First, let me just say, I wanted to write my 5-star (10-star?) Yelp review IMMEDIATELY after my…read morewedding, but had to wait so I could include photography of the absolutely amazing spread created & served by the Swartz Catering team (seeing is believing right?) We were referred to Swartz Catering by our venue: The Pierce House in Lincoln. After my first phone call with Sue Shapiro, who runs operations, I booked them -- she actually kept asking if I was sure I wanted to lock it in before even having a tasting -- and I was sure. As much as possible, they use local, seasonal and organic food. That was one of my biggest criteria in booking a caterer and before I even had to ask, they explained that was their approach to all the food served. Swoon. After that, I had a bit of a non-traditional request: I wanted fried chicken served at my wedding. And not just any fried chicken: I wanted Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc Fried Chicken. No problem. Not only did they make it better than Keller's chicken (I swear, it's true) they also made killer suggestions on other dishes that would pair well with fried chicken in summer. We had lemon beurre blanc salmon, fresh pesto orzo salad with heirloom tomatoes, an array of roasted, seasonal organic vegetables & a green salad with homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. This doesn't even include the unbelievable apps (mini lobster rolls!) & desserts (frozen chocolate hazelnut mousse!) I had multiple people come up to me during & after the wedding saying not only was it the best food they ever had at a wedding, but it may have been the best food they ever had period. And I'm not one to argue -- I completely agree. More than the food is Sue & Howard. Sue handled everything from logistics to sourcing the exact blue striped napkins and cream brocade tablecloths to the gold rimmed plates that I wanted. She also was just the salve I needed when wedding day stress (cough: parents) started to get to me. Did I mention that Sue also oversaw our liquor vendor & noted when we were running out of a particular favorite liquor of my husband's (despite ordering a case of it, whoops) she called the liquor store DURING the wedding to have them send over more so we wouldn't run out -- we had no idea until the next day! Not only do you want Howard and his team cooking & meticulously serving absolutely incredible food at your special event, but you want someone as professional, kind and organized as Sue managing it. I hope one day to have another special event that I'm able to work with them again -- they were a massive part in making my wedding the absolute best day of my life.

Howard and Sue are a dream team when it comes to making your dream wedding come to reality. Every…read morebride has their own vision, and one of my visions was endless food with plenty of options...and that's EXACTLY what I received. I was referred to Swartz Catering through our venue. It was so important to me that the caterer we used had experience at our venue as it was a little quirky and requires a lot of specific setup. During our initial meeting, Howard presented me with a menu of options...and after looking through it and not being able to answer his initial questions, he asked me..."What is it that you are picturing?" I rambled a bit about what I was picturing, stations, endless food, grab and go bites, etc...and then all of a sudden we were creating this perfect menu together. Some items were from his menu, and others he was able to put together based on what I wanted. How cool is that?! The staff of servers and bartenders were also responsible for setting up everything at the wedding. They did an amazing job. It was this team that really tied our whole wedding together. Before the wedding, Sue had called me to work out a few details and make sure that they understood my vision. I appreciate the attentiveness to detail! During the wedding, there were so many passed apps, the stations were perfect, and the guests wouldn't stop gushing at how amazing everything tasted. I also appreciated how they were on top of making sure my husband and I ate and had everything we needed. I cannot say enough great things about Swartz Catering. Highly recommended!!

Preparation Perfect. Food Ample and Perfect…read more Presentation Perfect. hors d'ouvres Serving Perfect. Buffet Serving Perfect. What else can I say.

I was just cleaning and came across our wedding menu from October 2015. To this day (almost 5 years…read morelater) people STILL talk about the food at our wedding! Dan and Silvia were amazing to work with, I remember them very fondly, just really really awesome people. Their serving staff was great as well. They worked with our budget and created an amazing array of hors d'oeuvres, dishes, and a pasta bar. I liked that we were able to try the menu well before the wedding. We had a fall wedding and the ingredients they used reflected this which I liked. I just can not say enough how amazing the food was. I remember my friends joking that the food changed their life. Sorry my review is so late, but hopefully it just goes to show how amazing this company is!!

