Rosa & team catered our little 25 person wedding reception and absolutely nailed it. We had a bunch of difficult food allergies that they sorted out without a sweat. The food was truly incredible, and the team made the whole night super easy for us. I would 1000% recommend these guys. read more

Mojave Monaco - Just some of the delicious food from the Casablanca Gala. - Caterers Near Me

Merilee and Rosa and the team at Mojave Monaco just gave my new husband and I the wedding night dinner of our *dreams.* EVERYONE is still talking about it, over a week later. We've finished all the leftovers and are craving more. It was seriously spectacular! We showed up with all the standard wedding catering challenges. Large party, dietary restrictions, tight budgets, big ambitions and a desire for everything to be *perfect.* Merilee walked us through the entire process with calm professionalism, talking us through options, listening to our ideas and sharing her extensive expertise. We narrowed it down to two equally delicious sounding menus and made the final call after an AWESOME tasting. Every single thing we tried was scrumptious! We left that night genuinely excited to share this feast with our guests and full of confidence that the final event would be a success. But the wedding exceeded even those stellar expectations. The food, presentation, service and staff were all simply flawless. It's no surprise that Merilee was recommended by our wedding venue, our welcome party venue and every local wedding planner we interviewed. Mojave Monaco is both beloved and respected by everyone who has had the pleasure of working with them. They are consummate professionals who treat everyone involved with real consideration, who take tremendous pride in their work and are committed to delivering excellence in absolutely every respect. Plus they are just straight up lovely folks. If you get the chance, hire them immediately. We would again in a heartbeat. Thank you guys! read more

WONDERFUL CATERING TEAM. Absolutely 5 Stars. Kate and Merilee are a dynamic and creative duo. Their communication and attention to detail over the course of our wedding planning (with me as the planner up until the wedding weekend when we had an organizer take over) was impeccable. Their food was GORGEOUS and TASTY and very high end. We had a rustic/bohemian/desert wedding at Rimrock Ranch in Pioneertown and they were absolutely one of my best vendor picks of the whole event, which is saying a lot as we had more than a dozen guests tell us it was the best wedding they had ever attended! There weren't any major hiccups with other vendors, K&M were just that good. We had a buffet style dinner for 110+ people (including guests and other vendors we fed). The order encompassed a dinner with chicken/vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options, some desserts and apps, and a small private rehearsal dinner we had the night before. We did our own alcohol and drinks, though we had K&M plus 3 catering staff and 1 bartender working the event. I truly cannot recommend these women enough. I do want to note that they have a separate Yelp page under El Dorado Supper Club and they should probably be combined, as their business seems to have two different names -- which might be confusing for their branding -- and I want them to have the most bangin' business and for everyone out there to know they are AMAZING! Thank you for making our wedding weekend absolutely amazing. I will add photos of food when possible, but I wanted to get this out there as they are the jam. read more

Merilee catered our April wedding at Sacred Sands in Joshua Tree and the food was INCREDIBLE. She and Rosa worked so hard to help us create a menu that would please all our guests (we had a lot of varied palates to consider...). One constant refrain from our guests was that it was the best food they'd ever had at a wedding. We have absolutely no regrets in hiring Merilee and couldn't recommend her more highly! read more

Chef Merilee and Rosa were spectacular! They prepared food for our retreat at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Every single one of our participants was thrilled with the delicious food prepared for us and it made our retreat that much better. Every dish was prepared from scratch and it was yummy beyond belief. The meals were very diverse, high quality ingredients used and the menu was even better than we could have asked for! We will be making sure that Mojave Monaco are available to cater our next retreat at the JTRC. www.SoulAwakeningRetreats.net read more

Merilee and Rosa delivered an amazing Mayan feast for our Hicksville wedding. It wasn't just passable wedding fare, it was downright delicious. The crew was extremely pleasant, organized and responsive. They even anticipated that we wouldn't eat much on our big day so they set aside some in ziplocks to take home! Very smart. Couldn't be happier! read more

