477894 Wed Jan 09 21:30:28 -0800 2008 17 4 Pacific Northwest 0 3279858 I just moved here to the northwest a few weeks ago and am faced with the wonderfulness that is finding event vendors in a place where you have no previous knowledge about anything. Anyway, I am searching for a caterer for my wedding this July in Tacoma,. I attended the Seattle bridal show last weekend and so have brochures from some of the better known event vendors, 12 baskets, etc. However, in my experience, the vendors who get booths at shows like that are very established, busy, and most of all expensive. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could recommend or knows some caterers out there who make fabulous food at reasonable prices. Thanks! Wed Jan 09 21:30:28 -0800 2008 82739 Jeters 1 3280376 I know it's not specifically wedding caterers, but a bunch of links were posted by a fellow chowhound on this board: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/475522 I'm no help on this one, haven't had a professionally catered party yet here in Seattle... good luck, let us know what you find! :) Thu Jan 10 06:29:43 -0800 2008 3279858 134901 nseattlefoodie 1 3281377 My favorite caterer is Joanie's Catering. Excellent food and service at really reasonable prices. I've used them many times and haven't been disappointed. I love that they aren't afraid to use flavor or to customize their menu for your needs. They've even done a family recipe chinese soup for me before. www.joaniescatering.net. Another favorite, but definitely much more expensive, is Lisa Dupar Catering. www.lisaduparcatering.com. Again quality and service is outstanding, but you'll need a big budget to fit them in. My past experience with Twelve Baskets has been dismal. I wouldn't use them again. Thu Jan 10 10:26:13 -0800 2008 3279858 23199 ethereal 2 3282581 I'd second Joanie's Catering -- we used them for our wedding and after our tasting she modified the recipes to our liking. The food was awesome, and the setup and service they provided was great. We were very happy with them -- except! for our bartender that night. We provided a recipe for a signature drink that she apparently wasn't able to follow (not complicated, it's a mojito). Turns out the bartender "doesn't drink"; she didn't taste her own creation. I don't know if that was just that particular bartender, or what. Thu Jan 10 14:46:26 -0800 2008 3281377 130196 We Heart Food 1 3282444 I'd highly recommend Herban Feast. I thought they were reasonable for the food and service provided, though "reasonable" is pretty subjective (maybe post a price range?). They are busy-I know by this time last year they were pretty much booked for the year. Thu Jan 10 14:16:19 -0800 2008 3279858 12186 christy319 2 3282667 We went to a tasting they did, as we were considering them for a wedding. We ended up deciding to cater it ourselves (we being the bridesmaids) but Herban Feasts tasting was absolutely inedible. Apps were decent, entrees were AWFUL. We also went to Ravishing Radish tasting, that was much better...would have considered it. Thu Jan 10 15:04:03 -0800 2008 3282444 66403 dagoose 3 3283278 I had the opposite experience! Herban Feast was great (everyone loved the main course of wild king salmon with huckleberry sauce) but the Ravishing Radish tasting was just lame. They might do a better job if you actually hire them-someone had recommended them to me-but the tasting was dry, bland chicken skewers, ordinary hummus and pita, green salad, and olives. ??? Thu Jan 10 18:03:34 -0800 2008 3282667 12186 christy319 3 3287851 YOU MUST GIVE HERBAN FEAST A TRY. DO A SEARCH FOR MORE POSTS ON THEM.THEY CATERED MY WEDDING AND TO THIS DAY I HAVE PEOPLE COMMENT ON THE FOOD OR ASK FOR THE NAME OF MY CATERER. ENTREE ITEMS PREPARED FRESH ON SITE, FANTASTIC APPETIZERS, AND WONDERFUL SALADS. THE MINI CRAB CAKES ARE LIKE A DRUG YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN. ONLY ISSUE MIGHT BE DISTANCE-YOU'D HAVE TO ASK. YOU CAN THANK ME LATER. Sat Jan 12 07:02:11 -0800 2008 3282667 16315 bighound 3 3295831 I have a daughter with a wedding a year from now and she is considering Ravishing Radish at their location on Lake Union. I would appreciate any further thoughts or experiences anyone has had with them as we are from out of state and she has only lived in Seattle less than a couple of years. Thanks. Mon Jan 14 19:30:49 -0800 2008 3282667 20487 DrWine 1 3283169 I was delighted with Joan Dahlbeck of Magnolia's Catering 206 992 9343 for an event I held last year with ~50 people. It was small plates and appetizers rather than a sit down dinner. Prices were reasonable for the quality of the food although not inexpensive. Thu Jan 10 17:28:25 -0800 2008 3279858 156436 mikemc 1 3287635 You might want to check out Starry Nights Catering in Kirkland. Matt is awesome, professional, and great to work with. And Dan, his cake man, makes the best wedding cakes, so lovely, so good. Sat Jan 12 01:16:59 -0800 2008 3279858 19340 pablissima 1 3290793 Thanks guys! We decided to do a small plates/appetizer style thing instead of a sit down dinner, I don't know if that will make the difference for any of these places. Cost wise, I have to pull off a second reception about two weeks later so I would like to keep things as reasonable as possible withouth sacrificing quality. Sun Jan 13 10:39:42 -0800 2008 3279858 82739 Jeters 2 3297854 Out of all the recommendations, I have only eaten food by Lisa Dupar, but it was exceptional. if you are considering small plates, be sure to talk to them about wait staff. The key to success w/ small plates is to ensure that the dirty dishes disappear. We have been to weddings where the food is great, but all the tables are covered with half eaten plates - not pretty. For my wedding, (ages ago) we did "stations". small plates werent' as hip as they are now, but what worked about htis concept was that people moved around the space to try the different types of food, such as a raw bar, a pasta station, a grill, etc. so it enhanced the social asppect - way more mingling than sitting with the same 8 peopel all night - and made the small plate concept work. if you have all the food togehter, people don't feel they can get enough food on their plates, or feel weird retunring, etc. it depends on your space and caterer, of course, but it was great for us. just my 2 cents. Tue Jan 15 11:33:46 -0800 2008 3290793 129814 bluedog67 1 3297893 PS to below, I would welcome wedding cake suggestions! Tue Jan 15 11:42:50 -0800 2008 3279858 20487 DrWine 2 3298115 Hey DrWine, Me and my future to be have been on the same search and finally nailed down a cake person: Sharon's Cakes. Her applesauce spice cake and white cake are the best I've ever had. Tue Jan 15 12:37:05 -0800 2008 3297893 44426 whaaaapsh 2 3300528 DrWine- I know it was a thread for birthday cakes, but check out this link for more opinions on cakes here in Seattle :) good luck and let us know what you find! http://www.chowhound.com/topics/366158 Wed Jan 16 07:09:41 -0800 2008 3297893 134901 nseattlefoodie 2 3302766 We went to the Seattle bridal show and ate way too much cake....of those, Creative Cakes, Mikes amazing cakes and Morfey's all had great tasting cake in addition to beautiful looking design. Wed Jan 16 16:20:49 -0800 2008 3297893 82739 Jeters 1 3302855 I strongly urge you to check out www.agrandaffaire.com These caterers are actually based in Tacoma and will customize menus. They even have a few free tastings for people to "sample the goods" before deciding. Wed Jan 16 16:43:23 -0800 2008 3279858 104631 wino22