Primal Alchemy Catering is AMAZING! I was helping out _ call me the Wedding Coordinator :) - for a friend's weeding in Palm Springs and not only is their food amazing - their catering STAFF is awesome. They need raises - if you are reading this Chef Paul :) . The dinner was family style and there was MORE than enough to go around for 10 people at our table. The salad was so fresh - you would NEVER have knows we were in 90 degree weather. The grilled veggies were flavored just enough, the wild rice was to die for and the tri tip was just juicy enough. I am not a big fan of bloody meat - I like mine well well done - but even though this wasn't well done, I had about four pieces. It was DELICOUS and the BEST wedding food I have had in years. And trust me; I go to a lot of weddings. I also know they do all sorts of parties and events - not just weddings. Chef Paul needs to open his own place! I would recommend Primal to anyone - and ask for Gail. She is an amazing on-site Coordinator and awesome to work with. Thanks Primal - you guys are AMAZING! read more

Cute little spot near the beach. Amazing service and selection of foods, snacks, desserts, spreads, and more! If you're looking for the best burger during Burger Week, look no further than this gem of a spot. read more

Best dinner ever! Chef Paul of Primal Alchemy donated a private dinner party to the Guidance Center Auction before the pandemic and I won the bid and he honored it tonight. It was the best most delicious fabulous dinner ever. Thank you Primal Alchemy for your generosity to such a fine and valuable Organization in the Long Beach community, The Guidance Center providing mental health services IN schools. read more

I'd hire these guys again in a heartbeat! When you're planning an event, you really hope that hiring a caterer is going to make it easier for you - well, Primal Alchemy met and exceeded those expectations. Everything from the planning, equipment rental, food preparation, meal and cleanup were perfect in every way. And to end the night with everyone raving about the food and return to an impeccable kitchen, well that deserves all the stars in my book! Thank you Chef Paul, Adrienne, Cindy and your team for creating the best possible fête for our family and friends- it was memorable, fun and delicious! read more

Thank you Chef Paul for making my parents' 50th Anniversary party so special and memorable. The food was delicious and exceeded our expectations ten fold. I'm grateful you were able to bring your talent into our kitchen. I've already received emails and texts from most of their friends raving about the food. What made it extra special was your willingness to build the menu around their favorite foods and memories. We appreciate you and your team and will always cherish this evening. read more

Had the Short Rib dinner delivered today. The entire experience was easy and delicious. They even texted me five minutes before delivery...reheat in the oven and serve...In a word, yum! read more

First time ever hiring a caterer, I hit the jackpot. Primal Alchemy worked with me the whole way; everyone was very responsive to my needs, and there was no stress for me. They told me everything I needed to know to have a successful backyard party for 45 people, with a tapas and small plates menu. At my request, they developed a draft menu to accommodate both omnivores and vegans, and gave me a variety of price options -- then their executive chef created a menu just for me. Everything went exactly as planned, and when the staff arrived to set up, and when they packed up to go, their professionalism was evident. They were so thoughtful, bringing along everything they would need. I bought my own drinks to save money, and the staff was extraordinarily helpful in serving the drinks and doing extra prep above and beyond what I'd expected. The party went off without a hitch, and the food was delicious. I was delighted with the quality of the ingredients. The catering staff cleaned up completely and even packed up some yummy leftovers which my 20-something kids plowed through in a few days. Highly recommend this organization. read more

Chef Paul recently catered a small dinner at our home, for our Wine Group. The dinner was outstanding from the appetizers to the, out of this world chocolate souffle. Everything was cooked to perfection and presented on time, and Chef Paul even instantly created an alternative sauce for a guest who had dietary requirements. Chef Paul and his team were professional, and left the kitchen spotless. Our guests are still talking about the evening and declaring this to be our best Wine Dinner yet. Thank you Chef Paul. read more

This review is not for the food itsel. My boyfriend and I decided to go with another venue for our wedding and we had to select from their list of vendors, which was unfortunate as I was looking forward to using Primal Alchemy. However, Sarah was super helful and responded to all my emails promptly. They customized a menue for us keeping in mind the limited budget we had and it looked great. Hopefully we get to use their services in the future. read more

What a fantastic burger Chef Paul makes!! And serve with his delicious potato salad-- yum! We got ours on the last day of Burger Week, but perhaps there will be another burger week in the future. Also love the Beef Bourguinon, which is part of the weekly meal menus. read more

Wonderful catering company, easy to work with and fabulous food. Love that they support the community and Pathways to Independence

