Farm to Table Catering with the Art of Open Fire
$60 starting price
Upstate NY, Catskills, Vermont, Mass
Service area
Brandon Snooks
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (6X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Farm to Fire is a boutique catering company that specializes in events using the art of open fire cooking.
Growing up on a cattle ranch in Montana, I learned the value of growing food, raising animals,
and putting in a hard day's work.
Just so happens, I also love to cook and feed people, so here I am in New York catering weddings and events.
We will customize a menu based on your favorite foods, using locally sourced ingredients, and come to the venue of your choice.
From the Adirondacks to the Catskills, to the Berkshires down to the Connecticut Coast,
and up to Vermont. We will travel anywhere with our open fire equipment to cater a wedding.
We bring the staff, all the cooking equipment, and can even do the bar service.
Just let us know some of your favorite foods and we will get started sourcing a menu.
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Details
Cuisine
American
BBQ
Cajun
Chinese
Eastern European
Fusion
Greek
Hawaiian
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latin American
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Northeastern
Seafood
Southern
Southwestern
Specialty
Thai
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Halal
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
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Brandon Snooks
Owner
Growing up in the cattle country of Montana, there was always locally sourced food on our family table. From vegetables that my family grew in the garden to cattle raised on the land we farmed, there was no other way to eat in rural Montana. I honestly did not know that everyone didn't sit down to a farm to table experience for every meal. Seeing my grandmothers, mother, and many other "Farm Chefs" making the most of every piece of food available to them was commonplace. From those experiences, I realized what my path would entail.
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.0121 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Farm to Fire catering service, particularly Chef Brandon and his team, receives glowing reviews for exceptional food quality, diverse menu options, and professional service. Multiple reviewers praise Brandon for his attentiveness, creativity, and flexibility in catering to various dietary needs. Guests consistently rave about the delicious and beautifully presented dishes, with many describing the food as the best they have had at a wedding. The staff is commended for being friendly, attentive, and contributing to a seamless wedding experience, making Farm to Fire highly recommended for couples seeking a memorable and delicious dining experience on their special day.Review photos
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Lauren K
Highlighted review.
5.0
7/02/2021
Hands down the best wedding decision we made! Brandon was a pleasure out of the gate from our first initial call. We got engaged in 2019 and ended up postponing our wedding twice due to COVID - all throughout he was a constant source of support.
Food and Cocktails were a huge focus throughout the planning process and we truly wanted our guests to feel like it was a huge family dinner. I can't begin to tell you how many compliments we received around our menu, Brandon's set up and the signature cocktails. By the time of our wedding we truly had a friend there cooking for our guests.
I could not recommend Brandon and his team enough - the menu planning process was so collaborative, he was so responsive, and overall was just a blast to work with. He's a gem of a human - and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
-LK
Vendor response 03/07/2024
Thank you so much Lauren. That day at Hayfield was so perfect and we could not have had mo...
re fun. You and Kyle were so much fun to work with and your crew was a blast. Thank you so much for trusting us to help with your day.
All our best to both of you from the entire Farm to Fire Team.
Nick L
5.0
11/07/2024
Absolutely awesome catering service! Brandon is an exceptionally friendly, thoughtful, creative, and helpful person and it was always a pleasure interacting with him; he made sure to keep in regular contact throughout the entire planning process. The food was absolutely incredible and varied and delicious; our guests still rave about the quality of everything, and Brandon was super adaptable with our guests' various dietary needs. Hudson Valley BBQ Co is undeniably a top-tier catering service, and Brandon and all his staff are amazing people and I could not recommend them more highly!
Any questions?
Noelle P
5.0
10/10/2024
As the mother of the bride, I wanted everything to be perfect for my daughter’s wedding, and Farm to Fire exceeded all of my expectations. From our very first meeting, I knew we were in good hands. Brandon's super thoughtful, attentive, and eager to understand exactly what we envisioned for the big day.
The food was simply exquisite! Every dish was a hit, from the flavorful appetizers to the beautifully prepared entrees. I can’t tell you how many guests came up to me during the reception to rave about the meal. The variety they offered was incredible, and they catered wonderfully to all dietary needs without compromising on taste or presentation.
I am so thankful to Farm to Fire for helping make my daughter’s wedding day so beautiful and memorable. They played such an important part in making it a magical event, and I would highly recommend them to any family planning a wedding. They truly go above and beyond!
Dan J
5.0
9/30/2024
Chef Brandon and his team were outstanding!!! Starting at the beginning in 2023, he worked with us to pull together a menu that we loved, he was communicative, and reassuring the whole way through, and he worked seamlessly with our coordinator as soon as we looped her into the final weeks of planning. The food and the service on the day of the wedding were above and beyond our expectations. We wouldn't change a thing, except maybe we would have eaten more apps - note to future couples: cocktail hour really flies by! The food was truly so so so good. Multiple people approached us during and after dinner telling us this was the best meal they'd ever had a wedding, and we may be biased, but we agree. I was hoping I'd have some photos to share with this post, but we're still waiting on those - I will try to edit it when those come in to show off the spread this team served up!
Leanne R
5.0
9/26/2024
I can’t say enough good things about Brandon and his catering company! From the very first meeting, he was incredibly personable and attentive, making sure to understand our vision for the wedding.
The food was absolutely outstanding—our guests are still raving about it! Each dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor.
The service on the wedding day was flawless. Brandon and his team were professional, friendly, and made everything run smoothly, allowing us to relax and enjoy our celebration.
Had guests tell us this was the best food they have had at a wedding!
mary lou d
5.0
9/25/2024
We had the pleasure of hiring Chef Brandon and his staff for my daughter's wedding on 09/06/2024. If I could give him more than five stars I would.
His food was outstanding, beautifully presented, and SO DELICIOUS. Our guests raved about the food from the cocktail hour thru out the dinner reception. His staff were attentive, professional, and friendly.
He was engaged right from the start of our planning stages contributing creative and helpful suggestions.
Chef Brandon was a wonderful part of "Our Dream Team" that made my daughter's wedding a fabulous day!
