Essence of the Thymes Catering

easy to work with. The food was absolutely delicious—our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was! I'm still thinking about that asparagus stuffed chicken. The staff was friendly and efficient, ensuring everything ran smoothly. A special shout out to Chase! We couldn't have asked for a better catering experience—highly recommend!

hin my budget, gave great options and advice on what food to serve, when to serve what, etc. Their team set up a beautiful spread and checked in with me on the day of to make sure I got food. They grilled salmon right there at the venue which was awesome to see and got the guests excited! Most important to me: the food was GREAT quality! I wanted to be proud of my guest's dinner experience and they made it happen. I would recommend them to any of my friends. Thank you to the whole team!

eeting was a pleasure. What really bought us over was them inviting us to try both other catering companies and theirs. Also other non catering vendors said they loved working with them. The food tasted delicious, and they really made my wedding day spectacular!

es, everyone loved it!

finally our big day, it was a pleasure working with them. They have an incredible menu full of amazing options that can suit a variety of budgets. From what we experienced, we are sure all of them are to die for. We opted for buffet service for dinner with two served appetizers during cocktail hour. For appetizers we had the bacon wrapped dates and the raspberry and brie stuffed phyllo cups. They were both fantastic!! Dinner consisted of their tri-tip steak with mushroom demi-glace, prosciutto and gorgonzola stuffed chicken, garlic herb mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, and the summer salad. Everything was delicious and may went back for seconds! While you have the option to order dinnerware rentals directly through them, we chose to rent on pick up on our own and the staff made sure that all of the items were ready to be returned. We can't recommend Essence of the Thymes highly enough!

he food was delicious, as were the beverages. Our guests were so impressed as well. Our favorite thing was actually the passed appetizers, so we absolutely recommend splurging for that option of you’re considering it! However, I think the best part about working with Essence of the Thymes was working with Chase. He was our point of contact from day one, coordinating first over email and video call for our first consultation, and then overseeing the event directly in person on the day of. He was incredibly thorough when helping us plan the service and menu, and he managed everything so beautifully at the event. We were especially impressed that he saved some passed appetizers for us, since he said that the bride and groom tend not to get any appetizers during cocktail hour because they are so busy taking photos (and he was right)! We were so thankful, because the bacon-wrapped dates we had selected were the item we were most looking forward to. We absolutely recommend Essence of the Thymes for any event!!

ped us coordinate what things we needed to rent from CORT Party Place. I honestly felt like Hope was a little bit of our banquet coordinator, not only a caterer. We couldn’t be happier with them! The food was delicious. Everything went just right and we couldn’t have done it without them. The only thing I wish had been a little different is that I printed little table menus and signage and I wish I had thought to talk to them about coordinating my signage with theirs. Between Essence and our day-of coordinator Chloe Hix (who has lots of experience working with Essence), we felt so well taken care of. Everyone who we talked to was impressed by how smoothly our wedding flowed, which is in large part due to their suggestions about how to manage the flow of the event so people didn't go inside and outside too much as they moved between first dance / toast / cake cutting / dinner. Essence also took care of cocktail hour, including appetizers and a cheese tray for when guests first arrived, and had several bartenders there for pouring wine and beer too. Hire them, you won't be disappointed!

he moment we first contacted them, Hope, Chase and team were incredibly responsive and helpful. They took the time to understand our vision for the event and create a menu that was perfect for us. On the day of the wedding, their staff was absolutely amazing. They were friendly, efficient, and attentive. The food was plated beautifully and tasted fantastic! Our guests raved about the food, and I couldn't have been happier with the way everything turned out. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a caterer for their special event. They are truly a cut above the rest. Here are some specific things that I appreciated about Essence, Their communication was excellent. Hope is truly a joy to communicate with! I could probably talk to her for hours. I really appreciated the care and time she took to help me organize the food for both our rehearsal and wedding reception. They were very flexible and accommodating. They were willing to work with me to create a special menu for my rehearsal that related to how my fiance proposed Their food was delicious. It was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I highly recommend the peanut butter and jelly pork belly and chocolate chip cookies!!! Also - Their bartending service was impeccable. All of my guests loved their cocktails - especially me! 🙂 I would not hesitate to use Essence again for any future events. They are truly a top-notch caterer.

u, so getting seasonal flavors along with light fair for a wedding at such a good price was great.

erything was particularly the gorgonzola mashed potatoes and grilled salmon. They provided professional and seamless service. I would highly recommend them!

