Paradise Catering absolutely crushed our California cuisine menu and exceeded every expectation!…read moreFrom our very first tasting, every single bite was perfection. Our menu featured three passed hors d'oeuvres, a Don Angie-inspired Caesar salad (off their regular menu!), miso black cod, filet mignon, and tofu with artichoke. Many guests made a point to tell me how delicious their food was - that's how you know you've found an exceptional caterer. Beyond the incredible flavors, the presentation was artistically plated and looked very elevated, perfect for our Carmel Valley celebration. I cannot recommend Paradise Catering enough if you're looking for outstanding catering in the area. They made our wedding dining experience truly special!

I recently had the pleasure of working with Paradise Catering for my wedding, and they truly…read moreexceeded all expectations! From start to finish, they delivered THE MOST delicious food, making our special day unforgettable. For the cocktail hour, Paradise cooked four exceptional hors d'oeuvres: tamale lollipops, lobster rolls, tuna crisps, and rainbow vegan rolls. Not only were these beautifully presented, but they were also a hit among our guests. We received so many compliments from our guests, with one guest raving about eating 7 lobster rolls because they were so irresistible! The dinner was equally impressive. Paradise Catering set up a buffet-style live grill featuring perfectly cooked miso cod, succulent steak, creamy mac and cheese, indulgent potatoes au gratin, and artisan bread with tie-dye flower-infused butter. Our guests couldn't stop praising the elegance and flavor of each dish. Beyond the incredible food, the team (Valerie, John, Nancy, and Maria) was exceptional--attentive, thoughtful, and seamless in their service. They even prepared a special platter of hors d'oeuvres for us during the cocktail hour, ensuring we didn't miss out on the delicious offerings! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Paradise Catering for any event. Their combination of culinary artistry and outstanding service made our wedding truly special! Thank you Paradise for an amazing day!!

So Bricolage Events is the ISH. I was so fortunate enough to grab a seat at their spring series and…read moreit was nothing short of amazing - the whole thing. It is officially party season and if you are looking to host an amazing event and you are located in the Big Sur / Monterey area then this company is who you should call. Bricolage Catering is owned and operated by three wonderful people, Austen Falls (Culinary Director), Deb Falls (Director of Hospitality) and Cat Mulligan (Creative Director). And the resume on these guys...very impressive from Austen's background in Michelin Star restaurants, Deb's extensive knowledge of the finest events in Napa Valley, to Cat's eye and execution of the spectacular and whimsical events in Big Sur, their attention to detail, ingredients and combined experiences are the crème de la crème that creates a successful event. But back to the series, I attended the second out of three parts and let's enter into the fire. This took place at the Maligne restaurant and not an empty seat was in sight. And may I also add, the conversations at each table between strangers is what I dream to have at every restaurant or event I attend. How they seated people together was one beautifully orchestrated orchestra. Because you know how it goes, if there is no conversation at the table, what a disappointment it would be. They were genuine, honest and in my case, was the start of new friendships. The food...what can I even say? Even their variation of the summer favorite s'mores boasted flavor that mimicked a camp outing - the celestial beauty reflecting the idea that the stars might be long gone but the memories we have are here and now. A reminder that all we really have is today and the importance that sharing a meal with someone can create. So if you are looking to host an event, maybe you need some creative direction, whatever it is, if you are in the Big Sur, Carmel or Monterey area, give this team a call. I guarantee you will not regret it.

It was a pleasure working with Michelle for our daughter's birthday party in Pacific Grove. The…read morefood was delivered on time and it was delicious, kid friendly and packed with wholesomeness! I personally liked the salsa, mock-egg-salad and egg frittatas the most The kids seemed to have enjoyed most of the items and it was all packed with lot of veggies so that was a plus we loved the fact that the food was home cooked and devoid of any preservatives/unnecessary additives. It felt great to work with a socially and environmentally aware chef. She tends to make generous portions so do hash out that detail with her when planning, so as to avoid any wastage. It was a great experience overall and I would highly recommend her for your next event.

Michelle is hands down one of the best Chefs I know. She is able to accommodate almost any venue…read moreand her attention to detail is unsurpassed. Beautiful personality and versatile menu planning makes her my first choice when it comes to weekly meals or special events!

