! We did a buffet with stuffed pork, sirloin pasta, grilled vegetables, 2 delicious salads, and a twice baked gruyere potato. Appetizers were tray passed lomi lomi salmon wontons, fried ravioli, and fig goat cheese flatbread, as well as a cheese and cracker station. I had a lot of Gluten allergy people in attendance, and Jess and her team were great at modifying the menu to have it mostly be Gluten Free. For the wontons, we did half on cucumbers, and our entire entree buffet was gluten-free. Desserts were a small ceremony cake, blueberry cobbler, macaroons, mini key lime pie tarts, mini 7 layer cakes, and chocolate cookies. All in all, our wedding turned out to be a beautiful, September San Francisco day, and Jess played a huge part in that.

  If I could give Jessica and Culinary Excellence a 100 stars, I would happily do so! Jessica and I emailed over 150 times over 9 months, and she promptly responded to each one! All of the details she put into our special day made everything come together so well. All the other vendors raved about working with Jess! Jessica and Culinary Excellence did our food, bartending, flowers, dessert table, rentals (chairs, barrels, tables, linens, etc), and lighting (uplighting and bistro lighting outside). She had such great taste and vision in making our day so beautiful. She helped us create a gorgeous outdoor barrel bar for our wine-themed wedding. She did beautiful flowers with the succulents I had grown in my garden, as well as hydrangeas, lavender, roses, scabiosa pods, etc.. I told her I wanted a lot of texture, and she nailed it! As a former wedding catering staff myself, I was very insistent that I wanted great service from the staff. I was very impressed with the staff of Culinary Excellence. Jessica also went out of her way to buy these awesome cork water bottles for the table, since she thought they would go so well with our theme. It really helped to tie everything together.
  I've had SO many people rave about the food! We did a buffet with stuffed pork, sirloin pasta, grilled vegetables, 2 delicious salads, and a twice baked gruyere potato. Appetizers were tray passed lomi lomi salmon wontons, fried ravioli, and fig goat cheese flatbread, as well as a cheese and cracker station. I had a lot of Gluten allergy people in attendance, and Jess and her team were great at modifying the menu to have it mostly be Gluten Free. For the wontons, we did half on cucumbers, and our entire entree buffet was gluten-free. Desserts were a small ceremony cake, blueberry cobbler, macaroons, mini key lime pie tarts, mini 7 layer cakes, and chocolate cookies. All in all, our wedding turned out to be a beautiful, September San Francisco day, and Jess played a huge part in that.
• B Sent on 11/09/2014
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  Culinary Excellence was absolutely fantastic to work with. The food was delicious; all of the guests were raving about how wonderful everything they prepared was. Even more than that though was how incredibly wonderful and professional the staff were who were at our wedding. The service with Culinary Excellence is top notch: the staff are friendly and so so helpful. The table set-up was so well done, and the dance floor they set up for us was perfect. We love dancing, and having a nice smooth floor was a must. Culinary Excellence took care of it all. They're a great company, and we are really thankful we got to work with them.

  Culinary Excellence was absolutely fantastic to work with. The food was delicious; all of the guests were raving about how wonderful everything they prepared was. Even more than that though was how incredibly wonderful and professional the staff were who were at our wedding. The service with Culinary Excellence is top notch: the staff are friendly and so so helpful. The table set-up was so well done, and the dance floor they set up for us was perfect. We love dancing, and having a nice smooth floor was a must. Culinary Excellence took care of it all. They're a great company, and we are really thankful we got to work with them.
• Aley Sent on 10/02/2014
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  Wow, I don't even know where to begin here! First off, HIRE CULINARY EXCELLENCE!! Jessica and Dr. Hardy (Chef Hardy) were the absolutely best! Jessica and I went back and forth constantly (emails, texts, calls, everything) for a year to plan my wedding. Every time I emailed her with another question or request, she treated me like I was her most important client. I started out just hiring them to do the food, and ended up hiring them for catering, decorations, lighting, flowers and the wedding cake. They're truly a one-stop shop!
  
  Dr. Hardy was actually one of my pediatric cardiologists when I had open heart surgery as a baby, and it was insane to find out that he owns the catering business we hired for our wedding. He did our construction themed wedding cake, and it turned out so perfect and elegant.
  