Merilee catered our casual buffet style rehearsal dinner in Twentynine Palms. I was intrigued by the photos I saw online, everything looked delicious and pretty!! I contacted Merilee and she sent a SUPER helpful email about all kinds of options for us. We corresponded about guest totals and our budget. She accommodated our budget while still providing a delicious menu that exceeding our expectations, everyone was so impressed with the food and she even made us a little something extra which was so kind! Merliee and her staff dropped everything off right on time, set everything up, and were really great to work with. I would definitely recommend Merilee and Mojave Monaco, they are such a pleasure to work with! read more

Merilee and her team catered our wedding in Joshua Tree this past weekend and we couldn't be happier with the result. The staff were attentive and the food was incredible. Would be happy to recommend this team for anyone looking for a wedding caterer in the area. read more

Unbelievable experience working with this crew! Rosa and Merilee are simply incredible. We hosted a post "shotgun elopement" dinner party for 25 besties in Joshua Tree with appetizers, a Mediterranean menu and bar service. They seriously nailed it...completely professional, excellent/creative food (vegetarian friendly ), neat and tidy. I would not hesitate recommending this caterer to anybody and already have to 3 of our guests! Thanks guys for perfect event. read more

Mojave Monaco catered a three day retreat I attended in Joshua Tree. Now, I've had some not so great experiences with food on retreats and I am thrilled to say the food from Mojave Monaca was FABULOUS. They were creative with vegetarian dishes, including desserts. We all requested recipes for things. Plus, they were so pleasant in attending to us. Wish they were closer...I'd definitely use them for any catered affair! read more

Had the absolute pleasure of working with Merilee for our elopement ceremony in Joshua Tree, CA (April 2014). Worked very easily with her leading up to the event to customize a superb menu. She is patient, responsive, and necessarily creative. Had some very solid ideas and suggestions, but let us take the lead. Everything tasted amazing! Merilee gave us a wonderful spread, from a great antipasto platter and cocktails, the main multi-course feast, to a delicious cake. Fresh ingredients, responsibly and locally sourced, able to cover wide range of cooking techniques/styles/flavors, aesthetically pleasing, as well as tasty! Plus she's a cool person and super easy to work with--definitely recommend. We hope to get to spend many anniversaries back in Joshua Tree and would love to get to work with Merilee again! read more

Merilee and her team catered our wedding at Rimrock Ranch, and I can not say enough great things about them. The mayan feast we had was just perfect, we had an array of tacos, apps, homemade salas's, and side's. We choose to have a plated diner over buffet, and it was executed perfectly. Staff was professional, and very easy to communicate with. I was living in NY at the time, and we only communicate by phone and email. I did not have a tasting, and it was no problem at all. She was amazing, all of our guests were happy (especially the vegan/vegetarians). TY Merilee. read more

Merilee and her team are Incredible. We booked them for our entire wedding weekend including Rehearsal dinner, day of breakfast, Wedding dinner/dessert, and day after breakfast. Every single meal was incredible in both taste, temperature, and presentation. Merilee was responsive to my emails and extremely accommodating, even when 1 week before the wedding we had a guest switch to totally gluten free. No menu request was too much for Merilee, even lobster mac and cheese, and individual chocolate lava cakes for all 25 guests. Everyone raved about the food and I seriously have never eaten better in my life. Of note, I live in south georgia, and Merilee's biscuits were better than ever single one I've tried from Charleston to Savannah... she's that good. If you are getting married in the greater Rimrock/Pioneertown/Yucca Valley/Palm Springs area, you NEED to contact Merilee, she is incredible, you will love the food, her prices are totally reasonable, and no detail will be left out. Not to mention her staff was totally on top of everything from keeping breakfast buffets full, to clearing plates at the appropriate times, and making sure food hit the table at the appropriate temperature. read more