To say this team only provides an exceptional food experience would be selling them short. More…read moreaccurately they deliver an experience that would leave any world class Butler, Maitre d, Server or Chef in awe. They say the difference between average and exceptional is in the details. These guys take it to a whole new level. Our group of 9 wanted for nothing over the entire weekend. Cocktails. check. Wine. check. Appetizers and Hors d'ouevres. check. Amazing dinners. check. Attentive service including clean up. check. Even an extra run to the store because someone needs more tequila and snacks! All done without asking. Carmel Private Chef is the real deal. We'll be using them again.

The best service ever. I would highly recommend them. They go above and beyond and help bring your…read moreevent to life by creating a highly curated and tailored culinary experience. They brought in food from local farms, wine from their favorite wineries and went above and beyond in every detail.

My sister recently eloped at the beach in carmel and we asked Crystal to cater to our Airbnb. We…read moreopted out of a plated option and had her deliver in warm trays to our home to keep things simple. She was prompt in her reply to her website, flexible on menu edits and on time with a delicious meal! I would absolutely recommend her for other events in the area.

Hire Crystal for sure! We received our referral from our wedding coordinator and this was by far…read morethe best referral! We rented a house for our wedding in Carmel by the Sea, and wanted a plated served dinner for our rehearsal dinner, and breakfast items left for the next morning of the wedding. Crystal and her team showed up timely and just took care of business. They arranged furniture and chairs to make seating for our 20 guests throughout the house. The services was perfect, the food was DELICIOUS, and I am an amateur chef myself. We had appetizers, salad, and short ribs and shrimp and everything was cooked to perfection. My family could not say enough about how the cheesecake was the best they have ever had! Crystal and the team cleaned up and were on their way like absolute professionals. I could not have asked for a better evening! Then we move on to breakfast. The quiches were so flavorful, and the fruit tray tasted like she put a little spritz of heaven on every peace of fruit! I will certainly hire Crystal again, and next time I'm in the area try her restaurant. Thank you Crystal and your team, you were absolutely a joy to work with!

A little delayed as I'm just now coming out of a food coma. I cannot thank Hollie enough, and it…read moregoes far beyond the amazing meal she cooked for my family. We booked Chef Hollie to cater our wedding in Big Sur last month. Due to the road closure we had to find a new venue for our wedding... This also meant we were unable to have Hollie cater for us. Hollie graciously came to my wife's Aunts house to on a different date. We didn't want to lose the chance of eating her food! It was amazing and we are so bummed the rest of our wedding guest did not get the chance. Thank you Chef Hollie! You are the best.

Hollie is an incredible chef with a passion for food and flavor that truly shines through into her…read morework. Highly recommend her for any event you may be hosting! We worked with Hollie for over a year leading up to our wedding at the Wind and Sea Estate in Big Sur in September of 2023. An elegant dining experience with top notch food and service was what we wanted to create for our wedding, and Hollie and her team delivered that and so much more. We worked closely with Hollie over the months to craft an elevated dining experience starting with passed apps and a grazing table followed by a 3 course plated dinner menu and finished with a delectable fall themed dessert. We were lucky enough to meet Hollie 7 months before the event to get to know her, taste some of her incredible food, and work on the menu together. Throughout the whole process, Hollie was extremely flexible and creative in crafting our menu to be just how we wanted, customizing every little detail to make it perfect. She was SO organized and very communicative in the months leading up to the wedding. She also was a huge help in determining all of the rentals we needed to curate a beautiful and elevated dining experience for our guests, all the way down to the correct number of forks! I don't even know where to begin when it comes to the day of the wedding. Hollie and her team of at least 7 people created the most memorable, elevated and magical experience for us and all of our guests. The waitstaff was top notch, providing better service than we have received at many restaurants. It was the perfect dinner party to celebrate our wedding! It's hard to put into words how delicious the food was. We so appreciate that Hollie uses ingredients from lots of local vendors and provides the highest quality items in her dishes. The food was exploding with flavor, perfectly cooked and so fresh. Every little detail in each course did not go unnoticed, we savored every bite! Our guests cannot stop talking about how it was one of the best dining experiences they ever had. We are already trying to plan when we can work with Hollie again. Thank you for the most perfect day!