The best chef in Long Beach as voted by the Long Beach Telegram in 2016 and 2017 has the best event/catering company in the business bar none read more

we only had 18 guests at our wedding, but we still wanted to bring a caterer to our venue. we didn't want to go to a restaurant. i called several high end restaurants that do on site catering, as well as a couple of companies that strictly do event catering. Chef Paul was the best at communicating AND had very reasonable prices (for a caterer that came on site to feed only 18!). Chef Paul is super friendly and went over every single detail (down to dessert fork and placement of napkins) over the phone. the staff he brought with him was super professional and quick. the presentation was gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. our wedding photographers took a lot of pictures of the food! all of our guests RAVED about the food. they, and i, have never had food like this at a wedding before. talking with him about our menu over the phone beforehand, you can tell he really puts a lot of thought and care into his ingredients. truly amazing and would recommend Chef Paul to anyone looking for a special event caterer! read more

We had Chef Paul and Primal Alchemy cater our wedding recently, and we were not disappointed! The staff that were there were excellent and very professional. They helped everything go as smooth as possible. The food was unbelievable. The meat and fish were perfectly cooked, I couldn't believe it was catering, tasted more like a meal from a restaurant. I think every single guest at our wedding commented on how good the food was, and that it was the best wedding food they had ever had! We even had several people ask for their info to use them to cater at their future weddings! I hope I have some other events in the future that need catering I will be sure to work with Primal Alchemy again and will definitely be referring them to everyone I know. read more

These folks are amazing! I could not dream of anyone better to cater our wedding . They put together an amazing menu and we helpful with everything. Cindy Goss, the woman who helped with our contract and communication back and forth, is a wonderful joy to work with! She made me feel special and put me at ease and made the planning easy. Chef Paul is supper professional about the details and I would trust him with any event. If you are thinking of using this team, look no further, you get what you pay for. They are the best! read more

We hired Chef Paul to cook pizzas for us at a backyard wood-fired oven, for a feature film cast & crew wrap party. 9 hours and 50 pizzas later, we had very happy guests! Paul's love for cooking and generosity in teaching our guests how to make their own pizzas made the event extra special. Paul is delightful and the pizzas were delicious. What more can you ask for? I'd hire him again in a heartbeat! read more

We used Primal Alchemy for our wedding last summer & absolutely loved their food! Truly appreciate that they use local & seasonal foods!! So fresh & absolutely delicious. They also recommended wines to pair with the appetizers and the dinner & they were all fantastic! I received many comments that the food Primal Alchemy served at our wedding is the best wedding food people have had. Absolutely delicious! read more

Not only can Chef Paul cook, he can teach KIDS to cook. My daughters recently attended Primal Alchemy's summer cooking camp where they learned to make some amazing dishes including salmon tartare and creme brulee. Best of all, they are now inspired to cook their own meals at home! With a focus on local, organic and sustainable food, my kids learned lessons that will last a lifetime. Can't wait for the next camp! read more

Primal Alchemy catered my 50th birthday celebration last Saturday and surpassed my expectations! I had a small party with 15 of my closet friends and had chosen a wine for each year I met them. The wines were the center of the evening and wanted Chef Paul to pair food with each. He did an amazing job of providing a 6 course dinner that paired perfectly with each pair of wines. The service was phenomenal and it was like having a 5 star restaurant in my home. They set up, cooked and cleaned up while I and my friends enjoyed the spectacular evening! read more

Primal Alchemy catered our backyard wedding (70 people) this past Saturday, and we could not be happier with the result! The food was absolutely delicious (our guests were so impressed), the staff was helpful and friendly, and cleanup was spotless. We didn't have to worry about anything--we just enjoyed the party. From the moment we started working with them, the staff was excellent. Mona worked hard to make sure we had the menu we wanted, and was always available to answer my last minute panicked-bride questions, which I very much appreciated. :) Many thanks to Chef Paul and his fantastic team! read more

I went to my friend's wedding last week, and food was out standing. I would recommend this caterers for my friends. Fish was so moist and tender, fresh, health and amazing taste. My husband is very picky eater but he ate all of their dish. I can't forget about the sauce on top of the fish. Yum.... read more

Anytime there's an invitation side marked PRIMAL ALCHEMY you can be assured no matter the event the food you can count on to be not only delicious but beautiful, fresh , and on point for the occasion. I've attended so many events in my city and this catering company by far is the best. Its the only one I use in my Loft Event SPACE853. They are Contemporary Modern day Culinary artisans. read more

