My wife and I hired Antonio to cater our wedding in Nevada City. We already were sold after the tasting, but Antonio and his team blew away our expectations the day of by providing some of the best wedding food we've ever had. We got tons of compliments from our guests that the food was stellar. We can't wait to hire him again when we renew our vows one day! If you're getting married in the Grass Valley area - hire Antonio. That's it. read more

Antonio and his team catered our wedding at Gold Hill Gardens in Newcastle. He was an absolute joy to work with from the beginning. He was responsive when I was deciding what caterer to go with, he had an expansive menu and was willing to work with our ideas, and he had incredibly competitive pricing. We were able to do a tasting at his kitchen and we immediately knew we made the right decision. After trying the shrimp with the gazpacho, we knew we needed an entree that included shrimp was well. He suggested the risotto cakes and they were fantastic, and could accommodate both vegetarians (by skipping the shrimp) and pescatarians. We loved his food and were excited to have him handle our wedding. Having attended many weddings and talked to many brides/grooms, we expected the food to be good on our wedding day but not as good as when we tasted considering he'd be cooking half in his kitchen and finishing at the venue and cooking for 150 people, not 4. The food on our wedding day was FANTASTIC. One of our groomsman who loves shrimp said this was a top 3 shrimp he's ever had. Another guest said they've never left a wedding thinking the food was memorable but that ours was truly delicious. They also executed our drinks to perfection. I could not recommend Antonio more. Hire him immediately!!!! read more

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We got married 6/10/23 and one of our goals was to have food that was incredible and memorable. We didn't want basic wedding food that maybe looked or sounded good but ultimately lacked flavor and was forgettable. Antonio delivered in more ways than one. Not only did he provide a stellar menu, but it hands down was the best event food that we have ever had. People were still talking about the chicken the next day and we truly feel that we were taken care of. I have food allergies and he had to work with creating an unforgettable menu with it also being gluten, egg AND peanut free. I also love s'mores and cheesecake but I never get to have cheesecake and we could not have an open flame at our wedding. So Antonio created a s'mores cheesecake that was gluten and egg free just because I wanted it so badly. Outside of an amazing spread, Antonio is personable, friendly and easy to work with. He is still responsive even after our big day and we couldn't be happier with our choice to hire him. I could sit here and rave even further and if you would like that, check out my review on Wedding Wire. Otherwise, I just can't wait to hide Antonio again for something one day! Is a vow renewal to soon to do one year post marriage lol!? read more

I can't recommend Antonio enough!!! Antonio catered our wedding this past July in Alpine Meadows, Tahoe and our guests are STILL talking about our food- it was absolutely the highlight of the day for us and all our guests. Our photographer, planner and videographer all said it was the best wedding food they've ever had (and you know they all go to a LOT of weddings), so it was the highest compliment. Tyler & I are both huge foodies, living in SF and going out to eat almost weekly so we wanted a caterer that would help deliver on our big day, and truly Antonio BLEW IT OUT OF THE WATER! Above and beyond what we ever could have expected!!! Our venue had no running water or electricity, yet Antonio's team managed all the challenges with such ease. From the very first day we reached out, Antonio was flexible, accommodating, and it felt like we were always on the same team- he was problem solving for us given some of the venue limitations. His staff (including bartenders, wait-staff and more) were efficient, polite and went above and beyond for myself & my husband (brought us over food immediately after the ceremony knowing we weren't going to have time to eat, checked in on us continuously throughout dinner to see if we needed anything and so much more) and all our guests (doing table side wine service, pouring shots, making specialty drinks, clearing tables and so much more). When planning a wedding, I didn't realize how critical it is to have a catering team who you feel confident in, as they truly do SO much more than "just" provide the food- they were always willing to pitch in and help wherever it was needed day-of, which was critical to ensuring the day ran smoothly. And again, the FOOD WAS EXCEPTIONAL! It was so fresh, flavorful, light & healthy, yet also hearty and served all our different dietary restrictions (vegans, and gluten-free). Antonio went above and beyond in all senses... he and his team had early meals ready for the band, gave us so many different options in plating/ serving arrangements and whipped up 3 different (decently complex) specialty cocktails that we had selected (and he sourced incredibly fresh ingredients to make these tasty cocktails and garnish them professionally), and so much more. We couldn't have been more pleased with Antonio & his team!!! read more

