wedding 2023 | CRAFTING YOUR CULINARY VISION

Tips to Pick a Wedding Caterer

by Anne Pyburn Craig

date posted: March 16, 2023

Catering by Chef Deanna Inc. Wedding & Event Catering. Photo by Rosey Red Photography.

Choosing a caterer is one of your most important wedding decisions. You want everything to be delicious and beautifully presented, from appetizers to irresistible desserts. You want smooth, impeccable service. Beyond that, you want someone whose talents are a good fit with your culinary vision.

Top: Catered by Jessie’s Harvest House. Bottom Left: Catered by Blue Mountain Bistro to Go. Bottom Right: Catered by Chef Zach Berger.

here are some tips for finding that gem:

Start looking early. This will give you the widest possible range of choices and plenty of time to research photos and reviews on social media.
Find out if any of your favorite restaurants do catering.
If you’ve chosen your venue or planner, ask for suggestions. These pros know who can deliver the best.
Knowing your budget and your vision will help you find the caterers who can bring them together.

Top Left: Catering by Angela’s Pizza. Bottom Left: Catering by Main Course Events. Photo by Caroline Roe. Center: Catering by Cucina Woodstock. Top Right: Catering by Lola’s Weddings & Events. Photo by Alicia Daw Photography. Bottom Right: Catering by Mangia & Enjoy.

Top Left: Catering by Oyster Party. Bottom Left: Catering by Sonder Restaurant. Center: Catering by Chef Zach Berger. Right: Catering by Main Course. Photo by Monika Eisenbart Photography.

Catering by Chef Deanna Inc. Wedding & Event Catering. Photo by Rosey Red Photography.

once you have a few possibilities in mind, here are some questions to guide your interview:

How many weddings have you done, and do you have photos? References?
Have you ever worked at our venue? If not, will you be visiting to make sure your setup will work there?
Do we need to provide tableware and glassware, or do you handle those?
How flexible is your menu? Can you do kids’ meals and accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions?
Where do you source your ingredients?
What levels of service do you offer? Buffet, family style, full dinner service?
Who will be there on the day, and what services will they provide, such as setting tables, passing hors d’oeuvres, cake cutting or bartending? How many servers per guest?
When do you need final menu choices? Final headcount?

If everything sounds delicious, make sure the details make sense. Ask to see the standard contract. Payment schedules and cancellation policies should be spelled out. Make sure that the caterer has the licensing and insurance they need.

Angela’s Pizza Restaurant & Catering

Lake Katrine, 845-382-2211, angelaspizzarestaurant.com/catering

Angela’s Pizza Restaurant in Lake Katrine has been family-owned for more than 35 years. As the go-to place for great pizza, salads, wraps, and Italian specialties, we’re ready to serve. Let us bring our awesomeness to your next event

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.

Chef Deanna Inc. Wedding & Event Catering

Catskills & the Berkshires, ChefDeanna.com

Our exceptional staff goes beyond what is expected to make your day the best day! We serve our food on cast-iron and vintage silver platters and vintage plates, so at no point during your event you feel you are in an industrial production line. Our goal is to create a wildly beautiful and delicious experience that blends with the nature around us. Our ingredients are made by folks and farmers who love what they do, and I am convinced that matters.

Chef Zach Berger

chefzachberger@gmail.com Instagram: @food_master_flex

With passion for food and travel, Zach brings flavors from regions all over the world while keeping his roots in the Hudson Valley very dear to him—using all of the fresh, local ingredients and flavors that our region has to offer. Zach has created relationships with local farms and local makers to truly give you a culinary experience from the heart and home. Email for more info about private dinners, events, pop-ups, or any other questions.

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.

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.

Jessie’s Harvest House

Tannersville, 518-589-5445, jessiesharvesthouse.com

Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant and Lodge is a warm and cozy place to gather, featuring a delicious menu full of locally sourced ingredients, a friendly tavern, and rustic country lodging. Located just outside of Tannersville’s main strip, the dining room is spread out over the ground floor of a charming home with a menu full of small and large plates that offer a great modern twist to classic American dishes.

lola’s weddings & events

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

Lola’s Weddings & Events 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. Voted best caterer of the Hudson Valley in 2021 & 2022.

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!.

oyster party

New York, 646-468-4545, oysterpartybk.com

At Oyster Party, we are experts in curating personalized raw bars for our clients. With over 10 years of experience, we are confident that we can work with you to create a raw bar experience that you and your guests will be talking about for years to come. Completely self-sufficient in setup and service, we are an easy add-on to any wedding!

sonder restaurant

Kingston, sonderkingston.com

We have a really beautiful space, a great backyard, and an amazing team. Our team is skilled and ready to cater your next event, host your next party, and so much more. Email us at naturalwine@sonderkingston.com for packages and more information.

the little mobile kitchen by david founded

Barrytown, 845-481-2050, davidfounded.com

Make your upstate weekend even more memorable with local foods prepared from The Little Mobile Kitchen. Perfect for your arrival party, “morning after” breakfast, or after-party munchies. Menu highlights include challah French toast, bacon egg and cheese sammies, lamb balls with raisin pesto, smoked eggplant dip, pepper jelly lamb sliders, and harissa dressed farro salad. All dishes are made from locally sourced farms and makers.

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 15 years of catering experience to shepherd you through the planning of a memorable day.

seasoned delicious

Lake Katrine, 845-802-3317, seasoneddeliciousfoods.com

Flavor is our expertise! Homestyle catering with a Caribbean flair for all your Hudson Valley catering needs. Let our chefs help you come up with the perfect menu to satisfy your guests. Also see our work at seasonedgives.org, where we are creating lasting solutions to poverty hunger and social injustice through education, ownership, and self-sufficiency.