After I tried and failed to secure a dinner reservation for my mother's birthday, I came across the idea of a private chef. With less than a week to secure someone, I contacted Elaine at Tres Bien who just happened to have a cancellation. She was so easy to work with and her expertise was key in ensuring we had a scrumptious menu that would accommodate seven adults and three kids. Leading up to the dinner event, she was in close contact with me to ensure all details were thought through. She arrived with her sous chef Brett and together they worked their magic with great efficiency. We were all so impressed with the outcome as it really elevated the experience making for a special dinner for mom and us all. read more

Très Bien - Tres Bien table setting - Caterers Near Me

Elaine and Brett provided a dinner for 10 (7 adults, 3 kids) for our mother's 75th birthday. I contacted Elaine THE WEEK OF our event, after we tried to get reservations at a family favorite restaurant, but failed. I completely lucked out with securing her services for that same week (she had a reschedule which opened up her schedule). Leading up to our dinner, Elaine helped with all the things we needed to think of having on hand, as well as let us know what she was able to provide. She also provided her feedback on our initial choices, stating that it would've been too 'rich' in terms of flavors...the final menu was incredible: Salmon, beef loin, brussels, twice baked potatoes, grilled pear salad and three appetizers. She even provided some breaded chicken that the kids gobbled up and wanted 'seconds' (which almost NEVER happens). One of the kids (8-years old) was completely impressed that we brought the restaurant experience to us! All in all, Tres Bien provided an elevated experience that everyone enjoyed to the fullest. read more

Ten stars. Eliane at Tres Bien, with Brett and Steve, totally saved my event when our caterer bailed three days out. Eliane was amazing to schedule with, super responsive, and the team's hospitality was unmatched. Every course was delicious, leaving us excited for the next. Definitely booking them again! read more

Elaine and her staff catered a private dinner for my sister's 50th birthday party in Carmel. I spoke with several chefs and ended up going with Elaine and I'm very glad I did! She was always quick to respond, she worked with me to develop the perfect menu and the food was AMAZING! We were able to accommodate both surf & turf and let me just say the beef wellington was BOMB! Everything was delicious and her staff was so nice, professional, but down to earth. They cleaned up afterwards and left the place looking just the way it did when they arrived. I can't say enough good things about Tres Bien and would definitely use again in the future. read more

I reached out to several caterers and Elaine was quick to respond with a custom-made menu full of delicious options. She was very flexible when I realized that several guests needed gluten-free and vegetarian options. She kept the theme, added the GF and veg options while keeping the carnivores, totally satisfied. Everyone in attendance raved about the food during the party and even sent me texts, commenting on the food afterwards. I have attached the menu and a couple of photos that do not even do it just because I did not take enough pictures of the food, but it was delicious and beautifully platted. read more

Très Bien - Kentucky Derby party food - Caterers Near Me

See all

Chef Elaine was amazing. We just held a 4th of July birthday party for about 15 guests at our house. The communication with Elaine was great. She can offer many different types of menus and cuisines and also work with our price point. Her attitude is great and the food was beautiful and tasty. And on the day of the party itself, Elaine and her food definitely was the center of attention. Lots of my guests asked for her card. We did a cocktail hour, then a sit-down dinner. Probably about 10-12 individual items on the menu, including kids options. 10/5 stars, will work with her again the first chance we get! read more

Tres Bien catered our bachelorette party in Capitola and really blew us all away! Elaine accommodated food allergies/preferences and some last minute menu edits. The plating was beautiful and she made our taco bar feel really elevated! Overall, Elaine was so prepared, professional and made it easy to host a multiple course dinner for 16! Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful food and Chefs very professional, accommodating, friendly and experienced. Thank you!

Elaine, quintessentially fabulous chef, produced food that was outstanding beyond this chef's wildest hope for a memorial event celebrating my mother's life. Everyone in attendance, including one cousin who professes not to care about food at all, raved about the food for days... the look of the spread was elegant and sophisticated and the flavors of every dish were imaginative and taking every classic to unexpected heights. I simply cannot imagine being anymore pleased and impressed. Hire her for your next extraordinary event - you will not be disappointed. read more

If you are even thinking about whether to hire a caterer or personal chef, HIRE ELAINE. Elaine and the Très Bien team are highly skilled, creative, kind and damn good at the craft of cooking. We reached out to Elaine when we were trying to decide whether to go to a restaurant on our wedding night or if it was even a remote possibility to have a privately prepared dinner. After connecting with Elaine on the phone, my now-husband knew she was the one and that there was no alternative. Over the coming weeks, we went back and forth by email to fine-tune an extravagant multi-course dinner, plus throw-in-the-oven brunch for the next morning. Elaine was just as excited as we were and was flexible and patient as we threw request after request at her. We were thrilled for our wedding dinner for two (we eloped) before the day even came. Fast forward to our wedding (elopement) day. Elaine showed up and set our dinner table and had everything ready to go for our meal. She has a keen eye for design. Elaine's timing and cadence were effortless, the presentation was mouth-watering and there literally are no words to describe her food. It is at the top of our "best food we've ever eaten" list (and we are no slouches when it comes to dining out). Just to share a little flavor, some of our dishes included dungeness crab stack with avocado and shallot vinaigrette, individual crostini with steak tartare, olive oil poached heirloom tomatoes with burrata, basil, olive oil and toasted baguette, champagne truffle risotto with encrusted sea scallops (!!), filet mignon with garlic butter sauce... I am salivating just thinking about it. Elaine shockingly cleaned as she cooked and left the kitchen spotless (cleaner than when she started, to be frank). What you get with Très Bien is joy of cooking, skill, passion and professionalism. I cannot think of a more perfect combination. Every single occasion I have to cater a menu, I am calling Elaine. On top of everything she is just lovely. Give her a call. (And then give me a call so I can crash your party and enjoy the food.) Thank you, Elaine, for THE most memorable and delicious meal of our lives. read more

