Catering on the cheap-ish [General]
2014 Nov 11
Talk to someone at Algonquin College and see if they can help. You never know.
A friend catered a birthday party of mine about 15 years ago now and he was in the chef course there. He said that it was a great experience for him. He got to talk to me to figure out the meal, budget, timing, cleanup, details, everything. It was easy because all he had to bring was the food and cook and clean. Still, their program has grown quite a bit since then and maybe they could accommodate your request.
Just a thought.
I also know someone who does small catering who might be interested. Look at Baccanalle. Resa is a great chef who might be just what you're looking for, if what you're looking for is Caribbean food.
www.baccanalle.com/#!about/c42f
A friend catered a birthday party of mine about 15 years ago now and he was in the chef course there. He said that it was a great experience for him. He got to talk to me to figure out the meal, budget, timing, cleanup, details, everything. It was easy because all he had to bring was the food and cook and clean. Still, their program has grown quite a bit since then and maybe they could accommodate your request.
Just a thought.
I also know someone who does small catering who might be interested. Look at Baccanalle. Resa is a great chef who might be just what you're looking for, if what you're looking for is Caribbean food.
www.baccanalle.com/#!about/c42f
2014 Nov 11
Hi there! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I'm the Chef-Owner of Baccanalle and would love to chat with you. We specialize in Caribbean & Soul-inspired cuisine, catering, prepared meals, desserts and drinks too - including our signature Sorrel (Hibiscus) spritzer. We are proud members of the Ottawa Specialty Food Association and the Beechwood Farmers Market.
Check out some of our pre-set menus at www.baccanalle.com to get an idea of some of our food and we have lots more - Caribbean and other - in our repertoire. And if you want to get a Caribbean theme going - can also hook you up with some local bands and/or DJs.
Cheers! (and thank you for the referral "Rizak")
Resa Solomon-St. Lewis
Chef-Owner, Baccanalle
Tel. (613) 859-6297
E-mail: info@baccanalle.com
Web: www.baccanalle.com
As Seen on CBC D is for Dinner
Twitter.com/baccanalle (@Baccanalle)
Facebook.com/Baccanalle
Check out some of our pre-set menus at www.baccanalle.com to get an idea of some of our food and we have lots more - Caribbean and other - in our repertoire. And if you want to get a Caribbean theme going - can also hook you up with some local bands and/or DJs.
Cheers! (and thank you for the referral "Rizak")
Resa Solomon-St. Lewis
Chef-Owner, Baccanalle
Tel. (613) 859-6297
E-mail: info@baccanalle.com
Web: www.baccanalle.com
As Seen on CBC D is for Dinner
Twitter.com/baccanalle (@Baccanalle)
Facebook.com/Baccanalle
2014 Nov 13
Love the topic - Bridezilla in me is coming out! I got married 11 years ago. I'll try to be brief with my tips. Don't know if you have a venue yet. If you can rent a place and look after the pieces yourself you may save some $. Especially on alcohol. We paid LCBO prices for beverages (red, white and sparkling wine). Our caterer did a BBQ style buffet with waiters to assist at tables. At the time we had about 90 guests and did not pay anywhere near $100 per person. Smaller less known caterers rather than big names like Thyme and Again or Tulips or Maples will likely get you further. I like the person who suggested contacting Richard of Richard's Hintonburg Kitchen. Or how about someone who runs a food truck, they are likely flexible about moving and working in new kitchens, etc. Didn't the former owner of the urban pear sell the business to go into food truck business? Does Whalesbone wholesale cater? The caterer we used is no longer in business. My friend works in food industry got married about 4 years ago in their backyard. Must have been close to 100 people and she had a lot of help from her clients. A chef rented a food truck and that's how they served the food, out of the food truck. Of course, this works best in the June-September.
Let us know what you decide. Have you looked into the Nepean Sailing club?
Let us know what you decide. Have you looked into the Nepean Sailing club?
2015 May 25
Ok, update time!
We met with and hired Baccanalle, and they were awesome-- Resa listened to everything we said we were looking for, and totally delivered. Not only was the food delicious, but she was a huge help in planning out the logistics and details (physical setup at the venue, setting the menu, pacing the service, advising on rentals), sensitive to our budget, and always friendly and available when we had questions over the course of the, like, 5 months leading up to it. And on the night of, she and her staff were totally pro and competent-- no issues or distractions, just great food and service.
Our guests went home full and happy on Jamaican patties, sweet and spicy meatballs, hummus, black bean salad with whipped guacamole, rotis & curries, teriyaki beef and jerk chicken skewers, coconut cupcakes, cookies, and grilled rum-soaked pineapple sticks. We had tons of compliments on the food into the week that followed the reception, too. Unfortunately, everyone liked the food so much that we didn't end up with the traditional fridgeful of leftovers-- though as one of our guests said, 'that's what happens when you serve good s***'.
So thanks, Rizak, for the recommendation, and to Baccanalle for coming through in such a wonderful way. Hugely recommended, and will have to find an excuse to get it all again one day.
