Catering questions, answered

We cater events in Santa Cruz and surrounding communities, subject to the date, exact address, order size, and service requirements. We also receive inquiries for Watsonville Catering, Scotts Valley Catering, UC Santa Cruz catering, and select events farther north, including Los Altos. Submit the complete venue or office address so we can confirm delivery, staffing, parking, and access.

Our team caters office breakfasts, university and nonprofit functions, company lunches, birthdays, showers, memorials, holiday gatherings, weddings, and formal dinners. Service can range from hot or chilled platters delivered ready to serve to a staffed event with rentals, florals, beverage service, and cleanup of the contracted catering areas.

Most drop-off orders require at least 72 hours of notice. Full-service events may be accepted with a minimum of 10 days, although two to four weeks is recommended for stronger access to preferred times, staff, rentals, and florals. Weekends and the months of June, November, and December tend to book first.

Yes. Many menu selections are available for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free guests. Dietary designations appear on applicable items and should be confirmed on the final order. For allergies, provide the specific allergen and number of affected guests so we can review suitable options and preparation limitations.

With drop-off catering, we deliver prepared platters ready to serve, and the client manages the meal and cleanup. Full-service catering adds an on-site team for setup, professional presentation, replenishment, guest assistance, and breakdown of the catering areas. Depending on the package, full service may also include serveware, dinnerware, linens, rentals, florals, and beverage support.

Browse the menu, select the dishes and tray sizes you need, add them to your cart, and complete checkout with the event and delivery information. Request a custom proposal instead when you need help estimating quantities, coordinating several meal periods, or planning around complicated venue access.

Most drop-off catering orders require a $500 food minimum. Boxed meals use a different ordering structure and generally require at least 25 boxes per selected meal or menu. Staffing, rentals, multiple delivery addresses, and other event services may have separate requirements or charges.

Most tray orders must be booked at least 72 hours before delivery. That is the minimum notice rather than a guarantee that every date and arrival time will remain open. Earlier ordering is recommended for Watsonville business lunches, Scotts Valley meetings, UC Santa Cruz events, weekends, graduations, and holiday periods.

Yes. You may combine breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner, desserts, and beverages in the same order. This is useful for all-day meetings, open houses, retreats, and celebrations with more than one food-service period. Dietary labels on applicable items can help you create a more varied spread.

The displayed price covers the selected food and stated quantity. Delivery, staffing, rentals, service-related charges, and optional additions are calculated separately. Review the cart or proposal to confirm whether disposable place settings, serving utensils, chafing equipment, beverages, or other supplies are included.

The right format depends on the venue, timeline, budget, and atmosphere you want. A staffed buffet offers flexibility, family-style service creates a communal seated meal, and plated service delivers the most structured experience. We can help compare the staffing, dinnerware, rentals, and room flow needed for each option.

A wedding proposal may include menu planning, setup, professional service staff, buffet, plated, or family-style dinner service, and cleanup of the catering areas. Couples may also add passed appetizers, stations, coffee and tea, cakes, bartenders, tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, florals, and coordinated tablescapes.

Yes. Mobile tastings are complimentary for confirmed wedding bookings and may also be purchased before signing a contract. If you later book with Santa Cruz Catering Company, the tasting charge can be removed from the final bill. Tastings are most useful after you have narrowed the menu to a focused selection.

Wedding catering packages generally range from about $55 to $120 per guest, depending on the menu, service format, and staffing level. Buffets are usually more economical than detailed plated dinners. Premium entrees, appetizers, beverages, cakes, rentals, florals, bartenders, and difficult venue logistics can increase the final investment.

We offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free selections and can label applicable buffet dishes. Plated receptions may require final dietary counts and a visible meal-identification method. Provide specific allergens and the number of affected guests early because food may be prepared in facilities that also handle common allergens.

Yes. We can coordinate meal timing, loading access, staging space, floor plans, rental responsibilities, and breakdown requirements with your planner, venue manager, and relevant vendors. Coastal properties, redwood settings, private homes, and campus venues may have parking, weather, power, or access limitations that should be included in the service plan.

Booking at least four to six weeks ahead is recommended, although popular wedding dates may be reserved months earlier. Orders totaling more than $3,000 require a 50% deposit. The signed catering agreement and required deposit secure the date according to the proposal, and the remaining balance is due 10 days before the wedding.

