We chose Culinary Kitchen for our recent wedding in Julian, CA this past June and my husband and I are incredibly thankful that we got to work with Ashley and JP for our big day! Food and catering service were some of our highest priorities to get right during our wedding and Culinary Kitchen was phenomenal every step of the way. Our communication with Ashley and and JP before, during, and after the wedding was exceptional. From the very beginning, Ashley was very responsive and regularly checked in with us, which helped me feel less overwhelmed by all the catering decisions we needed to make. I tend to err on being extremely detail oriented and I asked tons of questions early on. Ashley was so patient and thorough with each email I had sent over even before booking. Before choosing our caterer, we did 3 different wedding caterer tastings and Culinary Kitchen easily was the best of all three (we're still thinking about the gochujang meatballs and the cavatappi pasta with fennel sausage!!). On our wedding day, the food service ran seamlessly and our guests often commented on how good the food was (guests were actually trying to sneak chicken tenders off the kids plates because even the kids meals were so good). Their team also helped us serve our desserts, did our bartending, and rented/placed all of our table settings, all at very reasonable prices as part of the entire catering package. The team also went above and beyond to accommodate all of our guests' special dietary needs while still helping us stay within budget and recommending a cohesive menu. One last thing - we did A LOT of research on different San Diego caterers before our wedding (I think we sent out inquiries to at least 10 other caterers) and Culinary Kitchen's catering packages felt the most "upscale" and comprehensive without leaving us feeling nickel and dimed for every line item. I truly felt like their team was on our side the whole way. THANK YOU Culinary Kitchen for catering our wedding day!! We wish you guys the best of success! read more

Culinary Kitchen Catering and Events - Caterers Near Me - San Diego, California

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Culinary Kitchen provided the appetizers and buffet for our wedding and it was amazing! Working with Ashley throughout the entire process was a real pleasure. She went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. The chef has a passion for each dish and it really shined through on the night of our wedding, as our guests were raving about the quality of the food! Everything fit into our budget as well and we couldn't have been happier. We would highly recommend Culinary Kitchen for your event! read more

Writing this after our wedding this past weekend. The event was a total success and SO much of that had to do with the amazing food from JP at Culinary Kitchen! I had guests coming up to me telling me how they quite literally cleaned their plates and went back for seconds. JP really went above and beyond to provide us with the best service and experience. He even made sure we were fed pre-ceremony. An all around wonderful guy. He's communicative, detail oriented, and a wonderful partner in what can be a stressful planning process. Could not recommend him and his team enough. read more

Culinary Kitchen catered a baby shower for us this past weekend and it turned out even better than we could have expected! The food was excellent and the presentation could not have been more beautiful! In addition the owner, chef, and all the employees were so helpful and professional. I could not recommend Culinary Kitchen any higher, they are wonderful in every way! read more

CKAE was our caterer for our wedding this past May and we absolutely LOVED them! Ashley is a dream and was so sweet and on top of everything. We have been to a lot of weddings over the past 10 years and maybe we're biased, but I think our food was the best we've had! For tray-passed apps we got the veggie gyoza and the filet mignon blue cheese bites, both of which were incredible. For dinner we had a delicious strawberry & pistachio arugula salad, champagne chicken breast, peppercorn steak, garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini -- everything was perfect. I'm not gonna lie, food quality was not one of our top priorities for our wedding day when we were budgeting and planning but holy cow did CKAE change our minds! We were left dreaming about our meal for weeks after the tasting, and then on our actual wedding day the chicken was PERFECTLY cooked (so impressive at a buffet!), and we got endless compliments about the garlic mashed potatoes. The only dietary restrictions we had were our vegetarian folks, and all of the ones that got them were happy with their meals. We would absolutely recommend Culinary Kitchen to anyone! Love you guys! read more

We recently hosted our son's wedding at the La Jolla Women's Club, and we couldn't be happier with our catering experience with Culinary Kitchen! From the very beginning, Ashley was incredibly attentive and responsive, it truly felt like we were working with a close friend who genuinely cared about making the day perfect. By the time the wedding came around, we felt so comfortable and supported thanks to Ashley's professionalism and warmth. The tray-passed appetizers were a hit, and the taco bar was not only beautifully presented but absolutely delicious. We received so many compliments from our guests on the food. Several of our guests told us it was one of the best wedding meals they'd ever had! If you're looking for a caterer who's not only talented but also deeply invested in making your event special, Culinary Kitchen is the one. We're so grateful for everything they did to help make Tiffany & Nick's wedding unforgettable. read more