Molly D
5.0
9/25/2024
Chef Brandon and his team catered our recent September 2024 wedding on Lake George. Brandon was a pleasure to work with during the planning process and we loved getting to collaborate with him directly. He always made us feel comfortable and at ease, and he truly understood our vision for the menu. His pricing was also extremely reasonable for the creativity as well as quality of what we received, especially compared to some caterers in this destination region!
On the wedding night, all of our guests raved about the food including his little extra touches. His staff were also extremely attentive and fun to work with, and nailed both the cocktail hour and reception dinner. Our 'refined backyard BBQ' was everything we envisioned it to be. We are so happy with our choice and know you will be too if you choose Farm to Fire! Thank you Brandon and team!
Brice A
5.0
9/18/2024
HV BBQ were very professional and masters at there craft making everyone talk about there food and how prefect everything was and presented thank you again Brandon!!
Maggie G
5.0
9/10/2024
Brandon and his team were INCREDIBLE! From the start, Brandon did an amazing job listening to our preferences and (very loose) wedding vision and helped create a menu that perfectly matched our tastes. We definitely had a lot of questions and made a few changes, and Brandon was so responsive and accommodating. Day-of, his team was on-time, professional, and the food & drinks were SO DAMN GOOD. Everyone loved the food and the Farm to Fire staff, and I can't recommend them enough.
Penelope M
5.0
7/01/2024
Aside from the actual getting married part, working with Brandon was one of the highlights of our wedding. We had a unique wedding venue in the Catskills, and from start to finish, I knew we had chosen the right caterer for our event. First, after having some technical difficulties on their website, Brandon spent nearly an hour with me on the phone talking about how his team works, our event and what the possibility of menus could be. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, he was a wealth of knowledge and was happy to provide any assistance or advice. He even came for a site visit, and drove 2 hours in the rain to come up with a game plan. The day of my wedding, our coordinator cancelled and he was my first text. He reassured me, he and his team would handle it. And that they did. When I arrived at the venue with one of my bridesmaids, I went in to check how things were progressing and Brandon pulled my maid of honor to the side "if ANYTHING needs attention, someone's not acting right or the bride and groom need anything, you tell me" - brandon to my bridesmaid. And OH MY GOD, the food. I'm writing this review a month after my wedding and people are still asking me how I found the caterer. The mac'n'cheese to die, the pork with chimichurri, to die. THE CREAM PUFF TOWER. Literally a dream of mine since I was 8, to have a cream puff tower at my wedding and it was there. I can not say enough about Brandon and his entire team, they truly made our day so spectacular.
Melissa C
5.0
6/18/2024
Farm to Fire is a unique catering experience in which we had the opportunity to custom design the menu selections for our wedding. We chose to have a blend of Asian/Italian/American cuisine which Brandon and his team delivered on! Brandon and his team have a passion for over the fire cooking and this made for an incredible guest experience (everyone that we spoke to could not help but comment on the grand display that Brandon and his team put together). The food was phenomenal as were the drinks. The team of bartenders, servers and chefs were very thoughtful and were highly accommodating to every challenge that presented itself throughout our wedding day and the months leading up to it. We greatly appreciated their hard work to make our wedding day that much more memorable.
Alexina J
5.0
6/11/2024
Brandon and team delivered as promised. They were punctual, thorough, and most concerned with making sure our event was a success. AND the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We would hire them again!
Shannon L
5.0
3/04/2024
The Farm to Fire Team catered my daughter's wedding last year. From the start, the experience was just fantastic.
We spent a lot of time customizing the menu and Brandon was so accommodating.
No stone was left unturned during the planning process.
We had so much fun the day of the wedding.
The cooking equipment was so fun to see and the food
turned out absolutely delicious.
Every piece of the day was just perfect.
Brandon became a friend to all of us and we
could not recommend their services enough.
Vendor response 03/07/2024
Thank you so much for sharing this story Shannon.
We had so much fun with your crew that ...
day. The planning piece leading up to the wedding was pretty great too. The Zoom Calls drinking wine and Coors Originals was right up my alley.
Thank you again for trusting us and we wish everyone all the best.
Celeste C
5.0
2/28/2024
Brandon is a wonderful and talented vendor! Very easy to work with and he actually helps make the process exciting. Since wedding planning can sometimes be pretty stressful. Thank you Brandon!
Erica A
5.0
2/28/2024
We have an annual charity gala and hired Farm to Fire to showcase their open fire cooking.
11 years of doing this event and we have never had people raving about the food until now.
The live fire show was a crowd favorite and the food was fantastic.
Overall such a great experience from day 1 of planning to the night of the gala.
Thank you so much Brandon and we will see you next year!
Vendor response 03/07/2024
Thank you so much for taking a minute to leave a review Erica. Such a fun night and such a...
great cause. I am so glad we could help out and we look forward to more charity galas in the future with you and your crew.
Thank you again from the Farm to Fire Team.
Zack M
5.0
10/11/2023
We could not be happier with our decision to work with Brandon and everyone at Farm to Fire to cater our wedding. I'm not sure "no" is in Brandon's vocabulary as he was up for whatever we threw at him. From our initial conversation with endless questions about food options, food allergies and how those would be handled, set-up, serving and everything in between, Brandon had the right answer and put our minds at ease. Within a week of making the decision to go with Farm to Fire, Brandon sent over a menu that blew us away. We had given him a few ideas we'd seen at other weddings as well as some of our favorite dishes, and from those notes he created a diverse menu that perfectly reflected us. From there he was incredibly communicative; getting back to emails, texts or calls almost immediately. A few months prior to the big day we were able to sit down with Brandon for a tasting and while we expected that it would be good, he exceeded those expectations. Of course that was for just the two of us but when it came time to cook for 150+ people the quality didn't waver. Brandon's giant open-flame rig was such a fun and unique site to greet our guests and certainly piqued everyone's interest as to what was in store for dinner. Everyone got their first taste during the cocktail hour where the grazing table and hors d'oeuvres drew rave reviews (special shout-out to the bite-sized reubens!). Brandon's staff was on top of EVERYTHING during that time; constantly circulating the hors d'oeuvres and even taking the time to make a special platter for my wife and I, as they noticed how busy we were conversing and posing for pictures. Obviously the big part of the night was dinner and once again, these guys went above and beyond. From the perfectly cooked cedar plank salmon to the mouthwatering picanha served with a variety of toppings - a special request so that people were able to dress their steak how they liked with either blue cheese crumbles, chimichurri or horseradish cream - everything tasted incredible. Finally, we ended the night with a classic - cookies & ice cream - and despite a muggy night, they pulled it off! Almost forgot to mention that somehow Brandon was able to do his open-fire cooking not just on a hot, muggy day but also on a day that saw a steady rain for a good half hour prior to the ceremony. Still not sure how he pulled that off. It was truly a pleasure to work with Brandon but just as much of a pleasure to watch him work; a true master of his craft who takes great pride in what he does. I would HIGHLY recommend you allow Brandon and his crew to make your special day that much more special!