Yes. Bartenders and expert bartenders are available for hire. Santa Cruz Catering Company does not sell or furnish alcohol, so the couple or venue must purchase and provide it. The proposal should clarify responsibility for mixers, ice, glassware, refrigeration, and other bar supplies.

Full-service catering includes setup, professional servers, buffet, family-style, or plated service, food replenishment, and breakdown and cleanup of the contracted catering areas. Optional additions may include coffee and tea service, passed appetizers, beverage stations, bartenders, tables, chairs, linens, florals, and tablescape design.

Staffing is based on attendance, meal style, venue layout, access, and timeline. Buffets generally use about one server for every 25 guests, while plated dinners typically require one server for every 15 to 20 guests. Events with 50 or more guests commonly include a captain to supervise service and timing.

No. Gratuity is optional and is not automatically included. Any gratuity provided is distributed among the team members who contribute to the event, including cooks, drivers, servers, bartenders, customer-service staff, and rental staff. Service-related charges shown on a proposal are separate from voluntary gratuity.

Inclusions vary by package. Many full-service packages include ceramic plates, traditional utensils, glassware, and linens, while budget-conscious options may use elegant disposable plates, utensils, and cups. Review the selected package and add reusable china, glassware, linens, or upgraded tabletop rentals when they are not already included.

Booking three to four weeks ahead is recommended for the best availability. Full-service orders may sometimes be accepted as late as 10 days before the event, depending on the menu, staff, rentals, and complexity. Weekends and the months of June, November, and December are especially busy.

Most full-service catering packages require at least 25 guests. For a smaller event, drop-off catering with an attendant may provide the setup, buffet monitoring, or cleanup support you need without requiring a complete formal service package.

Yes. Food is prepared before arrival, so an on-site commercial kitchen is not required for most events. We may still need a suitable staging area for organizing food and equipment away from guests. Access to water, electricity, refrigeration, shade, or a protected workspace may be helpful depending on the menu and venue conditions.

Service is available in Santa Cruz and surrounding communities, subject to the exact address, date, and event requirements. We also receive requests for Watsonville Catering, Scotts Valley Catering, UC Santa Cruz catering, and select Los Altos events. Submit the complete address so we can confirm travel, staffing, parking, and venue access.

Boxed-meal orders require a minimum of 25 boxes per selected meal. Classic and artisan boxed lunches may allow eligible sandwiches and wraps to be mixed within the order. Breakfast and dinner boxes generally require at least 25 of the same selected box.

Every meal is sealed and individually packaged with the appropriate utensils and a napkin. This format makes distribution simple for offices, conferences, campus programs, outdoor gatherings, field teams, and groups whose guests need to eat at different times.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free boxes can be labeled upon request. Provide the exact quantity needed for each category. For severe allergies, identify the specific allergen so the team can review available options and explain preparation limitations.

Cold boxes should generally be served within two hours when held at room temperature. Hot boxes arrive in insulated carriers and should generally be served within one hour. Schedule delivery close to the meal period, or arrange suitable refrigeration when cold meals will be stored before distribution.

Most boxed-meal orders require at least 72 hours of notice. Larger quantities, multiple addresses, detailed labeling, or numerous dietary variations may require five or more days. Earlier booking is recommended for large company trainings, university programs, and recurring workplace orders.

Yes, provided each delivery address meets the $500 minimum order. Additional delivery charges may apply for multiple locations. Submit the quantity, arrival time, receiving contact, access instructions, and labeling requirements for each Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, or campus destination.

Cold breakfast and lunch boxes start around $18.75 per person. Hot lunch boxes begin at approximately $30 per person, and hot dinner boxes start around $40 per person. Final pricing depends on the selected menu, premium items, dietary modifications, beverages, desserts, and delivery details.

Yes. Weekly and monthly corporate schedules may receive a dedicated coordinator and locked pricing. Recurring service works well for team lunches, trainings, executive meetings, rotating shifts, and campus programs. Menu rotation, dietary quantities, delivery times, and change deadlines can be established when the program is created.

November and December dates fill quickly, so booking three to five weeks ahead is recommended for likely availability. Popular weekday lunch periods and Thursday-through-Saturday celebrations may fill earlier, especially for staffed events or orders requiring rentals and florals.