We met with and hired Baccanalle, and they were awesome-- Resa listened to everything we said we were looking for, and totally delivered. Not only was the food delicious, but she was a huge help in planning out the logistics and details (physical setup at the venue, setting the menu, pacing the service, advising on rentals), sensitive to our budget, and always friendly and available when we had questions over the course of the, like, 5 months leading up to it. And on the night of, she and her staff were totally pro and competent-- no issues or distractions, just great food and service.
Our guests went home full and happy on Jamaican patties, sweet and spicy meatballs, hummus, black bean salad with whipped guacamole, rotis & curries, teriyaki beef and jerk chicken skewers, coconut cupcakes, cookies, and grilled rum-soaked pineapple sticks. We had tons of compliments on the food into the week that followed the reception, too. Unfortunately, everyone liked the food so much that we didn't end up with the traditional fridgeful of leftovers-- though as one of our guests said, 'that's what happens when you serve good s***'.
So thanks, Rizak, for the recommendation, and to Baccanalle for coming through in such a wonderful way. Hugely recommended, and will have to find an excuse to get it all again one day.
2015 May 28
Butwhoami you were amazing to work with - beautiful couple and fun reception. So glad you enjoyed the food! I wish I had more leftovers and more time for pics...I only have one-the drunken pineapple!
We loved having the opportunity to build a menu featuring our Caribbean flavours and lifestyle foods with you...and the chance to share our favorite cookies :)
Thanks Rizak for the recommendation- u rock!
Cheers!
@Baccanalle
We loved having the opportunity to build a menu featuring our Caribbean flavours and lifestyle foods with you...and the chance to share our favorite cookies :)
Thanks Rizak for the recommendation- u rock!
Cheers!
@Baccanalle
2016 Nov 19
We were successful in doing a wedding reception for less by using the foyer of the Ottawa Little Theatre. We were able to get our own liquor licence (no sale) and bring in our own wine and beer. We used a caterer - Thyme & Again but they were great at working with our budget, and allowed us to augment with a Thai food Station done by a friend whose pad thai & spring rolls are legendary. Admittedly we had a lot of luck with that and some bartering. But anyone can book the OLT and bring in food and wine.
One caveat: Time & Again pointed out that there is a lot going on and you don't want to be stuck with your head in the oven, so we hired students from Algonquin (bar) and Le Cordon Bleu food prep & serve. The bar people had smart serve which kept things organized.
Thyme & Again did a hell of a lot of set up (the bar for example) even though they were not paid for that. Everyone was great and although it was a year ago, people are still talking.
The kids had an after party at the Jail Hostel and lots of people stayed there!
One caveat: Time & Again pointed out that there is a lot going on and you don't want to be stuck with your head in the oven, so we hired students from Algonquin (bar) and Le Cordon Bleu food prep & serve. The bar people had smart serve which kept things organized.
Thyme & Again did a hell of a lot of set up (the bar for example) even though they were not paid for that. Everyone was great and although it was a year ago, people are still talking.
The kids had an after party at the Jail Hostel and lots of people stayed there!
2016 Nov 25
Whole Foods has catering food you can order online- prices seem good.
If I was having a big party w food I would probably go to the store or grocer and order a large amount of dishes I already like.
Cedar's grocery has really good middle eastern dishes.
Todric's does catering and is really good- no idea on the prices.
My mom would have a lot of receptions for 15-50+ people and she would get a caterer for the main dishes ands then she would make a salad and get some desserts from Costco- like cookies, cut up fruit and then serve berries with a vanilla ice cream usually.
If you are looking to get pizza, Whole foods has some very good pizza and even has vegan pizza!
If I was having a big party w food I would probably go to the store or grocer and order a large amount of dishes I already like.
Cedar's grocery has really good middle eastern dishes.
Todric's does catering and is really good- no idea on the prices.
My mom would have a lot of receptions for 15-50+ people and she would get a caterer for the main dishes ands then she would make a salad and get some desserts from Costco- like cookies, cut up fruit and then serve berries with a vanilla ice cream usually.
If you are looking to get pizza, Whole foods has some very good pizza and even has vegan pizza!
butwhoami
There'll be about 70 people and no formal sit-down meal, but we want people to be able to get reasonably full on good food that's laid out in a buffet and that they can eat while moving around or parked at a standing table. We'd love to do this without breaking $50 (or $60, reluctantly) a head, which is like, what we'd think to spend on a meal for our guests if we were to take them out to dinner. That's how we're justifying it, anyway. (This is all not including booze, btw)
(And here I acknowledge the value in pre-planning, custom menu design/implementation, professional service, linens and misc. supplies, etc.,)
So far, we've been quoted a fantastic-looking menu for a totally out of our range $175pp, and a decent-looking but not-totally-coherent menu closer to $60pp.
Still calling around, but thought I'd ask here as we do: are our on-a-budget parameters here unreasonable?
And/or can anyone recommend a quality catering option based on the above? We are open to unconventional ideas and options.. ordering pizzas is like Plan G right now but we'd like to be sure we exhaust Plans A-F first.
I'd appreciate any and all input.. thanks