See all

Tres Bien (Chef Elaine) made an absolutely phenomenal meal for my wedding ceremony. Due to the venue, she did not have ideal facilities, but she worked some magic and made a stunningly delicious meal. She patiently worked with me to create the menu and was extremely versatile in the genre's of food she could make. My wife and I (along with all of the guests at our wedding) highly recommend her services, Elaine will create a meal that will leave a lasting memory! read more

My fiancé and I recently had a private dinner with Elaine in preparation for our wedding in September, and wow, we had such an amazing time! She is truly a gifted chef and even better company. You can tell that Elaine has the "it factor" when it comes to cooking. Everything she touches is unique, creative, and most importantly, delicious. We loved talking to her throughout the dinner, even having a small dance party with her during dessert! I don't care who you are, she's probably been to more concerts than you and has better dance moves! In addition to the amazing food, she went above and beyond in helping set the menu beforehand and prepare some of the dishes and ingredients several days in advance. This was truly a five-star experience and we can't wait to see Elaine again! read more

Elaine and her team are exceptional at menu planning-and produces amazing food for any occasion-always on time, always creative, always a result that guests rave about- We are planning another event as we complete this review! read more

Elaine and her team were excellent to work with for our wedding in May. And the food was absolutely amazing! Our guests continued to reach out to us after the wedding telling us how much they loved the food. I highly recommend having Elaine cater your event. read more

Elaine prepared an incredible dinner for my husband and I. She crafted a bespoke menu based on our favorite dishes and was able to work around dietary needs (I'm vegetarian and my husband is not). It was delicious and really at the level of the most exquisite 5 star restaurant. She traveled to Big Sur and was able to work on site in our Airbnb kitchen. Can not recommend her enough!! read more

I hired chef Elaine, owner of Très Bien to cater the celebration of my husbands life. I could not be happier with my selection. All of my guests gushed about each of the selections. My sister is a vegan so I wanted to be sure there were items she could eat, and I have a number of hearty meat eaters, too. There was plenty for everyone. We had 55 guests eating, and everyone got just what they wanted. I heard from my friends and family how wonderful she was. She even accommodated my desire for my granddaughter to bake cookies and brownies for our dessert. She even plated them for us. It was a wonderful event, and I know I could never have done it without Elaine. The most important part was that the food was delicious, perfectly made, and with fresh produce, and select meats. II heard nothing but good reports from all of or guests. We had the event at an outside pavilion at a picnic grounds and she was able to provide hot food, and cold salad. Fabulous read more

So let me start by saying that we were heading to pacific grove for our anniversary .i did not know how to surprise my wife with this Covid pandemic going on. So I started looking up chefs around Monterey . I found this wonder chef Elaine. I interviewed her as she interviewed me. Found out she was up for the challenge to help me surprise my wife . I gave her access to where we were staying while I took my wife to Monterey . Elaine was so wonderful , she had flowers on the table facing the ocean . We showed up and she had our appetizers ready to go. But the best was still to come ... from the beginning to the end her food is unbelievably amazing and that is exaggerating very little. Thank you Elaine for being a amazing chef and a wonderful host. God bless read more

Elaine and her staff went above and beyond to prepare the food for our daughter's scaled down wedding in Monterey, CA. No one in attendance felt uncomfortable or that appropriate measures were not being taken for the safety and well being of not only the guests, but Elaine's staff. From start to finish it was utter perfection! The food was simply some of the best I have experienced. Her staff were courteous, attentive, friendly. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any type of event and would most definitely hire Elaine again for any event I might host! Thank-you for such outstanding food, service and memorable evening! read more

We were fortunate enough to come across Elaine's Tres Bien private chef and catering service when doing research for our son's wedding. We were planning his wedding from across the country to be in California. My husband and I take our culinary experiences very seriously. Elaine is a gift of Michelin standards. She has an abundance of talent and expertise. Her planning and execution of both the rehearsal and ceremony dinners was beyond five star. She spent countless hours guiding us through the menu to make it unique and special all with locally sourced ingredients and a marriage of flavors that inspire. Her staff was professional and flawless. The guests are still talking about the amazing culinary experiences she delivered weeks after the events. Elaine's execution and guidance made our special celebration next level. Look no further if you want the best. read more