Yes. Santa Cruz Catering Company can provide staffed buffets, family-style meals, and plated dinners for groups of approximately 25 to more than 400 guests. Proposals may also include appetizers, beverages, bartenders, rentals, florals, and cleanup of the contracted catering areas.

Yes. Holiday entrees, sides, salads, breads, and desserts may be ordered a la carte for smaller offices, departments, and family celebrations. The food arrives ready to serve, while the client manages distribution and cleanup unless attendants or equipment are added.

A limited number of events are accepted on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve, and holiday surcharges apply. The company is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Limited holiday time slots should be reserved well in advance.

Yes. Holiday events may incorporate tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, buffet equipment, centerpieces, floral arrangements, and coordinated tablescapes. These services can be combined for Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and UC Santa Cruz celebrations, subject to availability and venue access.

Holiday orders cancelled at least 72 hours before the event are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. Confirmed orders cancelled with less than 72 hours of notice are subject to a 100% cancellation fee because food, staffing, rentals, and other resources may already have been committed.

Options include bud-vase groupings, centerpieces, statement arrangements, floral meadows, arches, mantle installations, custom bloom bars, flower-crown bars, balloon arches, and complete tablescape design coordinated with linens, china, glassware, and other event details.

Yes. You may browse the published offerings or request a custom consultation and proposal. A custom plan can communicate the intended color palette, design style, representative flowers, recommended pieces, and pricing before the floral order is finalized.

Current starting prices include bud-vase clusters from $95 for three, lush centerpieces around $195 to $350 per table, statement arrangements from $350 to $600, the signature tabletop broken-arch set from $800, meadows from $400 to $600, installations from about $1,350 to $8,500, mantle designs from about $750 to $2,000, and custom bloom bars from $48 per guest. Custom work is priced by scope.

Yes. Share preferred flowers, color palettes, inspiration images, and any varieties you do not want. Exact stems cannot always be guaranteed because availability changes with season and wholesale supply. When substitutions are needed, comparable flowers are selected for color, form, texture, and overall effect.

Booking three to four weeks ahead is recommended for stronger sourcing and design flexibility. Some orders may be accepted with approximately 10 days of notice, depending on the event date, scale, installation requirements, staffing, and flower availability.

Setup is included so arrangements are placed before guests arrive. Breakdown and disposal can be added when you want the team to return for arches, meadows, mantle pieces, rental vessels, mechanics, and floral waste after the event.

Yes. Fresh flowers may be kept upon request, and guests are welcome to take arrangements or individual stems. Some vessels, stands, structures, or installation mechanics may be rentals and must remain on-site for collection, so those details will be clarified before the event.

Available categories include Chiavari and resin chairs, guest tables with standard linens, cocktail and buffet tables, glassware, china, flatware, chafing dishes, and selected floral or tablescape additions. Inventory and quantities are subject to availability for the event date.

On-site attendants are required for setup, safe handling, breakdown, and preparation for pickup. This protects the equipment and prevents the client or venue from being responsible for moving and managing commercial tables, chairs, china, glassware, or serving pieces.

There is no strict minimum for the rental items themselves, but on-site staffing is required for every rental order. Because staffing affects the total cost, many clients combine rentals with catering, florals, or another full-service package.

Yes. Each guest table booked through us includes one standard linen. A broad range of colors is available, while specialty fabrics, additional layers, runners, or upgraded styles may involve separate pricing when available.

Normal wear from appropriate event use is covered. Significant damage, breakage, loss, or items unavailable for collection are billed at replacement cost. The client remains responsible for the rental inventory during the event.

Delivery generally occurs on the event date, approximately two to four hours before the scheduled start. Pickup may take place later that evening or the following morning, depending on the timeline, venue access, staffing, and whether the property permits items to remain overnight.

Provide information about loading zones, parking restrictions, security desks, stairs, elevators, trails or long walking distances, uneven ground, wind exposure, and firm setup or exit deadlines. These details may affect staffing, equipment movement, delivery timing, and additional labor.

Yes. Once you approve your quote we send a catering agreement to sign. Orders over $3,000 also require a 50% deposit to reserve the date.

Yes — guest counts and menu changes are welcome up to 10 days before your event. After that we may not be able to adjust quantities.

Our commercial kitchen and primary operations are based in Pleasanton, California. We are a service-area catering company serving events throughout the Bay Area, including Santa Cruz and nearby communities. Our team delivers and provides full-service catering directly at offices, homes, wedding venues, and other event locations.