Carmela Marie

Catering With A Personal Touch

4.9

Verified reviews from real couples

I cannot recommend Carmela Marie Catering highly enough! From our very first email to the final cleanup of our wedding, they made the entire process incredibly easy and stress-free. They were so communicative, organized our tasting and meetings flawlessly, and always replied to our questions right away. Food: The food was absolutely phenomenal. The main course was incredible (the meats were cooked to perfection), but the absolute star of the show was our wedding cake. I am not even a cake person, and this was hands-down the best, most moist cake I have ever eaten in my life! On top of that, they were so accommodating with our guests' dietary restrictions—no matter what someone needed, they handled it easily and safely. Service: On the day of, the staff went above and beyond. As the bride, they didn't let me lift a finger. They set up the tables beautifully, packed everything down seamlessly, and made sure the entire event ran smoother than any wedding I’ve ever seen. If you want a team that delivers breathtaking presentation, world-class food, and flawless service, hire them immediately!

Krista D.

5.0

Amazing food amazing staff. Will definitely be recommending to all of my engaged friends - all my guests are still raving about how good the food was!

Skye M.

5.0

Janalynne Gius

EVENT MANAGER

Carmela Marie is based in Plantsville and will cater at any venue within the state of Connecticut. Carmela Marie is family-owned and operated with over 35 years of experience and caters events from wedding celebrations, intimate gatherings, to corporate events. This reputable company would be a welcome addition to your occasion. Whatever their preferences, guests will surely be satisfied with the selection of tasty and tempting cuisine on the table. The expert culinary team strives to provide delicious meal options for events of all shapes and sizes. They use premium ingredients and trusted techniques to prepare wholesome food for an unforgettable personalized experience. Numerous services are available at Carmela Marie, including wedding cakes, chinaware, glassware, flatware, linen tablecloths and napkins, set-up and clean-up. Before your wedding, you can meet with the executive chef and wedding coordinator to create a custom menu tailored to your unique palate. They will be happy to arrange a free tasting to allow you to sample the different options. From a table station menu to sit-down dinner, there are plenty of ways to host your wedding banquet. If you have any dietary restrictions, various gluten-free, vegan, and nut-free options can be provided.

36+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish

Medium team (11-20 members)

Details

Cuisine

American

BBQ

Cajun

Chinese

Greek

Italian

Japanese

Latin American

Mexican

Northeastern

Seafood

Southern

Southwestern

Specialty

Dietary Options

Dairy Free

Gluten Free

Nut Free

Organic

Sugar Free

Vegan

Vegetarian

Food & Catering

Buffet

Catering Clean Up

Catering Delivery & Setup

Chef Stations

Family Style

Menu Tastings

Passed Appetizers

Seated Meal

Servers

Any questions?