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Antonio catered my Daughters wedding at end of May at Highlands Ranch in Smartsville and not only was the food absolutely delicious , but he was the most kindest and so easy going to interact with. He made my daughters day absolutely special! read more

If you're getting married anywhere near Grass Valley, CA, and you want to thoroughly impress your guests with the best wedding food they've ever had, hire Antonio. Everything was delicious, timing was perfect (the buffet moved quickly and no one was waiting too long), and his team of sous chefs, servers, and bar tenders were fantastic. The appetizers and dinner were much more important to us than dessert, but Antonio also did our cake and desserts for us: fresh fried churros and a variety of cannoli flavors! Our only complaint is we wish we could have had the opportunity to eat more of his food, but it's true what they say, you'll barely eat at your own wedding. read more

Antonio Ayestaran Custom Catering - Caterers Near Me - Grass Valley, California

If you were a bride worried about being outshined by anybody, I would not choose Antonio, because that is very possible to happen. People are still coming up to me and messaging me about the food from the wedding two weeks later. To say he was a hit would be an understatement. 10 out of 10 quality and presentation and amazing staff. read more

I cannot praise Antonio's catering enough! We chose Antonio to cater our wedding after having a delicious tasting experience with him. We didn't know if the quality would be as good at the wedding as it was at the tasting since there would be so many orders to fill the day of the wedding, but it was even better than I remembered on the day of the wedding!! He worked with us to make sure everyone's dietary needs were catered to and everyone we spoke with who attended the wedding raved about the food, not only at the plated dinner, but also during cocktail hour. His wait staff and bartending team were also top notch and really made the guests feel taken care of. I am thrilled with how well everything went. I 100% recommend choosing Antonio for your special day! read more

Antonio catered our daughters wedding in Tahoe on 8/11/23 and everything was perfect. My daughter wanted food stations so Antonio worked with her on coming up with 3 stations (tacos, sliders, and southern BBQ). Each included sides and all were fantastic. We got compliments from guests on each one with people picking a different item as "the best". We wanted something different and delicious and Antonio really delivered! And his staff was amazing as well. We would definitely recommend Antonio Ayestaran unconditionally! read more

Antonio did a fantastic job catering our wedding on June 8! The food and presentation were amazing! Antonio and his staff helped make the wedding memorable. Two months later, we are still getting complements from people about the food. Thank you, Antonio!! read more

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As an event planner I can tell you I've worked with various catering services and staffs over the past few years, but Antonio's is by far the best in the area. Antonio's food is incredible ~ every dish Is delicious. His presentation is photo worthy. He and is team offer impeccable service, and they don't miss a beat on any details. Very professional and a joy to work with. I honestly can't say enough great things about this company. I'd hire them every time if it were up to me. read more

Antonio Ayestaran Custom Catering - Salad - Caterers Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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This review is a long time coming... We attended a wedding that Antonio catered and the foot stuck out as an incredible highlight of the party. When we planned our wedding a few years later we knew we wanted to work with him. Antonio is a very talented chef, and confident and calming when you're freaking out about all other parts of the wedding. We ended up changing our 200 guest wedding to the 9 people in our close family due to covid, and Antonio didn't skip a beat. We still had the incredible food and experience we were hoping for. If food holds any amount of importance at your wedding, event, or gathering, your search is over - Antonio is definitely the person you want to work with. read more

Antonio Ayestaran Catering was served at my daughter's wedding this past weekend. I cannot compliment them enough. They cooked and served for about 130 people without a glitch. The food was remarkable, highest quality, fresh ingredients and beautifully presented. And of course DELICIOUS. Antonio himself was cutting and serving the tri-tip. Talk about personalized service. Wonderful staff!!!! I would highly recommend Antonio's for any big event, especially something as important as a wedding. read more