Vendor response 03/21/2024
To start, thank you so much for the kind words. Working with you and Jenna was so much fun...
. I am so glad things lined up for us to work together.
Congratulations again and all our best from the entire team at Farm to Fire.
Lydia D
5.0
10/09/2023
To start, my family owns restaurants and I am a chef.
I wanted a very particular farm to table experience with some of our favorites.
Brandon was so excited to help our vision come to life.
Some highlights were our first course pasta dish with burrata and the spit roasted picanha with chimichurri.
If you want amazing food and amazing service leading up to your wedding day, reach out like we did.
One of the best decisions we made.
Stephanie L
5.0
10/09/2023
We had our wedding in July and hired Farm to Fire to help.
Our venue was one that required us to bring in everything. Working with Brandon planning a menu and ironing out all the details was very smooth.
He was willing to jump on a call to sort out questions and helped us find other vendors too.
The day of the event the whole Farm to Fire Team was doing everything.
They were so polite to our guests and helped with every little detail that came up.
The food was the absolute star of the show. Many of our guests mentioned afterwards that it was some of the best they had ever had a wedding.
We are so grateful to their whole team for doing such a great job to make our day so special
Vendor response 03/21/2024
What an amazing day! Thank you so much for trusting us to help with the event.
One of the ...
coolest menus we have ever done. I am so glad we added in
the seafood paella. Cheers to many years of all the good things married
life has to offer.
Connor S
5.0
10/09/2023
We hired Brandon and Farm to Fire to Cater our wedding on September 9, 2023, and would highly recommend! Brandon and Heather were incredibly responsive throughout the planning process, and were flexible on menu planning with respect to the dishes and drinks! We were able to do a tasting in May and discuss our vision further with Brandon in person. At the wedding, they saved us a plate of appetizers from the cocktail hour and then the food came out right on time. Our food included chicken and chorizo paella, pork with chimichurri and chicken, as well as Smashed potatoes, carrots with whipped cheese, and candied Brussel sprouts which were delicious. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures because I did not have my phone on me, but everyone raved afterward about the quality of the food and drinks
Michelle C
5.0
9/19/2023
I booked Farm to Fire for a fundraising dinner benefiting a nonprofit in the Saratoga region that I work for. Brandon, the executive chef of Farm to Fire, was absolutely wonderful to work with. He attended meetings with the planning committee before the event to visit the site and plan out the logistics. As a nonprofit trying to keep our expenses as low as possible, Brandon was willing to work within our limitations and accommodate our needs. The day-of Brandon and his team were efficient, respectful, and measured. Most importantly, the food was delicious and plated beautifully. I had several guests come up to me and say that everything was delicious but the heirloom carrots were the best they had ever had. Brandon and his team even went as far as to make special plates for our vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free guests. I hope to work with Farm to Fire again in the future and can't recommend them enough for your farm-to-table catering needs.
Paulanachella P
1.0
8/29/2023
It's taken us a long time to write this because of the pain and stress we experienced due to Brandon on our wedding day and in the weeks leading up. It almost doesn't make sense to write a review because, as you see below, he responds with seemingly reasonable (but gaslighting) explanations. We will leave it at this, we urge you to protect yourself and find someone else to work with for your special day.
If you would like more specifics, please feel free to reach out at paulanachella@gmail.com
anonymous u
5.0
8/02/2023
Where do I begin… Brandon and Heather were a joy to work with! The two major things I was super excited about for our wedding day (besides marrying my husband lol) was the food and the music, and boy did the food live up to mine and everyone’s expectations! From the initial call where Brandon described what our wedding day would be like, to building our menu, tasting the food, then the actual wedding day, every step of the way was an absolute breeze! We are so happy we chose HVBBQ to cater our wedding. Every dish was vibrant looking and so fresh, my guests won’t stop talking about it! One thing I would like to note, wish I had known earlier before hiring a Day of Coordinator, that Heather offers planning services. Heather was so helpful and so communicative that at times I felt like she was my wedding planner. I would’ve 100% hired her to help with the entire wedding if I had known in time. So just a note to future brides, you will love her. Thank you Brandon, Heather and staff for gracing us with your cooking and services on our special day. It was a day that will never be forgotten!
Amy V
5.0
7/23/2023
We started working with Brandon a year before our daughters wedding and throughout it was a great experience. We even added a wedding planner from his staff that we found to be super helpful. Couldn't have done it without her! The wedding was at a private home and Brandon and his team worked closely with our tent rental company, the house manager and even the band, to make sure everything went as planned. They brought all they needed to cook a fabulous feast to the location - including roasting a whole suckling pig!! From signature drinks - cocktails and mocktails - to passed and stationary appetizers, entree and dessert, every single morsel was delicious. The bride and groom opted not to have a cake and the desserts were perfect and very special - mini cannoli's and mini strawberry rhubarb pies among other things. Throughout the even, if I had something I needed or wanted, the team was very responsive. Brandon and Heather (the wedding planner), are really nice people and it was a pleasure to work with them. I'm sorry it's over!!
