About
If you want a caterer who is not "off-the-shelf" ordinary and has a vast variety of full-service menu selections, you've come to the right place! We are highly experienced, full-service caterers who assist our clients, both private and corporate, with menu creation, party planning, and any rentals needed. Whatever event, large or small, you have in mind, we're there to realize your vision! Our expertise as on-site personal chefs at private dinner parties is exemplary. Our brides and grooms love our personalized approach to planning their perfect day! We pride ourselves on our highly individualized approach to menu creation to ensure the perfect event while honoring your budget! Warm regards, Marylyn B. Schwartz Chef/Owner
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Pam G.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Personalized consultation is the key to a perfect event. By chatting with my prospects and asking some key questions, together we are able to hone in on the perfect mix of wants and needs and develop the right budget parameters. As catering pros, there are times we suggest options to our clients that they would not have thought of themselves often resulting in the saving of time and money! While we all love social media and e-mail, neither are the right way to plan a perfect event!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
That is a tough question as there were too many cooking classes and advance training sessions over 30 years to actually count. Our Chefs, Bartenders and other Staff are highly experienced. I spent many years as a teacher then a VP in a Fortune 500 company. It is the combination of exemplary cooking and planning coupled with savvy business prowess that built this business into a thriving success. We are the pros ready to assist you at every turn!!!
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
Price is determined by a whole cadry of factors. When catering, clients depend upon the caterer for many varied services. While we try to honor our client's budgets, our consultitive process determins what facets of the event we'll assit with and that will drive the total budget.
Services Offered:
On-site Professional chefs
- All Rental Needs, inc. Tents
- Upscale Disposables (a very viable option to rented dishes!)
- Children’s Games/Play Equipment/Candy Station
- Bartending/Alcohol Purchase
- Valet
- Raw Seafood Bar and/or Clambake
- Wholly Vegan and/or Vegetarian Events
- Wedding Planning
- Flowers
- In other words, if you can imagine it, we will be your one-stop shop to make it happen!
How did you get started in this business?
After many re-incarnations of careers and proud successes along the way, there came one of those life-changing birthdays. The kind where everyone tells you how great you look while inquiring when you're planning to retire. While retirement never entered my mind, a change in direction and the proverbial reinvention theme were definitely in consideration as this birthday aligned with far more serious life changes. While there are many reasons for redirecting one's career and life choices, the most prevalent and important for me was the loss of my son in 2008. If there was ever a time to find a "new-normal" and search out stimulating challenges to help bring joy back into my life, this was that time. But what else could I do with my corporate executive, teacher and professional speaker background? Nothing I thought of seemed to light the fire needed to lead me in the right direction. Then it came to me. Why not do what everyone tells you you're great at doing and the thing you enjoy the most? For me, that is cooking! I'd been an at-home chef for decades. Cooking was the one thing that got me through the darkest of times. There was the cooking for friends' gatherings, having dinner party after dinner party, catering a friend of a friend's cocktail hour, catering events for my charities, etc. There were many such happenings over the years and especially during 2008-2009. Every event or at-home party were met with rave reviews. Again and again I was told, "You do this so well. Your food is amazing. I wish I could put together a party as beautifully as you do. You should do this for a living, etc. When the world continually sends you the same message, one ought to be there to receive it, and this was the perfect time in my life to answer the call! Juste Hors D'Oeuvres was born of my love for cooking and the desire to share the joy it brings to me with others!
What types of customers have you worked with?
As many types of people there are, that represents our very eclectic client base! We love so many cuisines and adore getting requests for unique options!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
The most enjoyable part of my business is seeing the vision or my clients come to fruition. Working in tandem with each of them and slowly but surely framing the parameters, menu, etc. of their event is a labor of love...not to mention a great deal of FUN!
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
The best advice I can give is to be realistic with your budget. I see many leads coming through wanting to spend no more than $20-25 per person. However, when I see what is wanted, the budget and the wants are totally out of alignment. Think of it this way, you can't buy a a roast beef sandwich, Coke and bag of chips anywhere for less than $10... not possible to have a meal with appetizers for so little... A typical corporate luncheon is $25 per per person. Having your budget firmly in mind is step #1 hen planning any event!
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
1. What are the kitchen facilities like? Menu depends on what can and cannot be prepared without the proper facilities! 2. Estimated number of guests? 3. Time of the event? 4. Food restrictions? 5. Realistic Budget 6. What are you wants vs. must haves? 7. What rentals will be required? 8. Are you willing to use beautiful upscale disposables rather than rent all the dishes? This is a great way to save.