Antonio is a fantastic chef. We used him for our son's wedding and we couldn't have been more pleased. We had a tasting with him months before the wedding and the food was very good. But then when we got to the actual event it was even more delicious and so well presented that it was amazing. His crew was also the best, serving drinks, keeping the charcuterie table filled, bringing water, just everything. And he likes to make sure there is plenty of food for the event, so not only was there enough the night of the reception, but we had enough for our out of town family guests to have the next day. He is definitely worth the money spent! Could not have been better. read more

Antonio was amazing to work with! We used his catering for our wedding last month and we have only good things to say! The food was incredible, his service was great, and every guest absolutely loved the food. We had some leftovers too and we enjoyed them even the next day. We highly recommend using Antonio for any catering needs! read more

Antonio and his team did both our rehearsal and wedding reception dinners August 2022. From the beginning, Antonio was professional and incredibly flexible in working with us to create the perfect menu. His attention to detail and going above and beyond was a theme in all our interactions with Antonio and his team. We and our guests appreciated it very much. I'm still thinking about the delicious bowl of mashed potatoes he made just for us even though it wasn't on our official menu because he knew I loved them. Thanks, Antonio. Hire him immediately for any occasion and get the pulled pork sliders with the pretzel bun! read more

Absolutely incredible! Imagine food that melts in your mouth with incredible flavors in every bite and you'll be close to the reality that is Antonio's food. For the full effect you must add in excellent communication, professional and kind staff, and lots of catering options. My husband and I were blown away by how easy it was to coordinate our catering needs with Antonio from the other side of the country. He responded to all of my questions in a timely manner and assisted us in adjusting our menu to work with our budget and dietary needs. During the wedding his team ensured everyone had plenty to eat and drink without disturbing the celebration. They even made it a point to bring hors d'oeuvres to my husband and I while we were taking couples pictures during cocktail hour. And just in case we didn't get enough of the delicious hors d'oeuvres they kept 4 of everything off to the side for us to enjoy once pictures were complete! I'm still getting compliments from friends and family about the food and it's been 3 months. read more

Amazing food! Antonio catered our wedding in Tahoe this past summer and he was wonderful to work with. Pretty much every guest we spoke to told us that this was the best food they'd had at a wedding! The best thing about working with Antonio though was his demeanor. He is calm, cool and collected and we knew as soon as we selected Antonio that catering was one less thing to worry about. read more

This was our catering vendor for our daughter's wedding. We highly recommend Antonio Ayestaran Catering!! The food is delicious and it was fresh, hot and upscale. Our guests raved about the food. Antonio's catering manager is fantastic and the entire staff is professional but super friendly and fun. They worked extremely hard and far exceeded our expectations as far as their attentiveness to our 164 guests, set up, clean up, flexibility and timeliness. The confidence we had in them made for a relaxing reception because we knew we were in great hands! Still craving the dinner...... read more

Antonio catered our wedding in October and we couldn't have been happier. Antonio is so flexible and easy to work with. He had never been to our venue but it went off seamlessly and even our venue coordinator commented on how nice and easy it was to work with Antonio. The food was amazing. Literally everything was delicious. All the guests could not get over how good the food was. I had multiple people tell me that it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding and some even said it was the best prime rib they've had ever. I can not say enough good things about Antonio. I highly recommend his catering services. I know we will be using him for our next big party. read more

When it comes to weddings, there is said to be a moment when a bride tries on a wedding dress and just knows it's THE dress. Well, we had THAT moment with Antonio when it came to catering. Everything from presentation to taste was impeccable. We signed our contract then and there. On our wedding day, their team set up our reception area without a hitch, the service was wonderful, and the food - incredible! Our guests still can't stop talking about it. Antonio also connected us with Gianna from Wild & Lovely Events to plan our wedding. Save your money and skip the other tastings - just go to his, be blown away, and then book him! read more

