76783 Sat Dec 24 16:10:53 -0800 2005 0 2 Los Angeles Area 0 423163 Most of the time your recommendations are right on, but we were rather disappointed in the food Rick prepared for my husband's office Xmas party, as it had been so hyped. I'd say it was good but not great, and for what we paid (over $1,000 for food only for 40 people, no dessert, drop off, not fully catered) I think by the time we rented all the tents, tables, chafing dishes, linens, etc., and even though we received a 70% discount from the party rental service because we had a connection, it cost about $600 more than a fully catered higher-end affair last year by David Slatkin. We ordered the BBQ chicken, baby back ribs and tri tip, potato salad, green salad, baked beans and grilled veggies, that's it. I supplied everything else. The tri tip was tough, the chicken, while tasty, was cut up with very sharp bone fragments protruding that I almost swallowed, and there were children present. The ribs were pretty good, but the whole thing was a hassle for my poor server to have to carve as Rick didn't want to pre-cut the ribs and tri tip for fear of it drying out. In fairness, I'm sure the whole experience would have been better if he had been cooking on-sight, and staffing the event himself, but he was booked that night. Sat Dec 24 16:10:53 -0800 2005 0 Di4cats