  Jessica basically ran my wedding! From the planning phases to the day of, when we had her take charge over our horrid DJ, she was there and working to make us happy. I can't even say enough good things about this pair! Seriously, hire them!
  
  Now for the obvious part: the food. Their food selections are diverse and absolutely delicious across the board! I told both Jessica and Dr. Hardy that they need to open a restaurant on the side so my husband and I can come back to eat their fabulous food again! My wedding cake was the absolute BEST CAKE I've ever eaten! I usually hate cake and wasn't even planning on having a wedding cake (my husband insisted on one) and I have no regrets. We chose chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and it was the best I've ever had.
  
  My wedding was at the Brazilian Room and Culinary Excellence is by FAR the best of their pre-approved caterer list. I'd hire them again for anything.

  Wow, I don't even know where to begin here! First off, HIRE CULINARY EXCELLENCE!! Jessica and Dr. Hardy (Chef Hardy) were the absolutely best! Jessica and I went back and forth constantly (emails, texts, calls, everything) for a year to plan my wedding. Every time I emailed her with another question or request, she treated me like I was her most important client. I started out just hiring them to do the food, and ended up hiring them for catering, decorations, lighting, flowers and the wedding cake. They're truly a one-stop shop!
  
  Dr. Hardy was actually one of my pediatric cardiologists when I had open heart surgery as a baby, and it was insane to find out that he owns the catering business we hired for our wedding. He did our construction themed wedding cake, and it turned out so perfect and elegant.
  
  Jessica basically ran my wedding! From the planning phases to the day of, when we had her take charge over our horrid DJ, she was there and working to make us happy. I can't even say enough good things about this pair! Seriously, hire them!
  
  Now for the obvious part: the food. Their food selections are diverse and absolutely delicious across the board! I told both Jessica and Dr. Hardy that they need to open a restaurant on the side so my husband and I can come back to eat their fabulous food again! My wedding cake was the absolute BEST CAKE I've ever eaten! I usually hate cake and wasn't even planning on having a wedding cake (my husband insisted on one) and I have no regrets. We chose chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and it was the best I've ever had.
  
  My wedding was at the Brazilian Room and Culinary Excellence is by FAR the best of their pre-approved caterer list. I'd hire them again for anything.
• Alice Sent on 07/04/2012
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  As parents of the bride, our experience with Culinary Excellence was far beyond expectation. We contracted with Culinary Excellence to make floral arrangements for the church wedding and to cater a banquet at the Golden Club for nearly 300 people. Chef and Owner, Christian (Chris) Hardy was not only attentive to details in the floral displays and arrangements for the wedding, but also in the table floral displays, lighting, and the culinary presentation for the reception and banquet which followed. Chris went beyond the call of duty to arrange the pulpit beautifully for a sacred matrimony, befitting of a place of worship. He and his staff also created the perfect ambiance for a large and elegant banquet after the wedding for our daughter. The hand passed hors d’oeuvres were hot and delicious during the reception. For the banquet, the salad was fresh and colorful. The buffet table provided eye appealing hot entrees and side dishes. Specifically, the prime rib and salmon entrees were moist, tender, and melted in the mouth. The spread of delicious, multiple choices of desserts amazed the guests. Our daughter requested home-made ice cream with unique flavors to be served, and Chris provided green tea, ube (taro), and mango. Our guests not only commented about how delicious the meal was but also that the dessert buffet was the very best they’ve ever had at a wedding banquet. Above all, the cost was reasonable for all that was provided. We give Culinary Excellence two thumbs up for a job well done in making our daughter’s wedding and banquet a most memorable one, a day we will cherish always!