Kate and Merilee and their crew rocked my 185 person wedding! Everyone raved about the food, even my mother! The food looked gorgeous and tasted great. They were able to work out of the kitchen of a cabin and share the space with me while I was getting ready. Their crew was delightful and courteous even with guests tromping through their prep space. We had guests with conflicting dietary needs and they were able to meet them all. They went above and beyond and were gracious and lovely. Their crew cleaned the space that they used so beautifully that you would never know they had been there. I can't say enough good things, I simply don't have the words for it. read more

Attended an event in So Cal that was catered by Merilee and her colleagues. The food was outstanding. It was a Mexican themed buffet with incredible flavors. The salsas were outstanding. they had the freshest ingredients. Lets just say that it was so good, that I overindulged... read more

I've worked at a wedding (in Pioneer Town) where Merilee and her staff was catering the event. The staff was really friendly and even helped out with the bar. (getting the glasses clean, and help me bring in ice and liquor). Not only that, they even fed me their delicious food. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for a catering company. read more

Merilee and Kate are amazing! they catered our wedding in Pioneertown this month and it went off flawlessly! Not just that, they take such care to give personal attention to what we wanted and to worked with us creatively to make it happen. They are professional, kind, straightforward and they run a phenomenal catering company! food was superb! service excellent. Highly recommend! we will use them in the future for anniversary parties without a doubt. read more

Thank you Merilee and Kate, for an amazing wedding meal!! We just got married at the Del Marcos Hotel in downtown Palm Springs, and we were frightened at some of the estimates we received from local caterers to feed our 60 guests. One of the "premier" caterers in town charged $60 per person, but the estimate, including things like staff and tax, amounted to $200 per person, WOW! So we ran in the other direction, like up the hill to Joshua Tree... via Yelp... My new husband was brilliant (and lucky enough) to find El Dorado Supper Club. They were extremely organized and accomodating from the get- go, and extremely pleasant to work with. Nary a question went unanswered, and the deal was incredible. First, there were so many choices. Their skill set is HUGE. We ended up choosing a beautiful meal of grilled meats, rice, grilled vegetables, appetizers, and desserts, with coffee/ tea service and bar tending with a signature cocktail, and we paid a fraction of what others charge. The value was unbelievable. We took our wedding leftovers home, and have been lovingly devouring them for a week. Everyone ranted and raved about how delicious the food was. We had a tasting at Merilee's months ahead of the wedding, and I was preparing for some minor disappointment when the food service was scaled up from 2 to 60 people, but it was PERFECT. Now I just have to think of another excuse to have a party... so we can see what else these ladies have up their sleeves! The staff was gracious and impeccable. I can't believe these folks aren't blowing up the food service radar. Details: Appetizers: Homemade hummus and veggies Buffalo meat tostaditas Bacon wrapped shrimp Signature cocktail Gin and grapefruit concoction dubbed "February sling" Grilled steak Grilled chicken with chilli verde sauce (sigh) green salad with corn and black beans (gorgeous dressing) Saffron rice with olives (beautiful color, festive, and delicious!) Coffee/ tea service with cute compostable cups Lemon bars (wow, zing) Fruit platter Cake cutting and service (cake made by a close friend of ours) Bar: They provided a bar tender who was SO NICE We provided the booze. We saved a fortune by doing this. The Supper Club is nothing short of amazing. Do yourself a favor and call them!! read more

Kate and Merilee catered my sister's wedding in Yucca Valley last weekend and it was amazing! My sister has a pretty small kitchen and they were able to do everything for 104 guests in there. The food was so very tasty and fresh. They made bacon wrapped shrimp that were sooooooooo good I had too many of them. Everything went smoothly and the food was a hit. If I lived in the area I would surely hire them for my own event. Thanks Kate and Merilee for all your hard work and helping make my sisters big day wonderful. read more