Holy mackerel, Antonio's food was delicious! It was better and fresher than food you could get in a great restaurant, but it wasn't even cooked at our venue, since the kitchen was too small! His staff was also so kind and attentive! When my wife and I were off taking a quick break away after the ceremony, during cocktail hour, they brought us drinks and appetizers! It was such a nice touch. I can barely say enough good things about Antonio and his staff and his food. We would not hesitate to hire him again for a function that needed catering or to recommend him to our friends or family. Antonio, we learned at our tasting, used to win awards for his cooking and work in fast-paced, high-end restaurants in the bay area, but he wanted to be a more active dad so he just does catering and sets his own schedule now. He and his company is a true gem for Nevada County! read more

If I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely pick Antonio to cater the rehearsal dinner for my son's wedding! The food was beyond delicious! I can see why the walls in Antonio's tasting room are covered in cooking awards! From the tender Chicken Scaloppini swimming in a scrumptious sauce, to the juicy tri tip with the yummy pesto spread, to the grilled veggies that could make a vegetarian out of the pickiest eater, to the salad made from the freshest ingredients and topped with a raspberry balsamic vinaigrette that you just want to lick off the plate, to the brownie a la mode topped with strawberries and drizzled with chocolate sauce, everything looked and tasted positively gourmet! Not only was the food to die for, but Antonio and his friendly and professional staff made the whole event worry free! I could relax and enjoy the rehearsal dinner, because Antonio had rented the dishes, linens and extra chairs; coordinated the event with the venue owner; set elegant looking tables; graciously waited on the guests; and they made it all look so effortless! If you have an event that you need catered, look no further! Initially, my hubby wanted to save some money and pick up food from Mary's Pizza Shack or Dickey's BBQ Pit! I can't tell you how glad I am that we didn't do that! Besides, who wants to order food from a shack or a pit?? Let me tell you, having Antonio cater the event was worth every penny! My hubby even agreed, especially after I gave him a passionate kiss and told him that I owe him big time! ;) read more

Antonio catered my daughter's wedding and gets rave reviews from me! He was quick to respond to my many questions throughout the months we were planning the event, always helpful and professional. The food was fantastic and the guests loved it. And his staff was very professional and stayed until the event was over to clean up, stack the chairs and take down the tables. Great food and great service!! read more

We recently used Antonio for our wedding. I cannot state enough how pleased we were/are in choosing Antonio to cater the wedding. He worked with us to craft a delicious meal that covered all of our guests' tastes, was responsive to our calls and was exceptionally professional when we had to change the wedding location two days prior due to the rain on 6/4. Without question every person we've spoken to about the wedding loved every dish he and his staff prepared. Not just liked, but LOVED! ...and he had extra food left over, which he gave to us afterwards so we could feast the next day, too! Thanks, Antonio! You were a key part of our biggest day and you were awesome!!!! read more

From the moment we contacted Antonio in November to the day of our wedding at the River Highlands Ranch in June, we received extraordinary service. The things that got Antonio to that 5-star mark for us were the following: - PROMPT response time - Full meal with all of the options we had considered for the tasting (tons of leftovers!) - CUSTOMIZED menu options based on our feedback - Went the EXTRA MILEby i) making a side trip to a separate rental service to ensure we had the cups we wanted, ii) made it a priority to attend a site visit with us (on the same day he was prepping for another event) to make sure our needs were met. - Very FRIENDLY service staff. - The FOOD!!! Absolutely amazing food, on which we received numerous compliments. Lastly, on the night of the wedding, we had a small issue in which a table was very upset they weren't being served promptly and let out their frustration on one of the waitstaff. Both the staff and Antonio handled the situation like TRUE PROFESSIONALS and quickly resolved the situation. I would recommend Antonio for any event, large or small, he is the man! read more