, so the chefs worked with us to deliver a safe and healthy menu everyone could enjoy. Being in the Pacific Northwest, we also did not wish to go for the age-old salmon dinner for our entrée, so the chefs explored other meaty-fish options for us that were within our budget (how does citrus-grilled swordfish with sweet corn salsa sound, huh?). It was a unique and fun, professional experience working with Essence of the Thymes, from the start of our vendor hunt (at the beginning of 2020) through our (postponed) event in summer 2022. What a perfect experience! Thanks, EotT!

th them great but the food was amazing!! I highly recommend hiring them for our next event!

and service. And we had leftovers! So yummy.

ms & expectations! Everyone on the team was very attentive to our needs, and asked all of the important questions to keep us on track. Gina, the owner was even there on our wedding day, personally assuring that each detail was perfect. 10/10 recommend Essence of the Thymes to cater your wedding!!! <3

ike a wedding dinner than "just a family gathering"! Everything about the food was perfect! ... flavors, presentation, garnishes... It could not have been better! (AND we all were all so relaxed not having cookware to cleanup afterward! Because of Covid, Essence of the Thymes brought the food (all prepared and hot) to our home at the perfect time. They showed us how to artistically plate it, and provided us with a few different garnishes (like small peppers shaped like flowers!) The menu we chose for each person was: A summer salad (complete with berries and nuts) A beef fillet and a wild salmon cake (with a lemon twist on top). A seasonal vegetables. Each was cooked to perfection!

The staff were super helpful and set everything up for us, highly recommend!

housands of menu changes. And the food was amazing - we got so many compliments!! They were flexible and efficient. I never felt stressed about the catering, which is a true blessing on your wedding day. We were really stressed in the middle of our planning because we had to adjust our budget, I emailed Essence to see what they could do with my budget, and they gave honest feedback and did everything they could to make it work. I would highly recommend Essence as a caterer for your big event.

revisions and adding the perfect touch to our menu and setting up on the day of the Wedding – they have been there to answer every question and concern and advise in any way they possibly can to assist with a smooth and very delicious meal on our big day. They even folded the napkins how I specifically wanted (of course another idea from Pinterest). The bartenders were on it – we had several choices of beers and wines & the line was never long. They are all so kind and you can feel how much they care that your day is everything you hope for it to be. We mostly were in contact with Hope, who is fantastic at what she does. This does not discredit any of the other staff. They all were a joy to have there on our big day. You will not regret hiring Essence of Thyme for your wedding or any other special event in your life. We still hear to this day from our guests how much they loved our food at our wedding.

lked about how good the food was for days! I would highly recommend them again!

. Thank you for making my day just that much smoother!

linen and glassware rentals through them, as well as hire a bartender. So convenient to have it all together. AND THE FOOD! Absolutely wonderful in every way. We were able to accommodate a wide range of special dietary needs without a problem. We ended up choosing a vegetarian dish (vegetable moussaka - INCREDIBLE) and salmon, every single one of our guests enjoyed both options. Hope was such a delight to work with through the whole process and she will make sure that you have clarity into pricing and options. Could not recommend more.

icious! My guests are still talking about those potatoes!

this company!

the end of the evening! Everyone was polite, attentive and professional. Would totally recommend them!

ding day, they were there on time, everything was set up perfectly, and the food was lovely and delicious. My groom and I forgot our plates when we went to the buffet to begin the meal, and Gina appeared out of nowhere with two plates for us because she had noticed! Their personal, detail-oriented service is what sets them apart from other caterers. I would recommend them for any wedding or event.

r parents & the food at the wedding was amazing! Many of our guests came up to tell me how much they loved the food! The bartender was great & talkative with all of our guests, but also kept the line moving fast. The day was a whirlwind for my husband & I, so we were very excited to see that Essence had set up appetizers & drinks for us at our table, so sweet! All of a sudden, I looked around & everything was cleaned & put away, it was magical! I would 100% recommend Essence of the Thymes for your wedding!

we had ordered ten extra plates! They were very easy to work with and very knowledgeable about the in's and our of our outdoor venue. I would Highly Recommend them if you are looking for a non stressful caterer and working with a wonderful group of people.

d polite people to work with, we love the small town feel they provided. Thank you Essence for making our first meal as a married couple one to remember!

uests raved about the food the whole night. To this day, I still think about those garlic mashed potatoes.

ervice was incredible and personable and they were the most flexible with our budget. They worked with us to make sure it was everything we wanted day of. They were extremely helpful and always willing to answer any questions we might have.

above and beyond of what I thought any catering company ever would, it was the of perfection in the most real sense! From all the help and pointers we received, to the day of last minute set up, when my bride was getting ready and I was lost with how things should really look Hope simply said "We got it" and did they ever. I left to change thinking how will it ever turn out how the bride envisioned it and after the ceremony when we got back both of our jaws dropped in amazement at how things came together all in thanks to them! On top of that the food was some of the best food we have ever had, and all we heard all night was how amazing everything looked and tasted. Hope and the staff were constantly checking up with us to make sure everything was going well and to see if there was anything more they could do. We could not have been happier with the people at Essence of the Thymes, and can not emphasize enough what great amazing people they are. At the end of our night we couldn't help ourselves, but to give hope a great big hug for all of ways they made this day perfection for us, their passion for the work they do is so evident and we will forever remember how happy we are that we went with Essence of the Thymes! Thank you! Noah & Ashley

o have a free tasting to help us decided on food choices. During the wedding the staff did a wonderful job with food set up and display, very professional and appreciated that they came to the head table for drink refills. I almost forgot, the food was to die for!!!!! Highly recommend this caterer.

about the food for the next few days! Great customer service, they went above and beyond to help get everything set up and cleaned up efficiently and thoroughly. They even offered to help with some things that they were not officially contracted to do. It was a pleasure to work with them. Thank you!