Chelsea A
5.0
7/22/2023
Everyone with HVBBQ was simply amazing along with the food! From the first phone call with Brandon be made eveything so easy. He was always a phone call away if I had any questions or concerns. Communication was great with the whole team. No matter what we asked for Brandon was always willing to accommodate any requests with ease. Now of course to the food! We did not want your “typical” wedding dinner and we’re SO excited when we found HVBBQ. The food was exactly what we wanted and everyone raved about how delicious is was! It was not a wedding you left hungry with small portions either which was so refreshing. A dream team and amaaaaaazing food. I would highly recommend HVBBQ!!! Still dreaming about the steak and Brussels sprouts 😍
Lock W
5.0
7/20/2023
brandon is the BEST to work with. amazing food, creative ideas, chill but impeccable service. outside cooking and grilling made our website extra special (not to mention suckling pig!) thank you brandon for everything :)
Matthew P
5.0
7/14/2023
I can’t express to you how amazing Brandon, Heather and their whole team was. The process from start to finish was effortless. Brandon started it off by asking us our favorite foods and then curated a full menu for our wedding, not leaving a single item off. The food turned out AMAZING! All of our guests were blown away and have not stopped talking about it since. Brandon and his staff were extremely proffesional and did everything to make our day so special! Book them immediately, best decision we made.
Hilary W E
5.0
6/23/2023
Farm to Fire provided a beautifully presented feast. Their set up process was seamless and we barely knew they were over there after the event. Team was professional, courteous, and went above and beyond. Their in-house wedding planner, Heather, did an outstanding job. No detail was left out, and she was easy to access and communicate with.
Stephen K
1.0
6/13/2023
I tried to resolve the following issues with Brandon, who admitted that it was the "most difficult wedding he had ever done", but he only attributed that to the rain. He said that he normally would have cooked in the covered area on this property, but they wouldn't let him. The venue confirmed that he lied about that. Then he ghosted me.
3 Tables told us they did not get to eat main courses. Some of the fried chicken from cocktail hour was brought back out to serve to later tables. As the mains were served, no one called tables to go up and I had to ask who should be. Nick was supposed to be doing it, when I went to him, he was unaware that it was his duty.
Neither water nor wine were poured before or during dinner. No water was available to anyone until we asked, which was one of several such instances. Even then, it was Kate's crew that ended up pouring water and wine. Wine was meant to be poured during dinner as per our signed contract. Prosecco was meant to be included for the toasts. My wife and I had no water, no wine, and no bubbles for our toasts. We toasted with empty glasses.
The paella was woefully undercooked. When I finally had a chance to serve myself, the only food remaining was pork loin and paella, but the only thing left in the paella was gray shrimp and unopened clams and mussels. A guest said our money was wasted. We paid for food that could not be eaten. We paid over $30k and there wasn't enough food.
His and Her tacos and mini margarita shooters were not served at all. They were supposed to be passed at cocktail hour as per our signed contract.
The signature drinks and prosecco for cocktail hour were not poured ahead of time and passed as per our signed contract. These steps were meant to be taken to specifically alleviate the line at the bar, which was "brutal" according to a guest. My wife confirmed in an email on March 29th and Brandon confirmed that signature drinks would be pre poured.
The late night food was not ready, and I had to go ask where it was at 10pm. My wife's sister also had to ask about the late night food as well as dessert. Brandon said that he thought we were having food at 10:30 even though the hard stop for Hayfield has always been 10, including all the other weddings he's done there. Street tacos were not served and I saw maybe 5 plates of runny mac and cheese.
We felt like we were constantly wondering where things were and why they were taking so long. It seemed obvious that there was not enough staff. For the price we paid, we should not have felt like we were part of the staff, worrying about what needed to be taken care of. We both specifically told our friends and family how good the food would be and how they should look forward to it, yet it was the only aspect of our wedding that anyone complained about. We were embarrassed. Multiple guests told us there was not enough food.
By the end of the night, it was clear that things had gone so wrong that we asked Kate to return to us the check that was going to be for your gratuity. Brandon never followed up with us about that, even though he had originally tried to get us to pay 6k in gratuity weeks before the wedding took place. And yet, we believe the non-payment of gratuity for the products and services that were (or weren't) rendered does not begin to cover our grievances. We paid for services and food that were not supplied to us. We were massively overcharged based on the quality of goods and service that day.
Vendor response 06/14/2023
Thank you for taking some time to share your experience on a wedding we did in May of 2022...
.
I did say that was the hardest event I have ever been a part of for a couple reasons - 1. Having the cook tent a football field away from the reception area in monsoon rain is not a good idea. 2. One bar surrounded by furniture for 150 guests is also not a good idea. Add that the bar was in the back corner made flow impossible.
Ironically the first review posted on our page is from the same venue. Lauren had two bars and leaned on our expertise to execute a wonderful event. If anyone would like to talk to her, just ask us.
The food piece is also confusing to me as several people relayed the food was amazing and they went back two and three times. We also had staff take food home. The picture you posted is paella we didn’t serve. Mussels and clams don’t always open and in those cases they aren’t served.
Things were further complicated when your crew arrived 40 minutes late to the event. We had to redo all the appetizer food, which takes time.
While we always strive for a perfect event, most are won and lost in the planning before they start.
Our entire team wishes you nothing but the best in your married life.
Sincerely,
The Farm to Fire Team
Meghan W
5.0
6/06/2023
Brandon and his team were INCREDIBLE!!! Every guest we spoke to after dinner and the next day said it was hands down the best food they’ve ate at a wedding. The customizable options allow you to create your dream menu! Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection! The only regret I have is not eating 60 more plates! His team was so friendly and helpful. I suggest you book them as soon as you can because this was an unreal experience that I wish I live through again!
Sarah M
4.0
11/28/2022
Brandon and his team were absolutely fantastic the day of our wedding and in the immediate days leading up. First and foremost, the food was absolutely amazing. We loved it and our guests raved about it. Additionally, the staff made everything so easy for us -- from little details like ensuring we got to try every dish, to problem-solving when our tables were too narrow, they were extremely helpful and professional throughout the day. Brandon also made the day that much more special for us by offering little extra touches such as delicious ribs and a meat and cheese board.