Attended a wedding with about 140 people. Unusual for me to have both interesting, organic and most importantly tasty food. Staff seemed to navigate this outdoor space easily and served to all tables at basically the same time. I think I am writing this review as a fan of the short-ribs. read more

We hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner for 80 people mostly from the east coast. Cindy guided us through a process and handled our changes and the team delivered a knock out dinner that left our guests raving all weekend. We were 2500 miles away until the day of the dinner. Primal Alchemy hit nothing but home runs; beautiful presentation, great service, fantastic food, wonderful balance, all making for an unforgettable evening. Great folks from the chef to the servers. Just leave it in their hands. read more

I highly recommend Primal Alchemy catering for any special event. Chef Paul is a truly talented chef that will go above and beyond to ensure the highest quality food and service. From the first phone conversation with Chef Paul, I knew Primal Alchemy was the perfect fit for our intimate family wedding. Not only is Chef Paul warm, genuine and passionate about creating delicious food, he sincerely cares about making your event special and memorable. Mona was also a pleasure to work with on creating the menu. She provided great recommendations and worked with us to create the perfect menu. On the day of the event, the food and service was absolutely flawless. Primal Alchemy knows how to deliver! read more

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Chef Paul of Primal Alchemy just catered a party I had last weekend. He suggested BBQ chicken chili (his award winning recipe) with sweet corn bread pudding and a wild rice salad. I'm not that big of a chili fan, but he told me that his version I would like. It was the absolute BEST chili I had ever tasted!! My guests loved the food, and there was more than enough--Being Jewish, we like to make sure there is a lot of food for guests! Really, everyone was raving about it and I got to enjoy his great cooking for a few days afterwards.... Now I know why Chef Paul is so well known and so busy in the Long Beach area. He is also very passionate about his ingredients and everything was just perfect. He sent one of his staff to set up and keep the food heated for the evening and I did not have to do a thing. He makes it so easy for you! I would recommend him to anyone that wants food that is superbly delicious! THANK YOU Chef Paul and Primal Alchemy for you contribution to a great evening! Cindi Milrad Long Beach, Ca. read more

Primal Alchemy catered a Birthday party for my wife. The server Veronica was delightful and the chef Jeff made every thing taste great. Our guests raved about the food, especially the braised short ribs. Now I have a caterer to count on. read more

It is a relief to know there are catering businesses like Primal Alchemy out there that you can rely on. Perfection! No chef takes greater pride in their work than Chef Paul. From origin of product and origin of recipe to finished product...this chef is pedantic about his ingredients and food presentation. Creative without being gimmicky. What a pleasure. read more

Primal Alchemy catered our wedding and every single guest said it was the best wedding food they've ever had. Great job Paul! Paul is very passionate about food. For him, this isn't just business, it's pride ... it's art. Two quick examples: 1. When discussing the menu he proudly explained how he gets all his ingredients local (within 5 miles for his "5 mile salad) and how the fish would be alive no more than 24 hours before it was on our plate 2. He insisted on on-site cooking. At one point the wedding site owner tried to prevent onsite cooking, but Paul said he'd rather walkaway even though offsite prep was less effort for the same paycheck. My only words of advice to people working with Paul are to remember he's a chef first and a businessman second. He doesn't respond well to micromanaging or too many specific requests. Also, he could use some administrative help. He handles all the orders himself, even though he's getting very busy. As a result, he can sometimes be hard to reach or not catch your special requests the first time you give them. As long as you respect his culinary vision and follow-up on special requests, you will be in for a treat! read more

We used Primal Alchemy for our wedding rehearsal dinner and boy, are we so glad we did! Chef Paul met with us before the event and helped us plan our table set-up and gave us a wonderful sampling of his culinary abilities while we discussed the menu. We were so impressed with his experience and knowledge of farm to table (which is why we were drawn to Primal Alchemy to begin with). He clearly is passionate about food and makes it a labor of love. He worked hard to design a menu that would accommodate our budget, but still satisfy everything we envisioned. Our guests all RAVED about the food and Paul's team was so sweet, but professional and on top of it. The braised short ribs were melt-in-your-mouth divine! The bread pudding dessert was the best we've ever had! I have no doubt that Primal Alchemy will exceed any expectations as they did ours!!! read more

Great food, wonderful people - what more can you ask for? Chef Paul, Mona, and the entire crew were creative, caring, and professional. They helped make our special event stress-free and delicious. The service was personal and well executed. Highly recommend! read more