My husband and I got married August of 2013 at the Old Whaling Station and had our reception at…read moreMemory Garden. We were so lucky that we ran into The lovely Dana at a bridal show in Monterey. The two of us and my mom liked her immediately and thank goodness we trusted our instincts. From the beginning, Dana and the amazing team working with her made us feel happy and at ease. They definitely have a way of calming those wedding nerves! We first went to a tasting at the beach house - Chef Claire knows how to cook it! It took us forever to decide our menu because everything was truly mouth watering perfection. We are foodies and wanted the food at our wedding to be beautiful, delicious and memorable. After the tasting my mom booked them to cater our shower, and it was a hit (with pink guamosas all around)! Luckily, they were the preferred caterer for our venue. They know what they are doing, trust them!! Every step of the way, Dana was there for us, keeping tabs, updating us, and always there to answer any questions we had. I am really big on decor and atmosphere and especially antiques and all things vintage and so Dana introduced us to Ana Marie. Ana Marie has such an eye for making things look just right. She did such an amazing job with the decor for both our shower and wedding. She rented out some of her personal pieces as well! (Also, Dana recommended an amazing florist - Kate Healey from Big Sur Flowers.) On the big day, it all just came together so perfectly. What we also loved was that they all made sure we enjoyed ourselves, and that we had the time to enjoy the food! Chef Claire made the most delicious rabbit I have ever had - it was just what we wanted! We had gorgeous mussels, an amazing salad with edible flowers - it was truly perfection. The staff was amazing and we really felt that they were there for us. I could go on and on which is why it took me so long to write this review. I know this sounds beyond cheesy but I do recommend them, they are beyond five stars because you aren't just hiring a vendor, they felt like part of the family. Thank you guys so much! You were all so wonderful and made our day perfection! We were blessed to have found you! Alex & David PS. We hope we can get you guys to cater our future baby shower! (far future tho, no baby yet lol)

**Update** I learned last week that someone from Grapes of Wrath called the bride and asked her if…read moreshe would talk to me and ask me to remove my review. I would like to state that absolutely nothing in this review is anything but my observations and opinions based on what I saw and was informed by the catering company that night. I do not work for any competing catering company - I'm a stay at home mom - and I was only helping out as a favor. I helped out a wedding at the Old Whaling Station Adobe house and Grapes of Wrath handled the catering. I had not been in attendance to any meetings beforehand so my observations are based solely on the hours before the event and a few hours into the event. The staff was very friendly and were very efficient in setting up the tables and bar area. However, once the event started I noticed that they hadn't really changed clothes except for adding vests to their white shirt black pants ensemble. Some were in really grungy tennis shoes, girls with long hair not pulled back, black aprons were filthy looking. Mostly they looked pretty unprofessional. After the ceremony the chairs were moved and then the tables were set where the ceremony took place. The tables all had specific numbers and a diagram was supplied to the caterer, but tables were out of order. Wouldn't have been a big deal expect the table that was mistakenly put near the back was where the mothers & fathers of the bride & groom were sitting. During the cocktail/app time it was discovered that they were serving both the wine that should have been reserved for dinner and the sparkling cider which was reserved for the toast only. About the time that the buffet should have been set up I was informed that the food was not present. They had loaded another party's food and the other party had our food. The location of the other event was 30-45 minutes away and they were just then trying to fix the issue. I worked for one of the top 5 catering companies in the Bay Area and while I don't expect everyone to live up to those standards I do expect things like having the correct food and having staff that look professional and clean at an event. I'm unsure how you can bring the wrong food to an event. Not just one or two dishes, but the entire menu. Mostly, I don't understand how this mistake wasn't at least caught earlier than right before dinner. Maybe it's because none of the food was cooked or prepared on site (which is definitely something that would have turned me away) or maybe it was because none of the staff unloading knew what the menu was for the evening? I'm not sure. Of course, I'm not saying that mistakes don't happen at events. I've seen my share of crazy things happen, but missing an entire menu? Sloppy and disheveled servers....not my cup of tea.

Liz at craft collective events went well beyond our expectations. We hired her for our business…read moreribbon cutting and the food was delicious and also gorgeous. We will certainly be using her again for all functions. Thank you Liz!

I love this place! We went to Craft Collective for a private event, and I cannot recommend them…read moreenough! Chef Eduardo's California cuisine had so many amazing flavors. Liz, Erik and their team were gracious and professional. Highly recommended!