The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because of the difficulty of communicating with Brandon in farther advance of the wedding. To be fair, these attempts to communicate were well in advance of the wedding (6-12 months ahead of time), and once Brandon put us in touch with his assistants - first Heather and then Jes - they were extremely communicative and helpful. However, there were months at a time before we knew of Heather or Jes where we struggled to get any response from Brandon. This was especially alarming given the couple of negative reviews we had read. However, once we were communicating with his staff and once we got closer to the actual date, we felt assured that everything would go smoothly, as it did. We were able to coordinate a tasting in advance which was delicious, and it was lovely to meet Brandon in person and helped us to feel more confident in his product and business.
Rachael C
5.0
11/28/2022
We reached out to Brandon and his team at Farm to Fire after hearing about them from our venue.
From the start, we had a great feeling about everything. Great communication, the customized menu that had all of our favorite foods, and their approach was so sincere.
The day of the wedding, they showed up early and cooked in front of our guests all day.
What an amazing experience and the food was exactly what we hoped for.
Thank you to the entire team for making our wedding day so special.
Morgan M
5.0
11/28/2022
Leaving a review to try to relay how much of a joy it was working with Brandon and his team.
From the start, we appreciated how much time was spent getting our favorite foods on the menu. The food was the most important part of the day. We’ve travelled all over and really wanted those travels to be represented at our wedding.
The food and the service were just amazing.
From the raw bar to the open fire picanha, it truly added to our perfect day.
We will never forget how much hard work was put into our wedding.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We highly recommend Farm to Fire for anyone looking to have that one-of-a-kind experience on their special day!
Julie S
5.0
11/28/2022
The Team at Farm to Fire catered our wedding in June. We wanted open fire at the wedding and we also wanted some amazing Italian Food for my side of the family. We built the perfect menu with Brandon's Help and the food was amazing. We worked closely with his team leading up to the wedding day and the communication line was very smooth.
Hiring Farm to Fire was one of the best decisions we made. I cannot recommend them enough.
Jessica W
1.0
11/07/2022
I never leave bad reviews… ever. So for me (the bride), to leave a negative review— there were MULTIPLE chances given to a business to acknowledge their issue, offer better customer service, or remedy the situation. Brides, please read this full review and take it seriously.
The good part about this caterer: his staff. The serving staff at our wedding was very kind. That’s the only good thing I have to say about working with HVBBQ.
Brandon (the owner) is entirely unprofessional. I found him on here and his reviews SEEMED positive, the food looked creative, so I was excited to work with him! We also had a cross-cultural wedding, so I thought Brandon would be a chef who could produce a mix of our ethnic cuisines!
First, I had to hunt down Brandon to get a response back with a menu. That SHOULD have been the first red flag, but when I did finally talk to Brandon, he seemed nice. My fiancé (who is Pakistani) spoke with Brandon and requested a tasting because we were mixing cultures and wanted to taste the food prior to paying almost $20000 for it!
Brandon agreed to the tasting; we book him. LESSON LEARNED- some people do not honor their verbal agreements! After us reaching out MULTIPLE times to try to arrange the tasting… we finally ended up withholding our next payment in the hopes that this would encourage Brandon to actually reach out to us and schedule the tasting as he agreed to!
ONE month prior to our wedding he calls my husband. Said he would stop by that next weekend with a sample of the food. We planned to write him a check for his full final payment then. We also needed someone to come visit our home because our reception was at our house, and we wanted to make sure he felt comfortable with the layout. HE NEVER SHOWED. This was TWO weeks until the wedding. He never even bothered to contact us to apologize, and essentially sent his assistant Jes (who is nice) to try and smooth it over the next day with the excuse “We forgot our wedding was on Sunday, not Saturday”… not comforting. She said she’d talk to Brandon to see if he could arrange a tasting for Sunday (ONE WEEK to the wedding).
The next day, we get an abrupt email from Brandon addressing NO concerns but saying he won’t do a tasting and ALSO how dare we not pay our payment on time (he would have already had his full payment by now had he showed up when he was supposed to), so unless we paid immediately he was cancelling our wedding. Um… okay? So we made a payment that night.
Well, Brandon called us the Friday before the wedding and tried to cancel. He waited until a week before our wedding, and we didn’t have much choice except to WIRE TRANSFER him the money and cross our fingers that he showed.
Thankfully, I hired a day of coordinator who was an ANGEL. She informed me that the morning of the wedding, Brandon showed up and threw a literal childish hissy fit about how the layout wasn’t what he could work with (his assistant Jes came to see the property herself) AND apparently he tried to cancel on us AGAIN ON OUR WEDDING DAY! Inexcusable.
Of course, the ethnic food was terrible. It tasted nothing like it was supposed to… not surprised. Brandon is full of excuses like “I never have cell service” and “I never do tastings” and takes ZERO ownership in causing any of the problems.
Frankly, I doubt I need to leave this review because Brandon will do a great job ruining his own business. Brides, RUN far away and book someone else. You don’t want the stress we went through.
Vendor response 11/11/2022
Thank you for sharing your experience Jessie.
Unfortunately meeting on a weekend for a ta...
sting is near impossible during wedding season. We offered a tasting any weekday for 5 months. Which you wouldn't do like every other couple has done since we started this business.
As far as the payments, just pay your bills.
You were in breech of contract and we still bought all of the food to do your event on good faith.
After so long, we had no other option but a wire transfer to guarantee funds.
We waited two hours the day of the wedding to get parked to cook your food. The reason, your husband's car could not be moved and the bathroom trailer was parked in the wrong spot. So I parked our refrigerated trailer on a hill and ruined the $3500 compressor just to make your day as good as possible.
Your planner was a gem and said many times how well we handled the mess we were given. She texted me personally saying how great of a job we did and assured us that she said nothing bad about any of us.
Your husband was back by the kitchen laughing and eating and talking with us many times.
