Deitmans catered our wedding on Saturday. We had three phone conversations leading up to this day. All necessary information they asked for was given. They wanted to set up the day before, I secured the time with the event hall despite it not being part of our deal. We agreed to meet at 3pm. When I arrived I found that they already went inside and set up. They must have gotten the owners to let them in. There were two tables set up with a bill for service. Right on still on board.
Next day, day of the wedding comes around and they call, they being Jaime the daughter of the owner and says she needs a third table but wouldn't specify for what. My wife who was in the midst of getting ready for the wedding said that everything had been set up based on them only using two tables and that we couldn't stop the proceedings to re arrange things. Her response was "Fine, whatever" and hung up the phone.
We eventually arrive at the hall after the ceremony and photographs. And find out catering had never shown up. During the time in between there was to be fruit and meat trays for guests waiting during our pictures. This never showed up.
Due to the rude nature of the phone call in the morning we were concerned about our guests eating. We called them three times before finally they pulled in an hour late.
At this point Jaime was already on high alert or something because she had attitude from the start of her arrival. We had the usual wedding introductions and dances scheduled and because of that had to wait to address this.
Food is served and the proteins ham/Turkey were cold. The sides were good and warm. The salad had a lot of brown lettuce.
While the proceedings were taking place after the meal Jaime came to me and asked for a check. I explained that I would be happy to write the check but we had to discuss her being late, and not serving appetizers. The warm proteins weren't even part of the discussion. Cold or warm they were eaten. She started to raise her voice telling me that I was being unreasonable and that they weren't late. At this point the first dance was announced and I asked her to take a minute so I could do this and then we'd finish the conversation during the father daughter dance after.
She immediately stopped talking to me and then went to my wife who was on the dance floor waiting for me and started yelling about a check.
I told her if she didn't take a step back and allow us our dance I would have the venue remove her from the building. Her rudeness was out of control. We had our dance uninterrupted at that point and Jaime told me I had to deal with her mom and that she was packing up the fruit tray since I wasn't paying for it. She packed the food up and left.
Not long after while we were still doing bouquet and garter tosses the mother/owner showed up. I went outside to discuss the issue. She seemed shocked that the fruit tray was taken but said they weren't late. I reminded her that I was the one who had the conversations with her and that she was. I told her the proteins were cold and said that wasn't possible. It was very possible because they were. I informed them that I would pay for what was eaten but the tray would have to come off. I am a chef and know how this works. They reduced my 17 years experience to nothing and said that claimed that I was late the day before when they set up.
This of course was a lie as I was there at 3pm. I told her this and was called a liar, I told them the doors would have been unlocked by someone for them to get in and I could go ask the owners what time they did this. They said that wasn't necessary, because it would have proven they were lying.
They denied hanging up on my wife earlier in the morning. So at that point I told them to leave and we can discuss payment in court.
Jaime Deitman is the least hospital person that I have ever seen in the business. As a chef I know that serving the customer to their satisfaction is what keeps us in business. Jaime appears to have missed this lesson.
I have since found out that they served the food to the bar underneath the hall. Which is nice except I didn't pay for them to eat. They are separate from my event and it's not up to me to pay for their meals.
This is the worst experience that I have ever had with a "contractor" if you can call them that because nothing, and I do mean nothing g was ever written in a contract. They had no guarantees and got away with the behavior because nothing is on paper. If you use them, I highly suggest that you don't, but if you do get everything in writing. read more