Where to start? We came across the El Dorado Supper Club on the internet while looking for a caterer for our Joshua Tree Wedding. From the very beginning Merilee was always quick to answer all our questions, making the process of sorting things out very easy, despite the distance (we live in Switzerland, Europe). We ended up with this amazing menu, that met all our preferences and desires, even including a signature drink that Merilee suggested based on what we both like. The food was simply excellent and received nothing but raving responses from our guests: BAR: Prickly Pear Lime Margaritas APPS: Bacon-wrapped dates Pita triangles with white balsamic-orange avocado dip Crudite & creamy herb dip in shotglasses Antipasti Skewers Olives Gazpacho in shotglasses Caprese Bites Smoked Salmon Avocado Bites DINNER: Mesquite Honey Glazed Chicken (bone-in/skin-on thighs) California Tri-Tip Steak, sliced Cola-BBQ Pork Ribs Grilled Seasonal Vegetables Mexican corn with lime, crema, queso fresco, cilantro, chili powder Roasted Potatoes Green Salad with apple cider vinaigrette Bread & Herbed butter DESSERT: Make-your-own ice cream sundae bar Vanilla, chocolate, & strawberry ice creams Assorted toppings: chocolate sauce, nuts, sprinkles, toffee, chocolate chips, fresh fruit including banana, shredded coconut, whipped cream Brownies with nuts COFFEE/TEA The day of the wedding Merilee and her team were simply amazing!!! They always radiated calm and positivity, everyone was so kind and warm hearted towards us, which was very appreciated not only by us but also by our guests. Merilee also provided us with a wonderful Bartender who added to the charm and positive experience for our guests. We also appreciate that Merilee is very conscious in her choice of products (local, organic etc.) while still offering her great menu choices at more than reasonable prices. Conclusion: If you want to have really great food, stress free and positive communications with your caterer, and a happy wedding party, El Dorado Supper Club is the way to go! Thank you again to you, Merilee and team for adding to our special day in the ways you did! read more

They did an absolutely amazing job on our wedding catering. All the guests raved about the food, not to mention how healthy it was. Cannot recommend them enough. Healthy, creative, and great value. Cutting edge cuisine and really professional top notch team in Merilee and Kate. Thanks so much. read more

Our event was the reception after a funeral, and we were anxious. The incredible women at Mojave Monaco took away our anxieties. They took care of everything. We had a dozen menus to choose from, and Merilee guided us to the perfect array. The staff were prompt, extremely efficient, friendly, and sympathetic. People coming out of the chapel lit up when they saw the magnificent, yet casual, spread of sandwiches, quiches, amazing pasta salad, a delicious crudite platter, yummy slightly spicy deviled eggs, freshly-baked biscuits, and drinks. Our friend Frank, a former chef, was raving about the set-up, the recipes, the variety of sandwich and quiche options, and the attentive staff. By the time the guests were leaving, they were all smiling. Mojave Monaco made our difficult situation so much happier and easier. We're very grateful. read more

Oh.My.Goodness! How on earth did we luck out by finding Merilee!? I have never had such an incredible meal and overall dining experience as I did with Mojave Monaco! These ladies are top notch professionals and extraordinarily talented! I am still dreaming about the mushrooms and the kale salad! Absolute perfection! Merilee was a delight to work with, and she went above and beyond to make sure we had exactly what we wanted for our private wedding dinner. I cannot say enough amazing things about the meal and the staff! I am beyond happy and thankful for our experience! read more