  As parents of the bride, our experience with Culinary Excellence was far beyond expectation. We contracted with Culinary Excellence to make floral arrangements for the church wedding and to cater a banquet at the Golden Club for nearly 300 people. Chef and Owner, Christian (Chris) Hardy was not only attentive to details in the floral displays and arrangements for the wedding, but also in the table floral displays, lighting, and the culinary presentation for the reception and banquet which followed. Chris went beyond the call of duty to arrange the pulpit beautifully for a sacred matrimony, befitting of a place of worship. He and his staff also created the perfect ambiance for a large and elegant banquet after the wedding for our daughter. The hand passed hors d’oeuvres were hot and delicious during the reception. For the banquet, the salad was fresh and colorful. The buffet table provided eye appealing hot entrees and side dishes. Specifically, the prime rib and salmon entrees were moist, tender, and melted in the mouth. The spread of delicious, multiple choices of desserts amazed the guests. Our daughter requested home-made ice cream with unique flavors to be served, and Chris provided green tea, ube (taro), and mango. Our guests not only commented about how delicious the meal was but also that the dessert buffet was the very best they’ve ever had at a wedding banquet. Above all, the cost was reasonable for all that was provided. We give Culinary Excellence two thumbs up for a job well done in making our daughter’s wedding and banquet a most memorable one, a day we will cherish always!
• Kkkk Sent on 06/13/2019
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  Full service and quick on their feet when changes need to happen!

  I would give Jessica and her team 100 stars if I can. My journey planning my wedding with Jessica started over 1.5 years before my wedding.
  
  My original wedding venue was Preservation Park in Oakland. Culinary Excellence was a preferred vendor. I contacted 4 of the preferred vendors and Jessica was the quickest to response and more detailed oriented. I knew I can trust Jessica right from the beginning.
  
  In addition to doing a food tasting with Chris, I asked Jessica to quote me for the decorations. I think it's amazing that you can do everything with one company.
  
  I had set up two tastings, one with Culinary Excellence and the other with a Asian Fusion caterer.
  
  At the end of the tasting, we decided to pick the Asian caterer because it better fit my family wants but let me tell you that Culinary Excellence food is top notch. My husband and I still talk about the salmon from the tasting. Everything was beautifully presented and food was very very good.
  
  Even not going with the food, I asked if Jessica would be willing to still do the decorating. It was history from there. I spent over a year planning my dream wedding with Jessica.
  
  Come the week of the wedding, the weather says it would rain on our outdoor wedding. Jessica kept me calm throughout the process and supported me like a friend. 3 days before the wedding, we decided to change our wedding to Mission Paradise Banquet Hall 30 mins drive away from Preservation Park. Jessica was in vacation the day I made that decision and still made sure to call me that night to talk through the changes. With 3 days to go, she pulled her team together and put together the weddings of my dream. The guests still wonder how we pulled it out.. well I say a big part of it is Jessica and her team.
  
  There are a few things to note that made Jessica and her team stand out. My guests raved about the Culinary Excellence team during has after my wedding.
  
  1) my family never seen table greetings so efficient before! We got through 30 tables in 30-40 mins or so
  
  2) the timeline was spot on and perfect
  
  3) Jessica made sure my husband and I stayed hydrated all night. Everytime I turned she had two cups of water in her hand for us to drink
  
  4) they pulled out all my decorations in the new venue. My guests are still talking about how beautiful the wedding was!
  
  5) set up the tea ceremony at my home the day before
  
  
  Again, if I had a choice to go back and pick another company or coordinator.. I would not. I don't think I would of received the same service if I went elsewhere.
  
  Thank you for the bottom of my heart and my family for all you and the team did!

  I would give Jessica and her team 100 stars if I can. My journey planning my wedding with Jessica started over 1.5 years before my wedding.
  
  My original wedding venue was Preservation Park in Oakland. Culinary Excellence was a preferred vendor. I contacted 4 of the preferred vendors and Jessica was the quickest to response and more detailed oriented. I knew I can trust Jessica right from the beginning.
  
  In addition to doing a food tasting with Chris, I asked Jessica to quote me for the decorations. I think it's amazing that you can do everything with one company.
  
  I had set up two tastings, one with Culinary Excellence and the other with a Asian Fusion caterer.
  
  At the end of the tasting, we decided to pick the Asian caterer because it better fit my family wants but let me tell you that Culinary Excellence food is top notch. My husband and I still talk about the salmon from the tasting. Everything was beautifully presented and food was very very good.
  
  Even not going with the food, I asked if Jessica would be willing to still do the decorating. It was history from there. I spent over a year planning my dream wedding with Jessica.
  