Farm Kitchen) and among all the caterers we spoke with, they were the most friendly, most helpful, and most willing to accommodate us in answering our questions and concerns. This told us they are willing not only to provide excellent catering services, but are also excellent in customer service. We could tell they cared about making our day exactly as we wanted it. After our initial inquiry, Hope continued to impress by returning our calls and email queries promptly. During the tasting, she even provided a number of items we hadn't mentioned, but she thought we might like--which we turned out to love! We still dream about the bacon-wrapped dates and feta tomatoes. Our venue required a planning meeting with the caterer, and that crucial time allowed us to nail down our game plan. Hope was right there to go through everything with us and clear up all the remaining uncertainties. For the first time, I was more excited about the day than nervous. On the day of our wedding, they blew us away. They arrived right as our venue opened, and began setting up. The table arrangements were incredible and the food was beautifully delicious and tastefully arrayed. The catering staff were attentive and kept things moving at just the right pace. All of our guests had nothing but good things to say. All in all, Essence of the Thymes helped to make our day effortless and wonderful. I highly recommend Hope and her amazing team!

the Thymes delivered on that goal. We attended tasting events for a few other fancy caterers in Seattle, and Essence of the Thymes had by far the best food (and lowest prices). We worked with Hope to craft an Italian themed meal for the rehearsal dinner including Caesar salad, chicken parmesan, three-cheese ravioli, and the BEST homemade cheesecake you have ever tasted. For the wedding reception, Essence of the Thymes served a selection of tray-passed appetizers, three dinner entree options with matching sides and salad, and a late-night snack. The appetizers were delicious; we recommend the bacon wrapped dates and feta stuffed tomatoes. The petite filet and fresh salmon entrees are unrivaled. I've never seen a steak cooked to perfection like that, and the lemon caper topping on the salmon was just right. The margarita flatbread pizza at the end of the night was a big hit for our (possibly intoxicated) guests. So many of our family and friends complimented us on the food: generous portions, beautiful plating, and not too heavy on the sauce or dressing. The Essence of the Thymes staff accommodated any dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free, nut allergy) of our guests with ease. Also, they made sure we had a plate of appetizers and a couple of signature cocktails waiting for us when we signed our marriage certificate. The bartending staff also did a great job - we never saw a line for drinks. Finally, a HUGE thank you to Hope for answering countless emails, phone calls, questions, and contract revisions. From the very beginning when we visited Port Orchard for the tasting session, we knew we were in good hands.

ly recommend.

like your guests to receive, and they are a very kind group of people. It ended up pouring down rain on our wedding day, and the catering company helped problem solve in a pinch to make accommodations for our guests.

elpful on th wedding day and helped me and my groom make sure we got food and drinks

food". Essence of the Thymes was great!! They planned everything down to the last detail. My husband and I had lots of handmade and homemade items to include and they worked with all our ideas. They set up our special day and executed it with ease. They made great food and everyone agreed! They even set up our dessert bar and helped our family clean up afterward! They went above and beyond.

so off of that recommendation we decided to have them cater the wedding. It was a standard dinner service. Two passed , horderves a seated salad course, and a buffet dinner. Along with the food we had servers, chef at the cutting board freshly slicing the pork and a bar tender. The food that we had at the wedding was just as good as the tasting round we did two months prior. The chicken was a bit dry do to sitting in the warm chaffing dishes and the seasonal vegetable where slightly under seasoned but a little salt fixed it right up. Since we provided our own alcohol for the guest we were happy that the bar tender was conservative about open wines. It left us with left over bottles that were easy to return or use for other occasions.

ey came through. We LOVED LOVED LOVED every moment of working with them. Im an extreme planner and so is my mom... Gina handled all of her silly requests with grace and tact. (My mom wanted to cook part of the dinner at the last minute for 200 people) HA! Each of the staff came to me on the wedding day throughout the ceremony to say wonderful things about the venue and the decor and well... everything. There was not a thing that I worried about and would hire them again for any event I needed to. AMAZING! Oh, and the food... WOW! We had our main entree seviced by another caterer and EotT did our sides, beverages, bar, coffee and ice cream service. I have NEVER had mashed potatoes so YUMMY! Thank goodness they even thought to make us (Myself and Groom) plates... We quickly took a bite of everything and were back taking pictures and dancing and doing the next best thing. Thank you to all and again... HIRE THEM!!!! Its really all I can say! :)