Très bien catered my wedding and did an absolutely incredible job! I think every single guest came up to me raving about the food and asking who the caterer was. I ate my body weight in bbq over the course of the wedding and am somehow still craving it a week later. Not only was the food delicious, but Elaine and Matt were both great to work with every step of the way. I cannot recommend them highly enough, you will not be disappointed! read more

We had the best dinner tonight! Delicious appetizers, spectacular main course and phenomenal service. The fresh ceviche, shucked oysters and bacon wrapped scallops were a 10/10. Matthew and Walter did an excellent job! From setup, service and clean up, they made our birthday celebration one to remember. Highly recommend! read more

We had one goal for our wedding: serve our guests a delicious meal. Elaine delivered on that goal and then some-- she is a chef par excellence. From the passed appetizers to the burrata salad to the stuffed pumpkins that accompanied the entrees, Elaine's food delighted and impressed our guests. Although our venue had limited facilities and would present a challenge for any caterer, Elaine and her team managed to serve a sit-down dinner for over 80 people without a single hiccup. She is no-nonsense and a hard worker; it was truly a pleasure to work with her. If good food is something that matters to you and you need a caterer you can rely on, look no further than Elaine and her team. read more

We connected with Tres Bien virtually to help us with a birthday celebration and family reunion. Elaine was wonderful to work with and the entire experience was a joy. The food was amazing. She worked with us to create a menu that all 14 foodies in the group raved about. The preparation and presentation were excellent. We requested, and she provided, locally sourced foods. If you want an excellent culinary experience for your gathering or event I recommend, without qualification, Tres Bien. We have already decided to use them for our next reunion in Carmel. read more

Elaine cooked dinner for a group of 10 for my husband's 50th. we're definite foodies and have traveled all over the world eating (michelin restaurants in Italy, taco shacks in Mexico city) so I really needed someone who could bring a some spice and finesse to the food. She really accomplished that, the food was delicious, and she and her staff were professional and organized. And best of all, not a single dish afterwards to wash! read more

I feel like I have been pretty lucky to have eaten some very good food in my life and I am pretty picky when it comes to quality and taste, but Elaine is my favorite chef. Her food is always perfectly prepared. Her menu is extensive and creative. And even when she is not at an event her chefs don't compromise on the quality of the product. I can't recommend Tres Bien enough for catering! So good! read more

I recently attended a wedding in Monterey & the food was AMAZING. Usually the food at a wedding is unremarkable..... but this was out of this world. I had to ask who the caterer was because it was too good to not share about! I wish I had taken a photo before I inhaled it! Plated and displayed beautifully. The chicken was bursting with flavor! I can not say enough good things about all the food I had!! read more

Elaine was our savior and hero for this wedding. The first failed date was 3/28/20. The second one was 8/22/20. My now wife was battered and couldn't take another canceling. We had plans for 11/28/20 and 2 weeks before our reception location failed us due to CaliforniaCOVID restrictions. I turned to catering...last minute hopingfingerscrossed this last ditch effort might pan out. In my search for a caterer we found Tres Bien run by Elaine. She ended up adjusting personal prior arrangements for Thanksgiving to help us. This truly meant the world to us...we thought another event was going to be ruined. She saved it. Not only that, but the food was the best meal I have had in a long time start to finish. Amazing service surpassed only by the AMAZING food she served us at a very reasonable cost. Thats saying a lot considering the top notch service, let me tell you. HIGHLY recommend Elaine and Tres Bien. I couldn't give enough stars to them. I certainly was lucky to find this company. Very lucky. Cheers and thank you Elaine!!! read more

Elaine is amazing! She did our wedding four and I still get complements on the food. On our one year anniversary we had her do a private dinner for ten, AMAZING!!! I would recommend her for any occasion. Hire her you won't be disappointed. read more

Excellent menu choices, excellent execution, quick efficient, courteous and kind. Have hired Elaine for my daughter's wedding and a company Christmas Party. Strongly recommend for any event. read more

This November Elaine & her team swept in and seemed to effortlessly create a delectable array of appetizers and entrees & side dishes for our party of 28 gathered for our Life Celebration. First delicious appetizers were served buffet style while the waiter she brought expertly serviced my guests and shared drinks and food. I highly recommend her bacon wrapped scallops which were to die for! The artichoke gruyere dip was bubbling hot and delectable. Dinner was served beautifully plated and prepared to perfection. The steak tenderloin, chicken wellington, and vegetable sides were tender, delicious, and our guests beamed. As I have little experience planning more formal parties and waited till a few weeks beforehand to plan things and since at our home in Carmel, and it was not large enough to hire a party planner (and probably too late anyways), I needed to rent furniture and fixings the week before and felt a little like a fish out of water... Elaine not only helped create an ideal and appropriate menu, her organizational skills and advise about what was needed was also very appreciated. I highly recommend Elaine and her company Très Bien for her personal touch, creative flair, professionalism and expert delivery. Thank you for helping to make such a special memory for us! Karen & Patrick, Carmel Highlands, Ca. read more