We all appreciated the opportunity to be a part of your wedding day and we wish you nothing but the best in your married life.
Sincerely,
The Farm to Fire Team
Amy P
5.0
10/13/2022
As the MOB I can whole-heartedly recommend Brandon and his lovely staff. They were great to work with, totally on board with our relaxed 'camp' wedding theme, and many of our guests said it was the best food they had ever eaten at a wedding! The fun of having our guests watch the fire set up and their food being cooked throughout the day was an added bonus. Brandon even popped into the kitchen where I was struggling to stack my homemade wedding cake layers, and offered support, advice and good cheer during a tense moment! What more can I say, these are fantastic folks offering delicious food and good vibes!!
Shannon G
5.0
10/12/2022
Brandon & crew are AMAZING!! From the moment we met him over the phone my husband and I feel in love with his personality. He does everything and anything to make your wedding dreams and visions come through. His communication was seamless and he made the process super easy and stress free. My only regret is that I didn’t eat enough of his food. Run, don’t walk and hire HVBBQ for your wedding- you will not regret!! Brandon will be a friend for life! Much love!
- Gilly
Tyler S
5.0
10/11/2022
My family and I grew up working in our families steakhouse, I am now a chef myself so our expectation for wedding food isn't usually a high one however we were blown away at my sisters wedding last month. Brandon hit the nail on the head from the overall vibe to every detail. Raw bar and ribs at cocktail hour were incredible! From cedar plank salmon, steak with chimichurri to the vegan options everything was truly delicious. The dessert and egg sandwiches gave us ALL the dancing fuel! It helps that Brandon is lovely to work with and truly is invested in making the night special!
Molly S
5.0
10/07/2022
I loved my experience working with Brandon and team. They were responsive and so quick to roll up their sleeves and jump in - even if it was outside their "scope" of work. We collaborated on a great menu and I was super happy with my decision to work with them! Thank you for everything.
Trudy R
5.0
10/07/2022
Brandon + team catered the food for our wedding in July 2022, and we can't rave enough about our experience! He worked with us to accommodate our requests for an eclectic menu, made sure we had vegan & vegetarian options (as veggie-forward folks with families who love their meat), and was open to our many questions throughout the planning process. The food & drinks went off without a hitch and we're still getting compliments about how delicious it all was from our guests months later, not to mention it was beautifully displayed & served with a smile. Brandon genuinely enjoys working with couples to create a menu that represents them, and it's the cherry on top of HVBBQ's amazing-tasting food. We had a great experience & would recommend HVBBQ to others in a heartbeat!
Sarah J
5.0
10/02/2022
I have been in the hospitality industry for over 10 years, and the day of coordinator for many weddings, and while I was just a guest for this particular wedding, it was incredible to watch Brandon and his team work. They couldn't have been more attentive, fun and talented. Brandon's food is artful and from the raw bar, to the incredible cocktail hour spread, to the elegant family style dinner, I was wowed from start to finish.
Harley S
5.0
9/26/2022
Brandon and his team were awesome! We worked with them for about 2 years perfecting the menu of our dreams! Everything was amazing and the open fire experience added a super unique element to our wedding day. Trust Brandon, he knows what he’s doing and how to do it WELL.
Leigh J
5.0
8/24/2022
Brandon and his team are spectacular!! From the very first conversation, it was clear that Brandon is very passionate about what he does and is extremely detail oriented. We felt that Brandon went above and beyond to meet us at the venue and help us with items that were beyond his contract obligations. We knew we were in great hands. The day of the wedding could not have gone better. All of our guests raved about the food and the service staff. I would highly recommend Brandon and would use him again for future parties.
Chris v
5.0
8/02/2022
Hired Brandon for our wedding and am so happy we did! Brandon is so communicative and passionate about food. He's so talented and the food is incredible! You must try the chicken and waffles, the short ribs, and the drunken brussel sprouts! And the bar service wow! We got so many compliments on the service and signature drinks! They really did amazing and we're so happy for Brandon and his team. Thanks guys your the best!!
Kristina M
5.0
8/02/2022
We decided to do a non-traditional wedding in the woods and wanted something equally as exciting for the food. So we looked around for an amazing experience and found Brandon and so happy we did! Brandon is such a sweetheart going above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the food and menu - even doing a venue trip! He was very responsive throughout and the food was AMAZING! And we also got so many complimentson the bar service and our signature drinks. Such an amazing wedding - thank you Brandon and HV BBQ team!!
Sophia F
5.0
7/23/2022
We spent over a year planning our wedding with Farm to Fire. We had a lot of logistics concerns because we were at a non traditional venue. Brandon was absolutely fantastic navigating everything and was great to work with.
We chose to not get a planner and honestly didn't need one. The team at Farm to Fire worked so closely with us that we felt like every detail was covered.
The food.... So many people told us how much they loved the open fire show. The food was the highlight of the day for sure.
Hiring Brandon was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding.
I cannot recommend Brandon and his team enough.
Patricia d
1.0
7/22/2022
Brandon was the first vendor we enlisted after signing our venue (Handsome Hollow). Despite seeing some concerning reviews, we were excited about offering open-fire cooking to our wedding guests. We also loved Brandon’s creativity and flexibility when discussing potential menu options and affordability in comparison to other caterers. As soon as we signed the contract with Brandon, we noticed that communication was rough. We had to follow up multiple times to get answers to our emails and it often felt as if past conversations were completely forgotten. Nonetheless, we pushed forward and traveled all the way from San Francisco to the Catskills for our tasting–a big mistake.
We spoke with Brandon the day before the tasting and everything was on track. Nonetheless, he emailed us less than 2 hours before the tasting to postpone it to 6:30pm (despite knowing that we had flown from the West Coast and driven 3 hours from New York). Unfortunately, we already had a commitment at night and were flying back the next day. We were devastated as we had invested money into flying to the East Coast and took time off from work … all for nothing. Although he offered to repay our flights or a dinner in New York (which we refused to accept), we lost trust in his capabilities to cater at our wedding.
