Storybook Wedding

Chapter Nine: Encounters with Caterers

[She Writes]

Priorities.  These vary among couples.  A good number are willing to shell out a significant amount for fabulous photos.  Some would rather spend more on the honeymoon than the wedding.  Still others would never let music fade into the background.  But if there is one element that I daresay is a priority for ALL couples, it’s the FOOD.

People may not notice the intricate beading on the bride’s gown, or the variety of flowers the couple painstakingly selected with the florist, or the reception design and set-up that took the stylist months of planning and research.  But they will definitely have something to say about the food.  If they were delectably satisfied, they will be raving about it for months.  Otherwise, the untouched food on their plates and the way they subtly left the reception much too early will silently yell out the discontentment of the guests.  Feed the guests well and they will stay on until the wee hours of the morning if need be.

So we knew the selection process for the caterers required more time.  And with over a year and a half left for planning, we definitely had plenty of that.

Juan Carlo the Caterer | 78 C. Cenacle Drive, Sanville Subdivision, Quezon City | 632.929.3674 | http://www.juancarlothecaterer.com

As major sponsors of the Wedding Expo Philippines 12th Edition, three catering companies lorded over a quarter part of the massive venue for free food tasting.  They showcased not only their appetizers, entrees, and desserts, but their styling prowess as well, with their elaborate set-up and beautiful blooms.  One of these caterers were Juan Carlo the Caterer.

Along with my fiance’s mother and little sister, we took to their buffet table mid-afternoon for a late-lunch-slash-snack.  Because we had lunch before heading to the Expo, we weren’t exactly very hungry, but the food seemed to whet our appetites.  Almost everything was delicious, from the entrees to the desserts, even down to their fragrant water, which had a hint of pandan.  My fiance’s younger sister took seconds of several dishes.  My fiance’s mom, who was a cook herself, was quite satisfied as well.

The set-up was pretty, and the flowers they used were very elegant.

Their service was impeccable and efficient, with a friendly and polite crew.  Mark Abrea, who I met at a bridal fair in Megamall, took care of us, making sure that we were sufficiently attended to.

Josiah’s Catering | www.josiahcatering.com | http://josiahcatering.multiply.com

My parents got Josiah’s Catering for my 18th Birthday Celebration.  The food was fabuluous, including the wide selection of desserts and the entire section for Japanese food such as Makis, Sushis and Sashimis.

A lot can definitely change in six years.

We sampled the food of Josiah’s during the Wedding Expo Philippines 12th Edition.   We were actually pretty hungry when we got to their area.  After hours of roaming the stalls in the Expo, we seized the opportunity for an early dinner.  I showed them my SMS invitation for food-tasting, and we were ushered to the buffet station.

Even after settling in our seats, none of the account managers approached us, not even the one who contacted me in the first place.   The service crew weren’t as responsive as expected.  It took several requests before we were served water.  And they weren’t very friendly either.  We didn’t feel taken care of as compared to our experience with Juan Carlo the Caterer, which even my fiance’s mom noticed. 

This all wouldn’t have mattered if their food more than made up for their service (or lack thereof).  But it didn’t.

Let’s just say that we had plenty of food on our plates left untouched.   Most of their dishes were quite bland, while their soup, which might have been their best bet, was ironically, a little too salty.  Add to that, the entrees were already cold and dry.  It might have already been late in the afternoon, but their warmers should have been able to keep the food, well, warm at the very least.

My parents weren’t surprised by this verdict.  They had recently attended several weddings with Josiah’s as caterer, and their feedback mirrored ours.

Their set-up was decent, although it wasn’t spectacular.  But our primary concern was the food, so this wasn’t really an issue anymore.

I actually heard positive things about Josiah’s from a couple of suppliers I encountered, saying that their service is excellent and that they were very professional.  I suppose they just weren’t the caterer for us.

K by Cunanan | 632.711.0940 | 632.711.0952 | www.kbycunanancatering.com

Kaye Cunanan, and her partner, Kar Reyes, are charming and delightful.  The postive feedback about them are overwhelming, and I am certain that a major factor here is because of their personalized client service, and fresh ideas.

Their set-up precisely reflected their image and personality – youthful but elegant, creative but timeless.  I had my heart set on booking them, but my fiance, being the sensible man that he is, reminded me that it is important that we taste their food first.  So we did.  After meeting Kar at the Wedding Expo Philippines 12th Edition, we set the date for the food-tasting at Kaye’s house.

K by Cunanan is innovative not only when it comes to their styling, but also in their dishes as well.  This can come out both positive and negative.  I personally like trying dishes with an odd mix of flavors, which tickle my taste buds.  But that’s me.  I admit I have an unorthodox taste when it comes to food.  I enjoy tofu and mushrooms, and can enjoy a combination of sinigang with corned beef.  So I actually can’t trust even myself when it comes to food, so I usually bring others along who have more discriminating tastes.

For the food-tasting with K by Cunanan, I requested my parents and my fiance’s Mom and younger brother to come along.  It was an unexpectedly long drive, as Kaye’s house was a little too far into their village but it wasn’t a problem.  Kaye was very nice and accommodating.  Before the soup was served, she talked us through different ideas for the reception and gave us tips on seating the guests.  The food-tasting also turned out to be a nice bonding experience among our parents, as we spent over two hours in Kaye’s house.  After, we bid goodbye and she sent us off with a smile.

While she was a delight to talk to and her ideas were wonderful, my parents and my fiance’s mom weren’t completely satisfied with the food.  They felt the dishes were a either a little too ordinary or they were a little too different for their taste.  My fiance’s younger brother and I actually thought the food was excellent, precisely because it was different.  But I do have to consider other guests’ expectations.  It’s always best to stay on the safe side.

I read one blog where they remarked that K by Cunanan’s food is a hit among the younger crowd, but it wasn’t as well-received among the older ones.  I suppose this was applicable as well to my experience.  And while I would have loved to work with Kaye and Kar, I suppose, again, that they were not the caterer for us.

To be continued:  VS&F Catering.  Hizon’s Catering.