Jam was hired by my sons for my surprise 60th, for approx 60 people. That was my best present ever!…read more Jam's selection of healthy, most delicious and so beautifully presented foods are beyond words! My guests are still talking about how scrumptious everything was! The servers that were provided by Jam were amazing! They also cleaned my kitchen as if no party ever took place. Jams' selection of foods are very fresh, in season. The way in which Chef Jennifer combines and creates dishes, enriches one's palate beyond words! Good food is such a huge factor at a party. Jam was a great pick for mine! I will be using her again without hesitation! You should ,too! You won't be disappointed! I'm so happy she is close in location of me in Hull. I hope she stays! Thanks again Chef Jennifer!

Jen catered our intimate wedding dinner in Scituate and the food was delicious! The apps were all…read moreso great that it was hard to pick a favorite. She was very professional and friendly, and coordinating the menu was a breeze.

Jason made the private chef dining experience so fun and engaging from the first time we talked…read more He was very open to our ideas about the menu, but also asked great questions about certain tastes, foods, herbs, etc. that we all like and dislike to be able to put together a cohesive 6 course meal that everyone enjoyed thoroughly. During the event he gave us space to hang out and be together without being obtrusive, but yet was right there as soon as we were ready for the next course and happy to explain cooking and flavor techniques anytime we asked. He clearly loves food, loves thinking about flavor profiles and combinations, and that joy and passion made the experience memorable - not to mention, we all got to take home his engraved wooden spoons (such a cool gift!) and lots of leftovers! Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun, delicious, but unpretentious, dining experience.

We booked Ryan to cook dinner for my mom's 70th birthday. It was the first time we've ever done…read moreanything like this. Naturally, because it was something new, we were a bit anxious about the experience. We weren't sure of all the moving pieces or how easy/difficult the process would be. When Ryan left on Saturday evening, our kitchen sparkling, it was like he had never even been there, except we were stuffed with incredibly delicious food. From my first contact with Ryan to the when he left my mom's house, it was all so easy. The menu was easy to decide on (Ryan has a huge selection of dishes he can put together). Ryan was easy going and guided us through each step. Ryan brings everything he needs, pots, pans, silverware, china, and food. He got to work right away, and when it came time to sit down, we were treated to an incredible feast. Every course (we had 5 courses) was delicious and elegant. We were served by Ryan's assistant. It was really like we were in a restaurant. I was eating with my back to the kitchen, and it was hard to even know he was there. He was efficient and didn't distract from our dinner (he was also willing to chat when we pulled him into the conversation.) If you are at all anxious about the process of having a chef cook dinner in your house, you shouldn't be if you pick Ryan. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Here's what we ate (If we could do it again, we'd eliminate one of the first three course... we. were. stuffed.): Hard Cider Pumpkin Bisque (a table favorite. Fall in a bowl) Wedge Salad (the dressing was dynamite) Scallops and risotto (Another hit. This is where we were feeling rather full). Filet OR herb encrusted chicken (maybe the best filet I've had in a long while. Just cooked perfectly.) Tangerine Creme Brulee (blow torch demo included!). If you're thinking about doing something romantic for a significant other or planning a larger dinner (we had 9 people), you should hire Ryan. You won't regret it and you'll impress everyone.

Chef Ryan is amazing - and his food is simply outstanding! Our children surprised us with a…read morecombination Anniversary and Birthday dinner last night, and the menu was superb. The braised short rib grilled cheese appetizers were nothing short of amazing and could have been a meal in themselves ... but we continued with fantastic corn chowder with crab, arugula salad with melon and pine nuts, and stuffed cod that melted in our mouths. Add in lava cakes ... and you have a meal that is totally over the top. But the best part of the night was Chef Ryan and his assistant Leslie - who cooked, served and cleaned up. As they left you would never have known anyone was in the kitchen !!! Simply amazing. If you want the luxury of have your own professional chef for an evening - call Chef Ryan - he's the best !