Unsure what to do next, we solicited advice from other vendors that we had enlisted in the meantime and heard that Brandon had recently been blacklisted at multiple venues in the area after last minute cancellations or not delivering food as agreed upon. We also heard that couples ended up with unexpected costs after their wedding and that other vendors suffered from his poor communication skills. We were strongly advised to find another caterer and agreed with Brandon that it’d be better for both parties to end the relationship. Although Brandon immediately agreed to refund our deposit, it took weeks of following up (during which he was completely unresponsive so we did not know that a first check 'disappeared' in the mail) and ultimately threatening with legal action to get our deposit back.
Although we still believe that Brandon is likely a stellar cook, he needs to step up his services and treat his clients better. Finding a new caterer while chasing down a large deposit was by far our worst wedding experience.
Vendor response 07/22/2022
Unfortunately dealing with cancer is not easy. We asked to push the tasting back later in ...
the day because I was throwing up blood.
Upon hearing that didnt fit your schedule, i offered to drive down to the city the next day to fit it in. No luck. Then I offered to pay your airfare for the whole trip.
Leaving this review a year later after it all happened is odd, but I am sure it made you feel better.
Our entire team wishes you and Bernardo all the best in your married life.
Kelly M
5.0
6/23/2022
Fantastic food and lovely team: My sister hired Brandon and the team for her wedding, and spent months gushing about the food from the first time she tried it. I tried the food on the wedding day and was equally as impressed. It was a really nice change from boring catering hall food or more traditional wedding meals. It was also great to be able to go back for seconds and even thirds, ensuring no guest was left hungry! On top of the food, Brandon and his team were lovely to be around and so, so nice and helpful. At one point, one of the guys was up on a ladder helping move some string lights the morning of the wedding to make sure they could park where the bride and groom wanted. Plus, I spent a lot of the night drunkenly talking to the staff as they prepared the food, which probably was super annoying for them in retrospect but they always made me feel welcome and I only remember having the best time. Cannot say enough nice things about all of them! Hands down 5 stars across the board for food and service!
Anusheh S
5.0
11/09/2021
We are obsessed with Brandon!! Just and absolute pleasure to work with and a true lover of food (the perfect combo for all catering needs). Brandon absolutely aced our Persian inspired wedding menu and multiple guests said our menu was the best wedding food they ever had. Cherry on top is that he is kind and very flexible! He really cares about each of his couples and perfecting his craft. Do not hesitate to book, he will not disappoint!
Emily W
5.0
10/30/2021
My husband and I wanted a unique food experience at our wedding, so we hired Brandon and his team and they did an amazing job. We’ve gotten several comments from guests that our food was the best wedding food they’ve ever had. Brandon was very communicative and flexible with us, giving us a lot of choice on what we served. We went with a southern station and an open fire grill station, and they also killed it with our signature cocktails. If you’re on the fence whether or not to hire HVBBQ, I’d say definitely do it. All of my uncles and family friends were so stoked on the concept of their visible open fire cooking, it was entertaining AND delicious. Hire them!
Angus V
5.0
10/27/2021
Brandon and his team were a true pleasure to work with throughout the planning and execution of our special day. Brandon stayed professional and level headed as he guided us through complications with our venue and planning a family style dinner for over 100 people. The food was delicious and our guests were especially impressed with the snapper and its presentation. I would highly recommend Farm and Fire to any future husband and wife looking to plan a special wedding. Book with them and Enjoy!
Caitlin L
5.0
10/25/2021
Brandon and his team were a pleasure to work with! They were extremely flexible and understanding when we had to postpone our wedding. Brandon was super easy to work with during the planning stages and was always willing to give suggestions. We worked together closely to customize our menu and create a rental list with ease. He was also very accommodating for our guests who had dietary restrictions/allergies. We also had a fabulous experience at our tasting. It doesn’t get better than locally sourced ingredients! On our wedding day, Brandon brought over champagne and a platter of food to the bridal suite. At cocktail hour, his team fixed us a plate of all the appetizers that were being passed around so we wouldn't miss out. One final thought – we highly recommend incorporating the mini milkshake bar into your dessert menu! Many thanks again to Brandon and his marvelous staff.
Bri M
5.0
10/25/2021
From the start, my husband and I hit it off with Brandon. He was excited and eager to give us exactly what we wanted. And he did just that! The food was amazing and his set up is so great. We are still getting compliments about the food! I unfortunately didn't get to try everything because I was busy with photographs and other bride-like stuff, but one of his staff delivered me a plate and it was amazing.
Jason O
5.0
10/04/2021
From the moment we met Brandon we knew we wanted him and his team at our wedding! Brandon helped us go through all of the nitty gritty of our menu and planning for our wedding and when the day came him and his team showed up ready to make our day amazing. Four months later when we get together with friends some of them still talk about how much fun they had at our wedding and how great the food and atmosphere was and we credit all of that to Brandon and his team!
Caity M
5.0
9/22/2021
Brandon was an absolute sweetheart to work with and him and his crew did a stunning job catering our wedding! We worked with Brandon through the midst of a pandemic to book our wedding, design our menus, and even complete our tasting just a few weeks before our event. Throughout the whole process Brandon was responsive, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. When our wedding day came we had the chance to watch our guests enjoy all of his hard work and it was worth every penny. The food and atmosphere was amazing and we still have friends that mention the food at our wedding when we get together; thank you Brandon <3
Erin D
5.0
9/09/2021
We had Brandon and the Farm to Fire Team cater our wedding in the Catskills this spring.
The whole process from start to finish was so great.
A customized menu was one of the highlights. We didn't want the same stuff we saw at every single wedding and my fiance loved the open fire piece.
The guests are still talking about the food months after.
We had several calls with Brandon and he worked closely with our planner to make our vision come to life.
From the service team to the food to attention to detail leading up to the wedding, we loved it all.
I cannot recommend Brandon and Farm to Fire enough for any event.