Meet the team

John Salerno
Owner
John Salerno began his career with a degree in accounting, starting out as a cost accountant before taking a leap into entrepreneurship as the owner of Tops Marketplace in Plantsville, CT. It was there that John discovered his true calling—not in numbers, but in food. Ahead of his time, he transformed the traditional supermarket experience by installing a kitchen within the store, preparing fresh meals, and introducing catering services long before it became the norm. Inspired by his mother, Carmela, a proud second-generation Italian who cherished making homemade pasta for her family, John launched Carmela Marie Catering in her honor. What began as a tribute to her love of food and family has grown into a thriving business that, over the past 35 years, has catered more than 900 weddings—and continues to grow strong. John’s journey from accountant to culinary entrepreneur reflects his passion, vision, and dedication to creating unforgettable experiences through food.
Betsy Tooker
Co-Owner
Betsy Tooker dedicated her entire career to Tops Marketplace where she became a familiar face and a trusted part of the community. Over the years, she discovered her true passion for cooking and the joy of sharing great food with others. That passion led her, alongside John Salerno, to launch Carmela Marie, a catering business that blended their experience in the food industry with their love for creating memorable meals. Betsy’s warm personality, commitment to quality, and talent in the kitchen helped shape the business into a local favorite, known for food that brings people together.
Janalynne Gius
Event Manager
After a successful career in the financial services industry, where she held key roles in product development, project management, and marketing, Janalynne brought her expertise in organization, strategy, and client service to her true passion—food and events. Drawing on her strong background in planning and execution, she helped the family business enter the catering business, where she seamlessly combines creativity with precision. Today, Janalynne is known for delivering memorable events that are as flawlessly managed as they are beautifully designed. Her unique blend of corporate discipline and culinary artistry allows her to anticipate client needs, manage complex logistics, and craft exceptional experiences. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a large celebration, Janalynne brings professionalism, creativity, and a personal touch to every event.
Ron Hackett
Sous Chef
Ron Hackett has built a career around his love of great food and hospitality. He spent many years with the Aqua Turf, where he gained invaluable experience in the banquet and catering industry, before joining Carmela Marie to continue pursuing his passion for food. Known for his warm presence and skillful hand, Ron is a familiar face at weddings and special events, often found at the carving station serving up perfectly sliced filet mignon and other mouthwatering specialties. His dedication to creating memorable dining experiences makes him an essential part of the Carmela Marie team.
Robert Gargliardo
Executive Chef
With more than 30 years of culinary experience, Executive Chef Robert Gagliardo brings a passion for exceptional food and hospitality to every event. Specializing in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, Robert combines traditional techniques with fresh, high-quality ingredients to create memorable dining experiences. A third-generation chef who grew up in the restaurant industry, Robert developed his love of cooking at an early age. His extensive knowledge of dietary accommodations and food allergens allows him to thoughtfully prepare delicious menus that meet a wide range of guests' needs without compromising flavor or presentation. For Robert, the greatest reward is seeing the joy that great food brings to people. His commitment to quality, creativity, and hospitality is reflected in every dish he prepares.
Danielle Lord
Cake Decorator
Danielle Lord is a talented cake decorator with a passion for creating beautiful, memorable desserts. Combining artistic creativity with precision, she transforms sugar, flour, and frosting into stunning cakes and confections that are as delicious as they are beautiful. An artist at heart, Danielle enjoys expressing her creativity through a variety of mediums. In addition to her work as a cake decorator, she successfully owned and operated her own photography business, further showcasing her keen eye for detail, composition, and design. Whether crafting an elegant wedding cake or a custom dessert for a special celebration, Danielle takes pride in creating edible works of art that leave a lasting impression.

4.9

out of 5.0

10 reviews

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Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Carmela Marie Catering made planning easy with excellent communication and organization, delivering a stress‑free experience. The food (especially the cake), dessert bar, and stations were raved about and dietary needs were handled well. Staff provided flawless setup/cleanup and flexibility; only minor contract/discount paperwork issues were reported.

Search reviews

Krista D

7/15/2026

I cannot recommend Carmela Marie Catering highly enough! From our very first email to the final cleanup of our wedding, they made the entire process incredibly easy and stress-free...

. They were so communicative, organized our tasting and meetings flawlessly, and always replied to our questions right away. Food: The food was absolutely phenomenal. The main course was incredible (the meats were cooked to perfection), but the absolute star of the show was our wedding cake. I am not even a cake person, and this was hands-down the best, most moist cake I have ever eaten in my life! On top of that, they were so accommodating with our guests' dietary restrictions—no matter what someone needed, they handled it easily and safely. Service: On the day of, the staff went above and beyond. As the bride, they didn't let me lift a finger. They set up the tables beautifully, packed everything down seamlessly, and made sure the entire event ran smoother than any wedding I’ve ever seen. If you want a team that delivers breathtaking presentation, world-class food, and flawless service, hire them immediately!

Amanda S

5/04/2026

The food was delicious, and we had so many options! The only comment I have is that the communication was lacking at times, but they came through the day before and the day of my w...

edding!

Any questions?

Skye M

11/19/2025

Amazing food amazing staff. Will definitely be recommending to all of my engaged friends - all my guests are still raving about how good the food was!

Chelsea G

10/30/2025

I hired Carmela Marie to cater my wedding. A huge thank-you to John, Betsy, and Janalynne. Janalynne was amazing to work with—she helped me create a menu that accommodated all of ...

our guests’ food allergies and intolerances, and she handled every last-minute change with such care and professionalism. The food was absolutely delicious! Guests couldn’t stop raving about the appetizers—especially the chicken and beef teriyaki skewers—and there were plenty of dessert options for everyone to enjoy. Even the cake was a hit! Highly recommend Carmela Marie for anyone looking for exceptional food and service.