Back in late August, my cousin hosted an outdoor graduation party for both her children..one had…read morejust gotten his bachelor's degree and the other her master's degree. She hired Sensational Paella to cater the event and it was an inspired and terrific choice. First of all having paella was a welcome and unique departure from what might have been the more usual outdoor barbecue food. Nothing wrong with that; we love good barbecue. But having paella was not only delicious but super entertaining and fun as the guests got to watch the two chefs cooking. Secondly, this paella is delicious and Sensational Paella has a number of types certain to please most. My cousin chose 3 types of paella to be served: seafood, vegetarian and Paella Campesino which was a country style meat paella. I tasted each of them and they were all delicious. My favorite perhaps was the seafood paella. The food was just beautiful to behold...the colors and textures made everything look like works of art. As the saying goes, we eat first with our eyes before we even taste the food and the food visuals here were spectacular. The chefs work with these enormous and traditional paella pans. I'm a fan of kitchen wares and of course now I want my own (smaller) version. It seems authenticity is important to this company which I appreciate. The chefs were friendly and accommodating particularly with a crowd of people wandering about the garden eager to watch them cook. It was almost a magical experience. The party was a great success for many reasons but certainly the food, its presentation and the culinary showmanship of the Sensational Paella staff were big parts of making an already special day even more special, interesting, interactive and fun. After going to an event like this, one can't help but to start plotting for one's own paella party. The wheels in my head are turning.

We hired Sensational Paella to cater our rehearsal dinner in September 2021 Working with Chef…read moreJulian Borrero and his team was extremely easy, he helped us guiding our order and sorting out the logistical details in one afternoon and they showed up and ran a flawless operation the day of. The 3 paellas they made; Seafood Paella, Paella Campesina (Country Style Meat Paella), and Vegetarian Paella, were an absolute hit in every way. Not only did they taste amazing but they looked beautiful and many of our guests spent time watching the chefs at work (their stand was like a show!). If we are host another big event, we will be calling Sensational Paella.

Choosing to have Tastyplates cater our wedding at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center this…read moresummer was, without a doubt, the easiest and best decision we made in planning. Kate was enthusiastic, organized, and full of great ideas. She was easy to communicate with and made sure that we felt comfortable and were clear about every decision we made along the way. For someone who was planning on a budget, I can't express how valuable and reassuring it was to have a completely transparent, easy to understand invoice. Kate and Chris created a menu that suited our personalities perfectly. I've heard that brides don't usually eat much on their wedding days, but I went back for a second plate. Every bite was delicious. Our guests loved it, too. The service was great. Kate's kids helped serve the buffet! Our guests were never wanting for food and the bartenders kept them well-lubricated. Kate went above the call of duty on more than one occasion. When we told her we wanted a tower of donuts instead of a wedding cake, she didn't bat an eyelash and somehow assembled an out-of-this-world display. She patiently spent 4+ hours with me on the day before the wedding choosing and arranging ALL of the flowers for our big day. We would choose Tastyplates over and over again.

I'm so glad I went with tastyplates for our wedding catering. WHOA. Kate and the staff are…read moreextremely friendly, responsive, and hilarious. And, not only that, but the price was awesome, the food was super yummy, and I never felt stressed because Kate was on our side. Kate knows her stuff. Trust me! Go with tastyplates! :)

Chef Raphael provided his amazing services for a dinner party that I hosted in my home to celebrate…read moremy 30th birthday and I could not have been more impressed! When I first reached out I said my preferences and he used them to create a menu proposal. He was very communicative and I was able to provide feedback in order to make sure the menu was perfect. He was also helpful by providing insightful suggestions. He was flexible with providing alternatives with dietary restrictions for guests. On the day of, he arrived with all of the ingredients ready to go. He prepared the first course, a charcuterie board promptly and was ready when my guests arrived. It was also nice that he wasn't rushed and was willing to be flexible with the timing of the meal as well. It helped keep up a good flow for the dinner party. The second course was a delicious plate of scallops with a sweet corn sauce and roasted cauliflower. The scallops were perfectly seared and a generous portion. The third course was beef tenderloin, wild mushroom risotto and butternut squash purée. The entire dish was delicious! The last course were our very own chocolate fondant cake with vanilla ice cream. The chocolate syrup melted and blended perfectly with the ice cream. After dinner, he cleaned up and left everything spotless. I couldn't have been more pleased with the experience and look forward to more dinner parties with Chef Raphael in the future!

I have asked Chef Raphaël and Jérôme Bergere to provide the catering for my next private holiday…read moreevent. I had the best experience with both in the past. It feels so comfortable and reassuring when both work together, leaving me worry free as they both provide the best culinary and service experience. I never have to worry about something going wrong. Besides this holiday event, I will hire both again for an event I am planning in Boston in March 2023! www.gerardriveron.com