wedding 2020 | CHOOSING A CATERER

by Anne Pyburn Craig

date posted: March 11, 2020

One of the highlights of a fun wedding reception is the food. The Hudson Valley is chock-full of good catering options, so take your time to find a qualified and experienced caterer who is as good in the kitchen as they are with the delivery and setup. Shop around a little; you’ll meet passionate chefs with a lot of savvy about what makes a feast stand out to create a menu that fits your celebration, whether you’re going casual in the backyard or black tie in the great hall of a mansion.

catering considerations

Local: Fresh, local, ethically sourced, and organic ingredients in all possible instances are a Hudson Valley gold standard these days. Expect no less.

Options: Same goes for accommodating vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free needs. Not everyone offers this, but many do. Also make sure that White Bread Uncle Fred will get enough to eat if you’re going with something exotic.

Unique: Think outside the box! From the appetizers to the dessert choices, you have plenty of opportunities to turn your guests on to new food experiences. Is there a special dish that the two of you discovered together or always order?

In the Know: If you have hard and fast requirements, bring them up in your first contact with a caterer so you’ll know if they belong on your “meet with and sample” list. Avoid surprises.

Mobile: Food trucks continue to get better and more diverse. Some are passion projects of top-notch chefs.

Stations: There’s a delicious freedom for your guests in dining stations that are well-appointed throughout the space and allow for a wide assortment of options and mingling at the same time.

Grazing: Grazing tables are pretty, festive, and a great way to enhance cocktail hour socializing. Antipasti, charcuterie, fruit, cheese...flexibility, abundance, and presentation are key here.

Your venue may have suggestions. If choosing your own caterer is important to you, make sure the suggestions aren’t requirements.

agnes devereux catering

Staatsburg, 845-926-6059,
agnesdevereuxcatering.com

Celebrating your wedding and the bounty of the Hudson Valley with delicious food, local and seasonal ingredients, and fifteen years of catering experience to shepherd you through the planning of a memorable day.

blue mountain bistro-to-go

Kingston, 845-340-9800, bluemountainbistro.com

The exclusive caterers of the Onteora Mountain House, Blue Mountain Bistro is committed to providing high-quality food and service both on the day of your wedding and the days leading up to it. When you choose Blue Mountain Bistro Catering for your wedding, you will be rewarded with raves from friends and family. Relax and enjoy yourselves knowing that their creative, experienced staff is handling all the details of the day.

cucina woodstock

Woodstock/Rhinebeck, 845-679-9800, cucinawoodstock.com, marketstrhinebeck.com

We will accommodate your event with every attention to detail and style. Cucina in Woodstock and Market St. Restaurant in Rhinebeck are both available for a buyout, or we can cater at any location of your choice. The Barn at Cucina is a restored 19th-century barn with original beams, long rustic harvest tables, and splashes of modern décor. The Barn is fitting for rehearsal dinners, weddings, cocktail events, and dinner parties.

david founded

Barrytown, 845-481-2050, davidfounded.com

Make your wedding weekend or special event even more memorable with our Smokin’ Revival mobile kitchen—perfect for the “morning after” breakfast or late-night munchies. Menu favorites include Bacon, Egg & Cheese Scramble, Challah French Toast Bacon Tuck, Apple Bacon Crisp with crème fraiche, Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese, and much more. Vegetarian options available. All dishes made from locally sourced farms and makers.

frida’s bakery & café

Milton, 845-795-5550, fridasbakeryny.com

Nestled in the apple orchard region of Marlboro on the Hudson River, Frida’s offers beautiful bridal showers in the loft space, as well as after-wedding breakfasts and parties. They can also provide morning-of catering delivered straight to your door, and fantastic favors to make your special day extra special. Expect quality, service, and hospitality with every event using fresh, local ingredients—helping to make your day memorable.

grounded

Kingston, 845-514-3432, groundedny.com

Grounded offers exceptional catering services for events of all sizes, specializing in wholesome food made from farm-fresh vegetables, eggs, and meats. Local farmers, fishermen, and ranchers who use the healthiest, most sustainable methods supply their ingredients. They can also assist with themes, decorations, invitations, and other event elements. They cater to all special-need palates and offer a diverse selection of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free menus.

harvest real food catering

Stone Ridge, 845-687-4492, harvestrealfoodcatering.com

A full-service catering company specializing in creating handcrafted farm fresh menus from local and sustainable sources throughout the Hudson Valley, Chef Mark is passionate about bringing the bounty of the Hudson Valley to you for your next event. Their team is ready to help you bring your Hudson Valley dream wedding to life and assist you in arranging an amazing event to remember, from beginning to perfect end.