Brunch, b.r.u.n.c.h, brrunnnccchhh! Merilee and her partner-in-deliciousness, Rosa, rocked our post-wedding-day brunch in JTree. Pumpkin ginger waffles with maple syrup, poached eggs with cheesy roasted potato cups, kale and brussels sprouts salad, fruit salad, berry muffins, and bonus yogurt and granola. A few notes: 1) The best poached egg I've ever eaten. Ok, not going to lie, the most perfect poached eggs I've ever eaten -- definitely had more than one. 2) Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, these-are-so-good-I'm-eating-three spiced waffles. Win. 3) Merliee suggested the kale and brussels sprouts salad as a yummy, light complement to all of the comfy, carby goodness. Spot on. 4) Merilee and I exchanged 44 emails from start to finish. Yes, she's very patient and responsive. 5) Total pros. After what must have been an exhausting 14-day run of events, Merilee and Rosa were accommodating, personable, patient, and calm -- and absolutely made us feel like they wanted our event to be great. 6) Recognizing that the true beauty of brunch is variety, Merilee and Rosa served up petite portions of waffles and muffins so we could try everything and not get stuffed...or try everything multiple times and be stuffed. We embraced both options. 7) As one of our 14 guests, a brunch aficionado said (while contentedly rubbing her stomach), "That was a superior meal." 8) Thank you, thank you, thank you, Merilee and Rosa! read more

We cannot recommend Chefs Merilee and Rosa enough! They catered our wedding a while back and rolled with every single punch Mother Nature threw at all of us. Rain or shine and even a last-minute change in venue, Merliee and Rosa worked to make sure our guests received the best service and food. Even though our menu and style of service had to change several times due to elements out of our control, Merilee and Rosa worked to ensure that all the logistics were thought through, that the food would be delicious, and that our guests would feel satisfied. We are so grateful to have worked with them--so kind and thoughtful, very-well organized, and clearly communicated with us throughout the entire planning (and re-planning) process. You can really taste all the love in every aspect of the food. Plus our guests continue to talk about how delicious everything was to this very day! So good that there were barely any leftovers! read more

The food,service and cooks personality are amazzzzing!!!! Lunch was great Mediterranean

Merilee and her team were wonderful caterers for my big, gay, Indian wedding in Pioneertown this past weekend. We were using two caterers (one Indian, one being Merilee), and had very specific requests for food in mind, down to actual recipes of things. Being an event planner, and owning a food establishment, I know this is not fun for a caterer to hear. Merilee took it all in stride, and was able to execute on whatever we needed, which we greatly appreciated. She helped with all staff day of, who were prompt, lovely and provided great service, even going above and beyond with some of the cleaning needs I had unexpectedly needed to execute (which saved my day, personally!). I had quite a large mid-west contingency, and people were raving about the brisket and chicken, so you know it was good. If I worked in the area more, Merilee would certainly be a go-to catering partner of mine, as you want to work with good people for your event days, and she and her team are those people. 5/5 stars! read more

So happy we chose Mojave Monaco as our wedding caterer, we were thrilled with Merillee and her team! We did a vegetarian Mexican buffet, and all of our guests (150 ppl) were raving about the flavors (even the most stubborn carnivores!). Merilee was very professional, and listened to all of our ideas, and helped recommend items that had been popular in previous weddings. She was even accommodating with taking a friends recipe and adding it to our passed apps menu! Her entire team worked behind the scenes seamlessly, and we're all very approachable and attentive, which helped keep things moving. The buffet ran smoothly and was never low on food. We never had to stress about anything, and they worked with our day-of coordinator to make sure we could focus on our special day. Another thing we'd like to mention, is that Merilee doesn't suffer from "desert time" - she answers emails and phone calls when she isn't working, in a timely manner, which was a very important quality for us (we don't live in the area, so she made the process and event easy to plan remotely). We highly recommend these guys, 5 stars all the way!!! @Merilee - Thank you again for everything! We hope to see you again in the future! A&B xoxox read more

Merilee catered my friend's wedding in Big Bear, CA and the food was fantastic! The ingredients were fresh and the presentation was beautiful and inviting. Everyone at the wedding thoroughly loved the food and complimented them on the food. Merilee was very professional and friendly and made every guest feel very welcomed. It was a beautiful wedding and the food was so tasty! If Merilee will travel to northern Cal. I would certainly hire Mojave Monaco for my next catered event. read more

