Help - BBQ Catering?

[Naama]

Ok Chowhounders - I need your help.

I want bbq at my wedding (May 2008). Because it's messy, because it's fun, and because it's delicious. And because it means that I can have frilly monogrammed bbq bibs (the only frilly monogrammed things allowed at the wedding).

And while I have scoured the chowhound boards for all of your fantastic recommendations for sit-down and take out bbq, and orchestrated some pretty entertaining and gut-splitting bbq tastings with my friends and family, I'm curious if any of you have any experience with getting any of the bbq places in LA to CATER?

I'm willing to accept any level of service, including but not limited to:

1. Grill on site: I'm actually less inclined to go this route as we're getting married at a historic site and I'm paranoid about the place going up in smoke. Also, my stomach will growl through the entire ceremony if I catch even one whiff of smoke or sauce - which, while I am not a traditional bride by any means, is probably not appropriate.

2. Full service: Place delivers, sets up, and serves the food (buffet style, but buffet-with-server style). Please let me know if any places were particularly lovely and friendly if/when they offered this!

3. Delivery only: I'll have to hire servers and rent a hot box and chafing dishes, but it'll be worth it because the food will be hot, delicious and ON TIME.

Specifically, has anyone had any experience with Phillip's (the Crenshaw/Adams location) doing catering? The food is delicious but I'm just concerned about the scale of my order and whether they'd really be able to accommodate (they seem so busy).

You guys rule, thanks in advance.

[woofer]

we recently had a party and catered from baby blues bbq in venice. i know they cater but no sure if they do plates and silverware, etc. the food is awesome and so are their sides. danny, one of the owners is a really nice guy.

[rantsnravesnreviews]

Canyon City BBQ in Azusa will cater and deliver right on time!. I have used them for various occasions including a 40th birthday. They are delicious!

[schrutefarms]

This is probably so late, but I'm pretty sure Wood Fire (?) Ranch in the Farmers Market meets all the criteria. BTW, what a fun wedding.

[mstinawu]

I absolutely love the BBQ from the BBQ stand at the Torrance Farmer's Market (they're normally there on Saturdays)! Their SMOKED items are just excellent--I think I just drooled a little bit.. They somehow managed to make a smoked turkey leg wonderfully succulent.

Smokin Joe's BBQ & Catering
Joe Gernentz
310.761.3439

[foodreddy]

So, Naama --

I know it's been a while, but who did you use to cater your wedding, and did you like them? I'm looking to do the same thing for my own wedding!

[420 Reasons to eat]

Could you also include a picture or two. I'm trying to persuade my other half that this would be a good idea. My only request is good food, and I love good BBQ.

Foodreddy,
In sept. the Santa Monica Pier is having a small BBQ Festival.
http://www.labbqfest.com/

[foodreddy]

Thanks for the tip! There seems to be a few people on the boards looking for a BBQ caterer for their wedding, so I'm sure we can all help each other out! I'll probably start a new topic for us soon.

[Naama]

Thank you so much everyone! I've definitely got a list to dig through now - knew I could count on the Chowhounders!

[jduffy]

I would consider Kansas City BBQ on Lankershim near Universal. I work at Universal and have been eating at this BBQ place for awhile and it's very good. I don't know if they cater or not but it might be worth a shot. The owner is very knowledgeable about what real BBQ is having lived in KC. Oh, and their beans are out of this world.

[Hughlipton]

I would check with Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks to see if they cater their great food. My second choice might be Mr. Cecil's and my tie for second would be Uncle Andre's BBQ on Moorpark and Colfax and I do know they cater a lot for the movie industry located in North Hollywood.

[carter]

Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, hands down, does a superb job with on-site catering, as many of the studios have had functions, weddings, etc. catered by Aaron and his gang, where they bring everything, including servers.
www.boneyardbistro.com for the menu, but call to discuss specifics asap as schedules do fill up fast at that time of year. 818.906.7427

[RSMBob]

I forgot to add...

A bride who wants delicious, messy, BBQ at her own wedding?

I sense a VERY hapy man out there and a long, happy marriage.

Congrats in advance.

[Naama]

Aw, thanks!

[Hackenbush]

My favorite BBQ place, Porky's, does a lot of catering. In fact, they were originally a catering service only and then they began opening retail outlets.

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Porky's BBQ
801 E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301

[BBQ101]

I would look at the California Barbeque Association Website for a good Catering Co. They have some top notch Teams that do catering. You can't go wrong with someone who has won national awards as many of the teams have...www.cbbqa.com

[Burger Boy]

When you say retail outlets, is there more than the one on Manchester?

[nosh]

The last couple of times I was in Porky's, there was a note to look for their new branch. Unfortunately, not only do I not know the exact location (I remember somewhere further south, maybe Long Beach or Torrance) but I don't know if they've opened yet.

[monku]

Close to your location you might want to check out:

Original Texas BBQ King www.texasbbqking.com

Spring Street Smokehouse www.sssmokehouse.com

Might want to check out Jake's Roadhouse in Monrovia, I noticed they had a huge portable BBQ rig out back in the parking lot that might fulfill all your wishes.
Jake's Roadhouse
622 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia, CA
[phone]

[davez]

you can try Joey's BBQ in chino. the have a catering vehicle with a bar b que . they are also one of the best bbq's around. i know they will go a long ways.

[Burger Boy]

Call J & J Burger Shack & BBQ, see if they can hook you up!

-----
JNJ Burger Shack
5754 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

[Jack Flash]

I know that Robin's in Pasadena does catering. You might check with them. Their stuff is pretty good.

http://www.robinsbbq.com/

[ns1]

Tulsa Rib Company in Orange, CA

Went there this weekend, AWESOME babyback ribs. I couldn't lift up ANY of the BBR's because the meat just fell off the bone.

They had 2 bigass catering trucks parked outside.

[RSMBob]

Tulsa Rib Company does some pretty serious catering biz and would be great for this. Another place that is excellent and does on-site cooking is Buckboard BBQ based in Upland. They specialize in Santa Maria style BBQ (tri-tip and more).

[WildSwede]

I LOVE Heritage Square! Congratulations.
Not my experience directly, but I went to a wedding that had a BBQ meal and it was delicious. They did have the grill and it was buffet style. We had tri-tip, chicken and ribs and they were all really very good. And the father of the bride told me (when I told him how good the food was) that they were really easy to work with and that he decided if he was footing the bill for a wedding, it was going to be none of that regular chicken with sauce crap for him! ;-)
They used the Thousand Oaks Meat Locker. See link: http://www.webbq4u.com/cater.htm

[ozhead]

The Rib Ranch BBQ, on Topanga Cyn. Blvd. in Woodland Hills, caters. I recently attended a party that they catered under what you characterize as the "full service" method, serving chicken, tri-tip, beans, salad, bread, etc., and it was quite good. I've also eaten at their restaurant, and have been favorably impressed. I don't know their geographical range for catering, but hey -- give them a call at [phone] and find out.

And by the way: Mazel tov!!

[Professor Salt]

Many places will do off premises catering, but some may want to keep the travel time reasonably convenient. Have you picked a site for this party yet?

[Naama]

Yup - we'll be at Heritage Square Museum, in Highland Park.

[Professor Salt]

There are many fans on this board of the Santa Maria tri tip that's grilled in front of several How's Markets. Your location isn't that far from either the Glendale or Pasadena stores.

I don't know if they do catering for private events, but it might be worth a call.