About this vendor
MacDonald Farm is a wedding and event caterer operating out of Castroville, CA. Specializing in farm-to-table cuisine, this business can provide freshly prepared meals for any occasion. Whether you want to celebrate with a wedding breakfast or a relaxed buffet, they can help you satiate your appetite with delicious and wholesome food.
MacDonald Farm was co-founded by Michael MacDonald and Daniel Schrock. After recovering from a life-changing accident, Michael developed a keen interest in gardening and livestock farming. He teamed up with professional chef Daniel, who has years of experience in the food industry, and the company grew from there.
By choosing MacDonald Farm as your wedding caterer, you can look forward to top-quality services such as meal tastings, customized menus, and flexible dining. Daniel can assist you with devising your own personalized food selection, with options for tapas, brunch, family-style dinners, and buffet stations. He can also accommodate guests with dietary restrictions by preparing gluten- and nut-free, vegan, and no pork options. To ensure everything runs smoothly, the staff will take care of delivery, set-up, and service of the food.
Details
Business Attributes
- LGBTQ+-owned Business
Cuisine
- American
- BBQ
- Cajun
- Eastern European
- French
- Fusion
Dietary Options
- Dairy Free
- Gluten Free
- Nut Free
- Organic
- Sugar Free
- Vegan
Food & Catering
- Buffet
- Catering Clean Up
- Catering Delivery & Setup
- Chef Stations
- Family Style
- Menu Tastings
Awards and Affiliations
2025 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Reviews
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5
out of 5.017 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Michael and Daniel were the absolute best decision I made when I booked my wedding. They were an absolute joy in all phases of my wedding - from planning phone calls to the clean u...
p. My only regret from my wedding was that I didn't get to chit-chat with them more. Usually wedding food is so/so, but the food at my wedding was amazing. People were asking for recipes! They went above and beyond in every aspect; even the presentation was beautiful! When I came out and saw my wedding cake they made for me, I started tearing up it was so pretty. If you want unbelievably good food at amazing prices with the best service you could ever ask for, go book MacDonald Farm right now!
Mike and Daniel are such amazing people to work with! They were so helpful in working with us for our wedding. The food turned out so beautifully! The edible flowers they used thro...
ughout and the cake they made for us was just perfect. We loved their straight forward pricing. It is a great value for everything they offer and allowed us to customize everything to be exactly what we wanted.
Some of the things that stand out for us where the deviled eggs with a parmesan crisp, the broccomoli, and the mushroom risotto, and they have so many other great things to choose from! We also ordered a leave ahead breakfast from them, which was super tasty too (the french toast bite things were not too sweet!)
They were super mindful about accommodating our allergies and dietary restrictions (celiac and vegetarian), which was super appreciated.
MacDonald Farm was our caterer at our wedding on November 1, 2025, and working with them was a dream come true.
When we were looking for wedding caterers we had a tall order: we w...
ere coming from out of state, we had an off-the-grid venue, it was a dry wedding, we needed a caterer that could handle the many different diet restrictions of us and our guests, and of course, we wanted very tasty food! As vegetarians, we have had the experience of going to events and being left to eat just the afterthought of a salad. It was incredibly important to us that we could not just accommodate our guests' eating restrictions, but have everyone able to fully participate in each part of the wedding day food - appetizers, salad, entrees, and desserts. We had vegans, gluten-free celiacs, lactose-intolerant people, as well as many people with various allergies, and together with Mike and Daniel we created a menu that made sure everyone was taken care of.
Over our thread with 70+ emails (because crafting a menu like the above takes a crazy amount of double checking notes!), Mike and Daniel were always patient, accommodating, kind, creative, and excited to discuss the possibilities with us. Every combination they suggested sounded amazing; the hardest thing about working with them was picking between the delicious options! They even came up with and served 3 fabulous mocktails for our dry wedding, that were no joke some of the best mocktails we have ever had. Multiple people came up to us during and after the wedding to comment on how good the food was, especially their Dinosaur Kale Caesar Salad, Mushroom Wellington, and Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies. If we could go back and change anything it would just be to double the amount of the Kale Salad, because people wanted seconds, and triple the amount of desserts, specifically the Malted Cookies, because people wanted seconds and to take them home!
We do think it's important to note that Mike and Daniel do not do any part of the table setting (which they told us up front, and we were okay with). They helped with filling our (non-alcoholic) champagne glasses, but everything else on the table we did ourselves (or really we should say, our wedding party and coordinator did). We would recommend hiring a coordinator that knows how to do table settings and who has some extra help if you're having a medium to big wedding, as this does take up a good bit of time if you want anything laid out on the tables rather than just a buffet.
Mike and Daniel took an aspect of our wedding we were lowkey dreading (literally just finding good vegetarian catering is already so hard) and made it the aspect of our wedding about which we were most excited. If you are having a wedding in the Santa Cruz/Monterey Area, and want great food, kind people, to support members of the LGBTQ+ community and a small family farm, then you have found the caterers for you! We could not recommend MacDonald Farm more!