I cannot give enough praise to Antonio. Not only is he an amazing chef and caterer, but he is a pleasant and compassionate guy. We tasted every cater in Nevada County, as well as a few in San Francisco where we live. Antonio's food and professionalism exponentially surpassed all others. I am an avid home chef myself. The wedding food was the most important thing to me, besides the actual nuptials, of course. Antonio listened to my picky requests with regards to presentation, taste, and ingredients. Antonio explained in detail his business theory, source of ingredients, and his thoughts behind each dish. Antonio told us what worked in the past and what didn't. Antonio took time with us at our tasting, exchanged countless emails with me when planning our menu, and was generally an always-available, professional yet personal guy. If you are getting married in Nevada County, or in need of a cater for any reason, call Antonio. You won't be let down. I am confident. read more

This weekend we had our daughters wedding at our home. We chose Antonio because he was recommend by many people and because when we went for the tasting we were very impressed. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent, our guests kept telling us how delicious everything was. The service was outstanding! I'm so glad we went with Antonio!!! Thanks for making the wedding so special. read more

If you're looking for a wedding caterer, LOOK NO FURTHER!! :) Antonio catered our wedding at the Miners Foundry in May of 2011, and people are still talking about the food. Honestly, at a Christmas dinner seven months later, our friends were asking, "How did he MAKE those raviolis?" "What did he PUT in that asparagus?" I'm certain that our guests remember these fine details because Antonio clearly knows his stuff. From the first time I met him, Antonio struck me as highly professional and very receptive, but also incredibly down-to-earth. Despite all the stress I was carrying during the planning of our wedding, I felt very calm knowing he'd be taking care of the food. They dealt with everything food related, including the linen and dinnerware rentals, the service, the setup, the bar, all of it. He was also a great listener, and he made a totally unique menu to reflect our backgrounds and tastes. My husband's a vegetarian, and he even made a vegetarian entree so delicious that it disappeared before the meat! :) Antonio's catering is hands-down the best decision we made for our wedding, and I'm certain anyone else who hires him will agree. You (and all your guests) will not forget the quality job he's so good at doing! :) read more

Can't do better than Antonio - seriously. He'll personalize your menu and give you exactly what you want to the quality that will marvel guests and leave them praising the food for weeks to come! We were basically sold on another caterer when we came in for our tasting with Antonio and he knocked our socks off and made it a no brainer to hire him instead. We had Antonio (and his savvy day of coordinator you can hire separately, Gianna - who is a steal, btw!) for our April 2 wedding at the Miner's Foundry and we could not be more pleased. Even the antipasti station and cheeses were being complimented and talked about endlessly. The appetizers and dinner were on point and upscale in flavor and presentation, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the process could not have been easier. These guys are pros. Antonio is a seasoned pro. This is a caterer you can hire, enjoy and not have to think twice about the details on their end or if you made the right choice - if you hire Antonio you have DEFINITELY made the right choice. Not only is he a great chef and caterer and the right choice for your wedding, but he's a really genuine, sweet and authentic good guy that even came out at one point when we had a moment letting a friend take a pic in the ceremony room by the kitchen, just wanting to check in to be sure we were happy and having a great time - enjoying and getting enough of the food (hard to do at one's wedding!). Don't think twice. Book your tasting and be prepared to be blown away. read more

There is no better experience than to work with Antonio and his crew. The food is amazing and creative - presented in a "wowza" way. The people are kind, personable and professional - going the extra mile. I would change the date of my event to have him ! We are lucky he is in our area. read more

Antonio Ayestaran Custom Catering all the way! I've worked with his catering team on many occasions. As a wedding photographer I appreciate how his food is beautifully presented and how amazing it tastes. Makes for wonderful pictures and happy full bellies. Not to mention his dedication to professional and courteous service. You can't go wrong. read more

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Jan Roth Want the best? Antonio is your man! I have known Antonio for many years, and every event he has catered at my venue has been more than exceptional! To begin with, he's a professionally trained "chef," not just a "cook." Moreover, his "presentations" out-do those of most others who come here for weddings. Last Saturday night (Aug. 3, 2013,) he effortlessly accommodated a guest list of some 400 at an exclusive Wedding Reception on my estate and TOTALLY EVERYTHING was beautifully fresh and elegant. I, like the bride and groom, loved it all! Can't say enough about his sensitivity and talent! I know he is always booked way out, so if you are lucky enough to get him, you can count on a perfect event!!! Jan Roth, The Roth Estate, Nevada City, CA read more