  Come the week of the wedding, the weather says it would rain on our outdoor wedding. Jessica kept me calm throughout the process and supported me like a friend. 3 days before the wedding, we decided to change our wedding to Mission Paradise Banquet Hall 30 mins drive away from Preservation Park. Jessica was in vacation the day I made that decision and still made sure to call me that night to talk through the changes. With 3 days to go, she pulled her team together and put together the weddings of my dream. The guests still wonder how we pulled it out.. well I say a big part of it is Jessica and her team.
  
  There are a few things to note that made Jessica and her team stand out. My guests raved about the Culinary Excellence team during has after my wedding.
  
  1) my family never seen table greetings so efficient before! We got through 30 tables in 30-40 mins or so
  
  2) the timeline was spot on and perfect
  
  3) Jessica made sure my husband and I stayed hydrated all night. Everytime I turned she had two cups of water in her hand for us to drink
  
  4) they pulled out all my decorations in the new venue. My guests are still talking about how beautiful the wedding was!
  
  5) set up the tea ceremony at my home the day before
  
  
  Again, if I had a choice to go back and pick another company or coordinator.. I would not. I don't think I would of received the same service if I went elsewhere.
  
  Thank you for the bottom of my heart and my family for all you and the team did!

  • +18 photos
• Katie Sent on 09/08/2010
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  Working with Culinary Excellence for our August 2010 wedding was not only the easiest decision, it was also the best decision we made for the wedding! We had heard excellent things about them, and had been at parties they catered in the past. Chris and Katherine were great to work with. And, its one stop shopping with them! They did our catering, our cake, our flowers, our decorations, and were essentially also our wedding coordinators! They coordinated with the DJ excellently to make everything flow smoothly. The flowers and cake were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined!! The room looked absolutely gorgeous, and the food was amazing!! Everyone was raving about the food for long after! To anyone who is having a Bay Area wedding, you'd be silly to go with anyone other than Culinary Excellence! We are so lucky to have had them cater our wedding. Thanks Chris and Katherine!!!

  Working with Culinary Excellence for our August 2010 wedding was not only the easiest decision, it was also the best decision we made for the wedding! We had heard excellent things about them, and had been at parties they catered in the past. Chris and Katherine were great to work with. And, its one stop shopping with them! They did our catering, our cake, our flowers, our decorations, and were essentially also our wedding coordinators! They coordinated with the DJ excellently to make everything flow smoothly. The flowers and cake were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined!! The room looked absolutely gorgeous, and the food was amazing!! Everyone was raving about the food for long after! To anyone who is having a Bay Area wedding, you'd be silly to go with anyone other than Culinary Excellence! We are so lucky to have had them cater our wedding. Thanks Chris and Katherine!!!
• Elisia Sent on 11/30/2009
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  How many times do you hear people rave over the food at a wedding reception? Or the cake? We had Culinary Excellence cater our wedding and I think I heard as much about the food as I did about my dress!! The quality is WAY up there - both salmon and tri-tip were top of the line crowd pleasers. The side dishes are treated with the same care and concern for quality as the main course and the appetizers - oh!!! When we tasted them, my husband commented "is this really for US?!!" And yes, wedding cake can be delicious!
  
  Chris and Katherine are both wonderful to work with. We planned our wedding from three time zones away and they bent over backwards to fit in a tasting when we were in town (around the busy December holidays, no less!) and to coordinate phone confrences to handle details. The staff on site for our reception were the epitome of professionalism and a pleasure to deal with.
  
  Best of all, these are simply good, honest, fair people to deal with. I would use them again in a heartbeat!

  How many times do you hear people rave over the food at a wedding reception? Or the cake? We had Culinary Excellence cater our wedding and I think I heard as much about the food as I did about my dress!! The quality is WAY up there - both salmon and tri-tip were top of the line crowd pleasers. The side dishes are treated with the same care and concern for quality as the main course and the appetizers - oh!!! When we tasted them, my husband commented "is this really for US?!!" And yes, wedding cake can be delicious!
  
  Chris and Katherine are both wonderful to work with. We planned our wedding from three time zones away and they bent over backwards to fit in a tasting when we were in town (around the busy December holidays, no less!) and to coordinate phone confrences to handle details. The staff on site for our reception were the epitome of professionalism and a pleasure to deal with.
  
  Best of all, these are simply good, honest, fair people to deal with. I would use them again in a heartbeat!

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