Kate and Merilee just catered my wedding in Yucca Valley. The food was amazing and they worked so efficiently in my tiny kitchen! Guests raved about what a great job they did and how organized they were. In my hunt for a caterer, I spoke to several that were very cold and impersonal. Just another business transaction. Kate and Merilee were so warm and friendly and really wanted to provide me with exactly what I wanted. I would recommend them a million times over!!! read more

If you are stressed about finding the right caterer to partner with, look no further! Chef Merilee and Rosa are perfection. Not only did they cook up amazing dishes (I still can't stop thinking about their cauliflower lasagna), but their communication, staff, service, and attention to detail were off the charts. We had a wedding of about 130 guests and asked Merilee and Rosa to plate and serve dishes to our guests. We collaborated on a strategy and they pulled it off effortlessly. I highly recommend this power duo for your next event. You will not be disappointed that you did. read more

This is a lovely company with a big heart. The beauty is they deliver delicious, nutritious food for all tastes and dietary needs. The service is impeccable and I highly recommend it. Big thanks to Merilee who catered to our spiritual retreat at Joshua Tree. read more

Had the good fortune to have Kate and Merilee prepare our meals for a weekend event. The food was fresh and delicious. Each of us were more than satisfied with the wonderful flavors and the portions were more than enough. I highly recommend this catering team! read more

Chefs Kate and Merilee planned and prepared a wonderful meal for our wedding in Joshua Tree. We are thankful they were a part of our celebration! In planning our wedding, it was a joy to work with Kate and Merilee. They were communicative, easy to work with, flexible, and creative. They were supportive of our preferences and helped us to plan a meal that was both tasty and affordable. They went above and beyond helping to plan the foods that we requested, as well as their own delicious specialities! At our wedding, they were incredibly organized, prepared, and helpful with any last minute needs that came up in the kitchen or dining room. They and their staff were professional and relaxed. The whole experience was very easy going, and above all, delicious!! We loved the meal, and had many complements from our guests. Thank you both for being such a wonderful, memorable part of our celebration! read more

Merilee and team handled both our wedding rehearsal and reception dinners. We were fortunate enough that our venue had a wood fired oven available so we settled on pizza for our rehearsal dinner. Our reception dinner entrees were brown sugar and dijon-glazed salmon and tuscan grilled chicken. The results were absolutely fantastic. Our friends and family enthused about all of the food. Even the simplest things like rice were cause for compliment. Merilee was a wonderful help in putting our menus together, listening to our general guidelines and specific requests. She made a number of recommendations and changes that helped us save money without sacrificing the overall quality of the meals. Merilee is professional, communicative, patient, and highly talented. We'd highly recommend her for any catering needs. read more

Marilee and Kate are great! :) I was at the JT Retreat Center for a week and was very impressed with the quality of the lunch and dinner provided. The food was different each day and well prepared. It was better than some restaurants I've been too. Additionally, they accommodate those with special diets, by creating individual plates/servings for those that ask. It's as if they were cooking just for me. Very impressed! read more

I came back last night from an 8-day spiritual retreat event at the JT Retreat Center and our group requested Marilee & Kate's catering services for our lunch and dinner meals. I am very pleased to write a review for them and say that they are, unequivocally, highly professional and talented chefs. The menu for the entire week was very well crafted and each day brought about different and unbelievably tasty and healthy dishes. What pleasure for my senses!!! They both clearly have a passion for what they do and that passion comes through in every dish, not to mention that they will also take special requests for those having special dietary needs. I cannot thank you enough, Marilee & Kate. Your contribution enhanced my 8-day experience many folds. You're both amazing! xox :-) read more

SO impressed! Delicious and creative. I want ALL the recipes from my weekend at Joshua Tree Retreat Center. Can't wait to follow Mojave Monaco on Pinterest and grab all the recipes! read more

these ladies catered my rehearsal dinner in pioneertown. they did tacos and they were amazing, organized, and super friendly and personable. i HIGHLY recommend them. the food was terrific and interesting, not just your standard mexican fare. a hundred thumbs up! read more