If you are planning an event, look no further when looking for a caterer. Primal alchemy exceeded our expectations! Lead by Bethany, assisted by Drew with servers Maria and Collin and topped off with bartender Seth, our housewarming was a party our family and friends will remember for some time. The food was delicious, the service was fabulous and the attention detail from start to finish was pure poetry in motion. From the moment they arrived to set up, through service and clean up, the team was very synchonized and didn't miss a beat. The work on the front end of our event was handled by Adrienne who was marvelous to work with. Thank you all for a memorable night! Charlotte and Ken C. read more

I would not hesitate to recommend using Primal Alchemy caterers to cater any event, big or small. Chef Paul is easy to work with and a great cook! The food is delicious, healthy and there is plenty of it. He and his wait staff are delightful and want to ensure that everyone is happy. The food looks and tastes wonderful. I especially love the Truffle Grilled Cheese sandwiches and Onion tartlet appetizers! YUM. read more

Chef Paul and Primal Alchemy did an absolutely outstanding job catering our wedding. If you're reading this review, you've already made the decision to look outside the box for a great caterer who takes food very seriously. Trust your gut, go with Chef Paul. This is not your run-of-the-mill corporate wedding caterer serving up house salads followed by fish or beef (although, I'm sure if you asked him, he'd do it and it'd be great). Every single dish was creative, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Without just cutting and pasting the menu he created, some of the stand-out dishes included watermelon cubes with caramelized feta brulee, asian style boneless beef shortribs with char siu sauce, and three different kinds of late night grilled cheese including brie & white truffle. The pictures below and on the website are a great representation of the beautiful, thoughtful, and understated presentation used for every dish. Without exception, the first comment people had about our wedding was how amazing the food was. In fact, most people (unsolicited) said it was the best food they have ever had at a wedding. Believe it or not, the main reason I would recommend Chef Paul is not his food, but how easy it is to work with him. We weren't having an over-the-top wedding, and had to operate within a certain budget. Chef Paul offered the perfect balance of incorporating our ideas with his own creativity. He was also a tremendous help when it came to working with other vendors, which was particularly important since our wedding site required everything to be brought in. I am beyond confident that Chef Paul and Primal Alchemy will exceed everyone of your expectations. read more

I've been using Chef Paul for several years now. Always a wonderful experience; and outstanding food! Chef is very creative, and has helped me in planning many of my parties. He brings a sophisticated palate that more than impresses my guests. I can't think of a better caterer than Chef Paul! read more

Thank you Chef Eric! The event you catered for our company party last night was incredible. We had a beautiful farm to table family-style dinner in our warehouse building and all of the food from the appetizers to the desserts were incredible. I especially enjoyed the risotto and the short ribs. Really enjoyed all the dairy products featured in your recipes. Thank you again from all your friends at Rockview Farms. read more

Chef Paul and his amazing team are our new HOLIDAY HEROES! My partner and I and throw a Christmas party every year for our closest friends and family and chef Paul made this year's event the best one ever! The appetizers were show stoppers - especially the cucumber tuna shooters!. First course - amazing fig and prosciutto dish. Second course - the Japanese pumpkin soup - wow! The main course - choice of either grilled yellowtail with papaya salsa or char siu and coffee braised short ribs - just delightful! Desert was smores!!! - graham cracker, blue cheese whipped cream, chocolate and bacon. All of our party guests were beyond impressed. read more

Chef Paul just catered our in home dinner party for 40. The food was outstanding and Cindy, Alchemy staff, was gracious and invisible. Our best dinner party yet. Sadie in Los Al read more

Wow! Great experience all the way around. Primal really outdid themselves in helping us host a 50th wedding anniversary for about 40. We expected the food to be great and it absolutely was, both in taste and presentation. Thank you Chef Paul! What we did not expect was the outstanding service from the crew. Thank you Cindy, Francisco, and PJ! They handled everything from keeping the bar stocked, serving appetizers and drinks, cleaning dishes, moving furniture, and whatever else it took to keep the party moving smoothly. The guests of honor couldn't have been happier and the guests all seemed truly impressed (heck, my wife and I were!). The only regret is now I can't see having a party any other way! read more

Chef Paul and his team at Primal Alchemy are simply phenomenal. I would highly recommend them for any event, and especially if you are looking for a world-class caterer for your wedding day, go with Chef Paul. He and his staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and will create an amazing meal that works with your budget. And to top it off, Chef Paul has an inspiring passion and vision for the use of healthy, local, sustainable foods. I really appreciated his attention to detail, and his ability to meet different dietary restrictions while making our 150 guest reception dinner absolutely delicious. Our guests loved the meal, and we loved supporting a local business with sustainability in mind. Thank you Primal Alchemy! read more