Delicious and a great job! I'm a picky type-A (OCD) planner, and I'm very particular about my food, and the businesses I work with. Particularly for businesses like this the very first impression is always important. I'm busy without a lot of time to deal with disorganized or unprofessional folks, and can usually tell within the first couple encounters what kind of business person you are.
I'd actually contacted another business who forwarded me to Keely because she deals with parties of 10 or more, and my group was small. She wrote me a pleasant, brief message, and prompted me to call her; I know I sound obnoxious but I really don't have the time for back and forth by phone because it's too hard to get on at a time that works for all parties when you run your own business. I really appreciate that Keely was super flexible and let us do all the back and forth by email to go over details. This also helps to ensure everything is in writing and expectations are clear and met on both sides without surprises. She sent the contract via email; I paid online via secure server (50% deposit) and she showed up on time and was done early and breezed out.
Back story: I planned a getaway birthday/halloween bash where friends and I met up at a house and stayed for a weekend in San Diego, and we wanted to roll out of bed on Saturday morning in our pajamas and munch on a well-cooked meal. I wanted the personal touch, small, with fresh food, that a personal chef could give versus ordering catering-sized trays of food from some local restaurant, or ordering a 25-person minimum from a caterer who'd mark up the cost of a bunch of people on staff and materials we didn't need. I wanted something vaguely luxurious (we served champagne!). I also wanted a pre-cooked dinner we could heat up easily and self-serve later.
What we got:
Keely was a warm hostess and consummate professional; I woke up at 8:30 am to let her in in my pajamas, eyes sealed closed and mumbling with my hair everywhere. She and her sous-chef were all smiles, and lugged their stuff up 2.5 flights of stairs to the kitchen; she shooed me away and I crashed back into bed. Everybody else in the house woke up earlier than me, and she greeted them warmly, offering them coffee and delighting them (I heard nothing but good things, which is another good sign of a great business owner doing things right when the actual official "customer" is not around). I sadly missed her so I couldn't thank her properly afterward in person, but she left an amazing spread and this review should do the job! :)
Examples of above and beyond: we left pork off our breakfast menu to avoid confusion for one of our diners who can't eat pork; but I love bacon. I didn't say anything about it since we had the menu set -- but Keely delivered an additional spread of maple-glazed, crispy amazing bacon as a delightful surprise, plus additional little touches and baked goods. She hand-wrote out a thorough and easy to follow "to-do" list for how to prep dinner, and there were no details left off the food - for breakfast we had fresh whipped cream, strawberries, and great syrup for our french toast, etc. Lovely fruit displays and add-on garnish to each plate.
We were in a rental house and had limited equipment/dishware/presentation dishes. I asked if Keely could find and buy (and charge me for) "disposable" nice dishes aka, she couldn't leave her own presentation ware but I wanted something cheap and nice enough to serve a proper display. She found exactly that on her own, and it's totally reusable for anyone who stays in the house later. Love that she could accommodate that -- made everything easier on us.
My one worry was the food - it's a serious gamble, and her reviews here were all blocked at first (naughty Yelp) so I couldn't tell what I would get. Thank God it all worked out and it was great and everyone raved and was super satisfied! The photos on her site and on Yelp don't do her food justice. Everything was great. Our menu below - prices left off to respect her so she can frame as necessary for future bookings :).
Brunch:
· Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Fritatta
· Roast Potatoes with Fresh Rosemary and Caramelized Onions
· French Toast to Order with Strawberries, Toasted Pecans, Whipped Cream and Maple Syrup
· Blue Cheese and Wild Mushroom Quiche
· Fresh Fruit
· Turkey Sausage Patties
Dinner:
· Fall Vegetable Chopped Salad with Crème Fraiche Vinaigrette
· Chicken Skewers with Arugula Pesto
· Four Cheese Penne Pasta
· Flat Breads:
o Sausage, Caramelized Peppers & Onions with Mozzarella & Parmesan
o Margarita with Fresh Tomatoes, Basil & Mozzarella
Dessert:
Coconut Cream Cake: 8", 3 Layers with Mango Curd Filling, Toasted Coconut and Almond Flake Garnish
Would totally book Keely again. I've gotten a total crush on San Diego so it is highly likely I'll have need of her services again! :)
Thanks again, Keely! read more