Lynn B
5.0
8/27/2021
Brandon at HV BBQ - Farm to Fire catered our barn wedding in the Catskills and did a fabulous job. He listened early on to what we wanted for food and came through despite an 11-month postponement and some serious wedding day rain. The food was delicious and served station-style so guests could have a portion of each of the proteins and sides. Mini pies for dessert and a late night pretzel/cheese situation topped off a great evening. Staff was super. Bartenders were great. Cannot recommend them enough.
Francis T
5.0
8/16/2021
HVBBQ did an amazing job at our wedding. People are still talking about the food and the way it was prepared. We gave HVBBQ and their staff a lot to deal with because of our unique venue but they nailed it. Thank you to Brandon and his entire staff for making our day amazing!
Vendor response 08/16/2021
Thank you so much for the great feedback! We had so much fun celebrating with you and Alys...
sa and your crew. Cheers to many years of health and happiness and welcome to the family.
Samantha Q
5.0
8/14/2021
Farm to Fire 100% stole the show! Between the quality of the food, the professionalism of the staff, the cooking displays and the overall coordination they made sure it was a day we would never forget. We definitely would recommend.
Travis K
5.0
8/01/2021
Farm to Fire were absolutely amazing! I attended a wedding where they were catering and it was so cool to watch them cook and prepare the food over open fires. The team was great, and their operation is really top notch. The food was exceptional as well
Kyle K
5.0
7/08/2021
Hudson Valley BBQ Farm to Fire was so awesome to work with for our wedding day. They were very professional and everybody kept raving about how great the food and service was. The bartenders did a great job and were very personable. I am so thankful that we chose Brandon and his crew to cater our wedding. They did such a great job on everything. It was all perfect to the last detail! Signature drinks were a big hit!!
Caitlin M
5.0
4/01/2021
When we first got engaged, we searched high and low for a vendor that would bring the whole ingredients, low fuss, but high-impact type of cooking we knew we wanted — preferably with some live fire. Everywhere we turned, the options were either out of our budget or otherwise just not right. From the moment we first got on the phone with Brandon, we knew this was the solution we'd been dreaming of! We had such great chats and he took in everything we said, got to know our personalities and preferences, and helped us create a menu that felt so personal and right, it made me cry the first time he sent it.
Our wedding has since been postponed, and Brandon and his team have been beyond accommodating in making the changes. The stress of moving our wedding date has felt so much lighter with the true partnership of vendors like these.
We cannot WAIT to finally eat our wedding meal in 2022! But even ahead of that, I'd recommend Farm to Fire / Hudson Valley BBQ / Brandin without any hesitation to anyone planning their own event.
Maria B
5.0
4/01/2021
Working with Brandon at Farm to Fire has been a delight to say the least. He has worked with us from the beginning of our wedding planning adventure to curate the most perfect menu for our big day, and has worked with our personalities and preferences seamlessly. We made the tough decision to postpone our original date, which was supposed to be this June (6.19.21), to instead hold the party next summer (6.11.22), and Brandon has been both patient and supportive in our decision.
We honestly did not know what to expect when beginning our wedding planning, but as soon as we found Brandon and Farm to Fire, we knew it was a perfect match for us.
Our tasting was so delicious and the afternoon was well spent getting to know Brandon and the ins and outs of working with Farm to Fire. We are obviously sad to have postponed our big day for many reasons, but one of the biggest is because we have to wait that much longer to enjoy the food!
If you are questioning whether to book Farm to Fire or not, just do it, you will not be disappointed.
Daisy D
4.0
10/28/2020
Brandon was great at working with us to make our wedding happen despite COVID. He eased into a relocation and coordinated with our new venue ensuring everything went smoothly! I got so many compliments on him and his staffs friendliness! I really enjoyed the apps and all of the food. Some guests did say the food was cold by their time, due to buffet and no warmers. I did want the food to be better covered for COVID, but after two weeks we had no covid cases so it ended up being fine. One thing was that it was hard at times to get ahold of Brandon or obtain documents. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend!
Chris H
5.0
10/27/2020
Highly recommend! Brandon is extremely easy to work with and very responsive. His menu planning is very flexible and after attending the tasting, there is not question he is an excellent chef. You absolutely should hire Brandon and his team for your event. No question!
Samantha G
5.0
10/25/2020
I wish we could give Brandon more than 5 STARS! We had one major must have at our wedding and that was amazing food. It was no surprise that Brandon and his team made that happen. From the very start of planning Brandon was an absolute pleasure to work with, fast forward to only 6 months before our wedding and a pandemic came and changed everything. Brandon was positive, understanding, helpful and honestly just an amazing person to chat with about our uncertain plans. The day approached and he made all the appropriate accommodations to make sure our friends,family and the staff were safe. Also, I think it is important I mention CHICKEN AND WAFFLES! The whole menu making process was actually amazing and it often made us hungry. The day of it was amazing to see it come together and smell it cooking! I (The Bride) will go on the record and say that I WAS FULL! Brandon made sure we got to eat everything and boy did we eat! Our drinks were absolutely delicious with a good old Whiskey Sour with egg whites and a smokey Mexican mule! We honestly want to have another wedding/event just so Brandon can feed us again! We did not have to worry about anything, Brandon and his team took care of everything and even the day of came up to our house and dropped off a little snack. We could honestly go on and on about how perfect Brandon is but we may run out of space. If you are looking for the perfect caterer Brandon is your guy! The FOOD AND DRINKS WERE AMAZING!!!!
We forever love Brandon and the Hudson Valley BBQ team!
Shira L
5.0
9/11/2020
Brandon is amazing!! wedding planing is very stressful but having Brandon as our caterer took all the stress away he is easy to work with and always always available to talk to.!!! his work is an art!!! his food is an art!!! his food is out of this world!!! not only is Hudson Valley BBQ have the most amazing wedding menu but Brandon will work with you to make your special day even more special and customize anything you want !! Hiring Hudson Valley BBQ was the best decision. !! We were so lucky Brandon was available for our wedding date !! Brandon is the Best and you be a fool to have anyone else do your wedding !!! on top of his amazing food Brandon is a solid person and someone we will be friends with for a long time. we love you Brandon!!!
Samantha L