hickory barbecue

Kingston, 845-338-2424, hickoryrestaurant.com

As a full-service caterer offering complete party planning, Hickory can provide trained servers, kitchen staff, and bartenders for a perfect wedding. From a simple backyard barbecue to a special wedding, Hickory can help with all the details. Many of their dishes are available as certified organic, grass-fed, vegetarian, and vegan—just ask. Linen and equipment rentals are available. Likewise, they can also provide floral, cake, bar, and other services.

home plate caterers

Kingston, 845-336-7384, homeplatedeli.com

Home Plate Caterers is known throughout the Hudson Valley for chef-prepared selections and service. Whether for 5 or 500, before or after event luncheons, or a delicious served wedding buffet dinner, we cater to your wishes while working within your dietary and budgetary guidelines. Let Alex assist you in lanning your creative, casual wedding menu.

lola’s café & catering

Poughkeepsie, New Paltz, 845-471-8550, lolascafeandcatering.com

Lola’s Cafe & Gourmet Catering is a high-end, boutique-style catering company offering seasonal menus, personalized event planning, line-item budgets, and experienced trustworthy staff. We craft menus that satisfy our clients’ specific needs, desires, and budgets. Please call 845-471-8550 today for more information about weddings!

main course catering

New Paltz, 845-255-2600, maincoursecatering.com

Main Course is a full-service caterer that can coordinate all wedding aspects including customized menus, décor, linens, and rentals. Under chef Bruce Kazan’s innovative leadership, a team of talented professionals creates the finest in catered events. Main Course, a leader in the sustainable food movement, uses small Hudson Valley purveyors to provide the freshest local, organic produce, free-range poultry, line-caught fish, and hormone-free meats.

mangia and enjoy!

Saugerties/Woodstock/Hudson Valley, 914-494-9951, mangiaandenjoy.com

Full-service wedding catering with integrity! Always organic, sustainable, local, farm-to-table bounty. Any and all dietary concerns honored creatively. Add our touch of culinary magic for your delectable, customized wedding feast. Your vision exceptionally realized. Allow our award-winning creativity and impeccable service to help ensure a lifetime of scrumptious memories. Main ingredient: Love! Beautiful food for beautiful people. We travel everywhere!

miss lucy’s kitchen

Saugerties, 845-246-9240, misslucyskitchen.com

Miss Lucy’s Kitchen provides an inspired seasonal menu using fresh and local ingredients. Whether you are having an elegant dinner party, country wedding, or family picnic, their professional staff can help to make your party stress-free. They will personally take care of and customize every aspect of your special event, including tents, tables, chairs, linens, glassware, plates, and more. Leave the details to them, so you can fully enjoy your party.

oriole 9

Woodstock, 845-OR9-5763, oriole9.com

Oriole 9 supports many local and organic farms in the Hudson Valley and is dedicated to serving great food with the simplest amount of fresh ingredients. Sit down with them for a consultation to create a custom, seasonal menu for your event. Their professional staff will guide you through the planning process and provide attention to detail that will make your event shine.

rhinecliff event catering

Catskills, 845-876-0590, rhevcat.com

Based out of the fashionable boutique Country Hotel, the Rhinecliff, we are premier caterers to the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. Full service, fully licensed, farm-to-table, craft beers, Maitre D’ service, all rentals included and our famous relaxed and attentive service. Full personalization, complimentary food samplings and the expert guidance of James, Lydia, Amy and Michelle.

satisfy catering

Kingston, 845-389-1017, satisfyhunger.org

The Satisfy Hunger campaign offers full-service farm-to-table catering for events of any size, style, or budget. Our seasonal menus celebrate the bounty of the region’s farmers and artisans and are custom tailored for each event. Our campaign’s mission is to eliminate hunger in our communities and the abundance of support from our clients and community supports our mission.

the neversink general store

Neversink, 845-985-2076, neversinkgeneralstore.com

From casual, country style weddings to more formal settings, The Neversink General Store can make your wedding in the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and beyond even more memorable. Your guests will love our smoked meats, modern American dishes, taco bars, or our amazing Paella cooked over open fire. We have a certified trailer kitchen that we can take anywhere, and our prices are very affordable!

wm. farmer & sons

Hudson, 518-828-1635, wmfarmerandsons.com

Wm. Farmer & Sons are many things, but, above all, they’re excellent hosts. Everything they offer is beautifully curated and creates an atmosphere of modern, upscale comfort. In the hotel or the restaurant, at their place or yours, Wm. Farmer & Sons’ dedication to the craft of entertaining makes any occasion an effortless win. Contact them today to talk about hosting or catering your next event.