As a Wedding and Event Planner, access to incredible catering vendors is a must-have! When it came time for me to plan an event of my own, I went strait to Ashley and JP because I knew it would be amazing, beautiful and delicious. They over-delivered for the event and everything was just perfect. Culinary Kitchen is always at the top of my referral list because their attention to detail and reliability speak for themselves. It's always a top-notch experience and their passion for what they do shines through in their food, presentation and level of service. Krista Burroughs Paper Jewels Events, Owner Ringmasters, Co-Founder read more

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Working with Ashley and team at CKCE was truly one of the best wedding decisions we made! We had a different caterer fall through 2 months before our wedding and Ashley became our superhero from start to finish when we were in panic mode trying to find another caterer under a time pressure. So glad we went with CKCE and the food was 10x better than what our original caterer's food was. The menu is spectacular, the tasting was professional and a fun experience, and the execution at our wedding was 10/10! Can't recommend them enough! read more

We used Culinary Kitchen for a wedding party we hosted at a nearby venue in San Diego. The company helped me find the perfect wedding package that suited my style and my wallet!! I thoroughly enjoyed my complementary tasting with Ashley. What an awesome person, and she was super accommodating to my very busy schedule! The staff day of was extremely professional and went above and beyond, helping me feel calm, and all the guests feel they were part of a truly awesome event! It has been over two weeks and my guests are still raving about the food! It was super hard to pick a menu with all the delicious options! Everything from their gorgeous cheese and meat boards, some sinful classics like Mac n cheese, and some more formal options like filets, all mixed together to fit our eclectic bunch! Check them out for sure for a party you need catered/organized in and around San Diego!! read more

I was planning a afternoon baby shower for my daughter and her husband. People have so many dietary restrictions I was baffled. I turned to Ashley at Culinary Catering, and she was my angel. We decided on a grazing board that looked like artwork, desserts and drinks. The team of Samantha and Josh took care of our event in a professional and divine manner. People love the food. The did a wonderful set up and take down. Ashley was my calming force through the whole process. Very kind and professional. If I or a friend have another event we will use them again.People at the shower were asking me for contact information. We will see.. Thank you so much! read more

Culinary Kitchen Catered our wedding and we are SO grateful! From the tasting, till wedding day, they provided exceptional service. They catered to all our needs and worked with us to personalize our menu. The food was amazing, which means a lot to us "foodies". Highly recommend! read more

I work for a San Diego BioTech company, and we frequently host corporate events. I've had the pleasure of working with Ashley Clark from Culinary Kitchen Catering & Events, and I couldn't be more impressed. Ashley is an outstanding partner who consistently delivers exceptional service and delicious food. Her attention to detail, professionalism, and creativity ensure every event is a success. Whether it's a small meeting or a large conference, Ashley and her team always go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly. I highly recommend Culinary Kitchen Catering & Events for any corporate event needs. PS: I love doing corporate events, but I love them even more because I get to work with Ashley. It's fun to bounce ideas off of her, and she knows how to execute the event. I fully trust Ashley with all my events. read more

I chose to work with CKC because of the unanimous 5-star reviews, but I was underwhelmed. The service was perfunctory and inattentive. The bartender spent much of the party crouched down behind the bar on her phone. There were no trash receptacles for the disposable plates and cups till after several of us asked multiple times. Except for the grazing table, the food (sliders and mac and cheese) was forgettable. While the grazing table was very attractive and offered many options, for some weird reason, there were no plates there. Guests had to put their food on cocktail napkins - not good with meats, cheeses, condiments and dips - so most of that food was leftover. CKC did not provide takeout containers or ask for some from our kitchen; instead they choose to jam leftovers in unsuitable and flimsy pastry boxes the desserts came in. It was nice to have the food the next day, but the jumbled mess made them unappetizing. This was a disappointing experience as I had such a positive impression from these reviews and my initial call with Ashley. I think CKC lacks the polish, attention to detail and decor, and attentive service of its competitiors. read more

I hired Culinary Kitchen not only because of the quality of food and service they provided for my wedding but because Ashley was a dream to work with from the start. She went above and beyond day and night answering any questions or concerns I had. My wedding coordinator and Ashley worked together beforehand to figure out the the layout for our dinner service since she had years of working weddings at our venue. We had a buffet style serve and left extra florals for the catering staff to match the whole vibe. They were so professional day of and really elevated the guests experience. It's been a couple of months and people are still raving about our special day. read more