Response from Carmela Marie on 11/01/2025

Hi Chelsea - I hope you are both still basking in the joy of your beautiful wedding day! I...

wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for the kind words in your review. It truly warms my heart to know that you were pleased with the food and service we provided for your special day. - Janalynne

Jennifer Q

9/26/2025

Carmela Marie was an incredible wedding caterer for our special day. From the very beginning, they were incredibly helpful and accommodating, working closely with us to customize t...

he perfect menu. On the day of, their team delivered amazing service and presentation - the food was absolutely delicious and our guests raved about it being some of the best wedding food they had ever had. We did a stations buffet style and the variety was fantastic, with an incredible dessert bar that our guests loved- our cake was also beautiful and delicious! We were so impressed that we even ordered lunch from them before the wedding, which was equally great. Carmela Marie played a big role in making our wedding day so memorable, and we would absolutely hire them again in the future. Thank you John, Betsy and especially Janalynne!

Kevin A

7/01/2025

Carmela Marie didn’t absolutely wonderful job catering our wedding. The food was absolutely amazing and all of our guests agreed. The staff was so incredibly helpful and flexible w...

ith everything. Everyone that we worked with on our wedding day was so kind and joyful. My wife and I would highly recommend Carmela Marie to anyone who is looking for not only delicious food, but authentic Italian food. Again, we can’t recommend this place enough. John was so wonderful and helpful to work with. We also had Carmela Marie do our wedding cake as well and it was absolutely beautiful.

cassidy g

6/10/2025

Carmela Marie did an amazing job catering my wedding. They were super nice and very helpful. The food and deserts were amazing everyone enjoyed! They made the day easy and the food...

was exactly as asked for.

Heidi N

1/01/2024

Mom of the bride's perspective. A month long search ended with us choosing Carmela Marie. Many caterers never even bothered to call us back. We liked their pricing options and even...

more so their food selection. The bride, mother of the bride and the groom's mom met with the caterers at their store and were treated to some very yummy foods to sample. We got to meet the chef and he was able to help us choose a menu that met our needs and that of the our bride and groom. They worked with us and our reception site. They provided us with linens and all of the plates, utensils, etc. They delivered the linens the day prior so that we had them to set up in advance. The day of the event, they were timely, the food was well presented and the just as yummy as what we had sampled. They cleaned up, took their stuff, and didn't leave a mess in the kitchen.... thank you! They also left us with a lot of the leftovers and all of the leftover desserts. Our only snafu was a pricing discrepancy because we were not using their bridal cake. They quoted us a discount but it wasn't on the contract and we didn't have a copy of the contract.... so be sure you get a copy of the contract or take a picture of it. In the end, it wasn't a huge deal, it didn't break the bank, and we were more than pleased with the service. Also, we went with the banquet stations and strongly recommend that serving method. They had 4 servers and this was perfect for 60-ish attendees.

Taylor A

1/06/2023

We are so happy we chose to go with Carmela Marie. Their staff was very polite and friendly and easy to work with. Food was by far the best wedding food I've ever had and so many o...

ptions and a great price. Would highly recommend and use again. They made the night an evening to remeber.

Response from Carmela Marie on 01/06/2023

Hi Taylor! Thank you soo much for the positive review! We greatly appreciate this! It w...

as a pleasure to serve you and your guests. Thank you again for choosing Carmela Marie! -Janalynne

Marissa M

10/04/2021

John and Betsy are so helpful and we were able to pick such delicious options for our wedding buffet. I was very excited about having a dessert table and we had so many different o...

ptions of little desserts for our guests. Their staff was so sweet and worked so hard to make sure things went well. Thanks for making our day so special!

Service area & Contact info

887 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville, CT

Open map

Travel area: Within 50 miles

Additional charges may apply

(860) 628-8794

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Carmela Marie

Janalynne Gius

Event Manager

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Carmela Marie

About this vendor

Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

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