When we decided to get married in the Grass Valley area I knew we had to have Antonio. His food is amazing! I fell in love at our tasting, everything was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Antonio is really pleasant and easy to talk to. He has amazing menus but was willing to tweak where we wanted They worked with us on every detail from pricing, menus and service. At the wedding things couldn't have been smoother. My guests raved about the food and even the photographer said it was the best prime rib she has ever had ( she has been eating wedding prime rib for the last ten years!) Hands down I would recommend them! Gianna Seghezzi is Antonio's coordinator and also pairs with his company to do your wedding coordinating. Without her, I would have been a wreck. She was kind, patient ( I know I was a pain), and professional. Had I realized we would have utilized her service for the whole process, not just day of. Don't forget to ask about her extra help she can give you on your big day!! read more

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We just hired Antonio and his staff for our wedding in July at the Empire Mine. His food is amazing and everyone working him did a fabulous job. He is so easy going, professional, and very talented. We ordered a large amount of food for our event and everything tasted delicious.. He also catered our brunch the following morning and did so with short notice. The breakfast was just as good, all our family and friends commented and continue to comment on how great everything tasted. We can't thank him enough for all he did. If you are in need of catering in the Grass Valley area, he is the ONLY WAY TO GO! His knowledge of food and the industry will set your mind at ease. We will for sure hire him to cater all of our special events and/or parties in the future. read more

We feel so lucky we were able to book Antonio for our wedding! Not only is his food incredibly delicious, but the professionalism and service he and his staff provided from start-of planning to the day-of was exceptional! We heard nothing but rave reviews from our family and friends about how amazing the food was. The quality and presentation greatly added to the ambiance and experience of the evening! We had an outdoor wedding venue without a kitchen and a few different areas on the property where we served drinks, appetizers and dinner. Even though those circumstances could be challenging for a caterer, Antonio and his crew were totally amazing in accommodating multiple sites for food and setting up an outdoor kitchen. In addition, he was very accommodating of our guests' dietary needs and his crew even made special plates for those with a variety of sensitives & allergies. Especially planning a wedding, there are so many details to worry about, but with Antonio as our caterer, we felt super confident that we would have awesome food to enjoy on our big day- and we were so right! We keep saying how we wish we could eat Antonio's food more often, but we'll just have to hope we get invited to another event he is catering or host another event ourselves to enjoy his fabulous food! We highly recommend booking Antonio Ayestaran Catering for any event if you want the best! read more

Antonio catered our wedding two weeks ago, the food and service was amazing!! We've received nothing but compliments on the food. Bartenders and servers were so friendly. Book him and his team now! read more

If you want the best he is the one to go to. He will customize the menu for your event and the food was amazing. The staff was nice and the were always in the background doing their job amazingly. They handled everything and packed up all the left overs for us to take home. He just takes care of everything with out any stress. We had a even with 200 people and everyone commented on he food. read more

We recently celebrated our 70th Wedding Anniversary with Fabulous Antonio catering the affair. He took charge of all the food and drink arrangements from our first meeting til the final cleanup. The presentation of the food was as beautiful as the taste was great. He and his crew are so friendly and capable. We have been to several functions where he was the caterer and we were always a so impressed. We can't wait to have him do our 75th! Nolt and Joy read more

My husband and I wanted only 3 things on our big day: 1) to marry each other, 2) for everyone to have a good time, and 3) to enjoy impeccable food. Thanks to Antonio, everyone ate like royalty. More importantly, both of us, bride & groom, were able to enjoy our entire meal - something many warned us would be a challenge on such an eventful day. We wouldn't miss Antonio's food for the world. My godparents even took a moment to introduce him to our guests - everyone gave a genuine & enthusiastic round of applause before we moved on to dancing and cake. Antonio is a magician in the kitchen. We highly recommend him for your best day ever. read more