It was my extreme pleasure working with Ashley, planning the food for our luau. She communicated our wishes to Chef Josh, and they executed a wonderful meal for all the special needs of our group! The Island Breeze Mango salad and stir-fry veggies were great additions to the kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, lime rice, best macaroni salad EVER, and fresh fruit. They were both so pleasant, and had everything ready on schedule. I received many compliments from our guests on the QUALITY of the food. So good! read more

From our first call and first site visit with JP to Ashley's calm command of the seven-person crew onboard, this catering team made our San Diego Yacht Party feel seamless and spectacular. Guests raved about the stunning cheese-and-app platter and the melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon bites with blue-cheese sauce. The service was polished and friendly, everything ran on schedule, the staff anticipated needs before we voiced them, and the whole process, from planning to the final wave good bye, was stress-free. If anything, I'd love for them to keep elevating each item and bring the same wow-factor across the whole menu. In summary, the event was a complete success and we look forward to working with them again next time we are in San Diego! read more

Fantastic customer response. Very flexible and amazing menu. I didn't use them for a variety of reasons I'm related to services they offered, but if I ever have a large catering event, I will definitely contact them again. read more

Culinary Kitchen catered a baby shower for my daughter. Working with Ashley was amazing and she gave me so many great ideas. She is a pro and went over and above in several ways. Chef Misa was wonderful too and everyone raved about the food! The chicken with champagne sauce was loved by all! read more

Last week I hosted my mom's Celebration of Life. This type of event is a little different, in that planning is immediate, without a lot of advanced notice. I worked with Ashley, who was AMAZING. She was VERY RESPONSIVE, helped me problem solve the menu, the location, and even decor that would give the COL a "pop" (framed pics of my mom at all stages of her life, on every table - it was really beautiful.) I was so happy and impressed with the layout and how wonderful everything looked. THANK YOU Culinary Kitchen and Ashley and Chef Jonathan for making this important event so memorable. read more

Amazing experience working with JP and his team! We booked a private buffet dinner for a girls trip in La Jolla. His communication was excellent throughout the entire process. He arrived at the time expected, provided an incredibly delicious meal that everyone loved and the kitchen was left spotless when he help. He also packaged up all the leftovers for us to enjoy, and it was a lot of food. I did a lot of research before booking and JP had the best reviews and was also reasonably priced. Highly recommend using him for your next dinner party or event! read more

There are not enough stars to rate Ashley and John. I had them coordinate my husband's celebration of life and from start to finish they were professional, quick to respond and very accommodating. They were so sensitive to the nature of the event and helped make it as easy as possible. The event ran over and Ashley was happy to accommodate. John's food prep and presentation as well as the clean up was first rate. Ashley set up the desserts and the appetizers beautifully. If you need any catering for a special event home or otherwise. Culinary Kitchen and John and Ashley should be your first call. read more

We hired CKCE to cater our event on a yacht and they nailed it!! The food was delicious and the staff was very helpful and attentive. Thank you so much for helping make our event so special for us and our guests. read more

Today was the first time I have hired caterers. Normally, cook it all myself but decided to take a chance with Culinary Kitchen based on their yelp reviews. To say I was a little nervous about giving up that control would be an understatement!. But all that worry was unnecessary because Culinary Kitchen did a fantastic job. Although we did not pick out a sophisticated menu, the food was delicious and service was top notch. Ashley and JP were responsive and wonderful to work with. Their food presentation was very classy and they cleared the plates as guests finished their meal. JP made sure to leave us with leftovers to enjoy... which was much appreciated! I would highly recommend the Korean meatballs with Gochujang, Filet Mignon bleu cheese skewers, and everyone raved about the blush vinaigrette. I will definitely be calling on Culinary Kitchen for future catering needs! read more

I highly recommend Culinary Kitchen Catering! JP was communicative from the start, provided plenty of menu options, and also gave straightforward pricing. They catered a 30 person event for my wedding rehearsal dinner and I couldn't have asked for better. They were prompt, the food was amazing, and the service was impeccable! If you are looking for private catering, Culinary Kitchen is the way to go! Thank you for making my wedding rehearsal dinner so perfect, JP! read more