We had the MacDonalds for our wedding and they were absolutely wonderful. From the beginning they made communication easy and answered all of our questions with a quick response. W...
e had our wedding at the Wind and Sea in Big Sur and they were very knowledgeable about the venue. Their experience with the venue helped make our planning easier as they were able to give us a lot of information on how the venue works. One the day of the wedding they were just as lovely in person. Not only that, their food tasted absolutely incredible and everyone loved it. Everything was presented so nicely and picture perfect including our beautiful cake. For any one looking for a caterer in the Big Sur area we cannot recommend them enough!
Had such a great experience working with Michael and Daniel for my wedding in Big Sur! They made the process so easy and seamless and made sure every last detail was exactly what w...
e wanted. I loved that they use local/farm to table ingredients. On top of creating amazing dishes, their story that lead them to their love for farming is so inspiring. Hands down the best food I’ve ever had at any wedding!
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Mike and Daniel from MacDonald Farm for our wedding in Carmel Valley. From start to finish, their service was awesome, and our guests a...
re still raving about the incredible food. The moment we saw their menu and spoke with them for the first time, we knew they were the perfect choice for our wedding. Their warmth, kindness, and genuine passion for their work shone through in every interaction. Their commitment to using seasonal, local, and fresh ingredients also set them apart. On the day of our wedding, they worked seamlessly to ensure everything went smoothly, allowing us to relax and enjoy the moment. We highly recommend them!
MacDonald Farms truly exceeded our expectations. Being from out of state, communication was crucial for us to plan our wedding, and MacDonald Farms made the process seamless. We pr...
imarily communicated via email, but they took the time to connect with us over the phone initially to understand our needs. Their process is well-organized: after our phone consultation, they provided detailed PDFs, including menu options, through email.
We chose a buffet menu, complete with our wedding cake, and everything was absolutely delicious. The risotto and the plum-lemon cake were standout favorites. As the newlyweds, we even found ourselves sneaking deviled eggs between photos and mingling with our guests. Our only regret? Not having the time to enjoy more of the incredible food!
MacDonald Farms worked seamlessly with our venue and wedding planner, ensuring that everything ran smoothly on the big day. The clear communication and professionalism of their team made our wedding day stress-free, and both our guests and we were thrilled with the delicious food and the warm, friendly atmosphere created by the catering crew.
Thank you, MacDonald Farms, for making our day not just special, but truly delicious!
Our wedding catering experience was absolutely outstanding! From the very beginning, Mike and Daniel were great communicators, making the planning process smooth and completely str...
ess-free. Their professionalism was evident in every interaction, with prompt responses to all our questions and concerns. The catering staff on the day were not only lovely but brought such positive attitudes that added to the joy of the event. I recently found out that my father in law went inside during the wedding and was rude to the staff, requesting they make coffee for guests and serve deserts. We didn`t pay for deserts (a guest showed up with some), or coffee. This wasn`t their responsibility to handle, and I`m so sorry that your team experienced this. The team was incredibly professional and kind despite the unacceptable interaction. So much so that I didn`t even know it happened until my father in law told me! While the service and staff were wonderful, the food—exceptional! Our guests loved the dinosaur kale salad, and raved about the bruschetta, and deviled quail eggs during cocktail hour! If you want delicious food and a seamless catering experience, I couldn`t recommend them enough!
Michael, Daniel, and their staff delivered an incredible wedding dinner that we cannot recommend enough. The food was incredible, from the appetizers to the mains and dessert. We h...
ad so many guests come up to us at the end of the night and say "that was the best wedding food I've ever had". Their professionalism is outstanding - we had a lot to worry about during our wedding day but the dinner was never a concern. They showed up to a kitchen they had never seen and turned out every dish perfectly. Leading up to the wedding they were flexible with lots of revisions, menu changes, allergy accommodations, and setting up our tasting. They are both so kind and warm-hearted and you can truly taste the love in the food. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank them so much for making our wedding such a special night. I didn't even mention that all of the food used ingredients from their farm! Ten out of five stars, we love these guys!!!!! - Vincent and Anya
Michael and Daniel have created a culinary experience that will impress all your guests no matter your event! The perfection of flavors, and textures created a pleasing sensory exp...
erience for our wedding guests palates! Our families and friends raved about the food. From the precisely flavored appetizers to the main dishes, we all went back for more!
As a full time working bride who did all of my own wedding planning, it was heart-warming and impressive to have such personable, and clear communications on email with Michael and Daniel! It put me at ease. Their website provided me a great visual of their culinary capabilities. These images paled in comparison to actually experiencing it first hand!
We love that their food is farm to table! The confidence in highly fresh, organic food that is locally grown made a big difference in our decision making process. The pricing is very reasonable in comparison to what one would typically find as "commercial caterers" in the bay area. I felt like I hit the lottery finding them in my research and will contract with them again for future events.
Michael and Daniel's personal touch, flavor combinations and cooking precision was nothing short of culinary artistry!
MacDonald Farm was a wonderful caterer to work with for my wedding. Michael and Daniel are friendly, responsive, and helpful in answering questions and accommodating requests. My w...
edding was the first wedding they had catered at the Waterfall Lodge and Retreat in Ben Lomond, CA and it has some unusual features given it in the redwoods. They met with folks at the venue and were able to seamlessly cater the event as if they had done it there dozens of times. The best part of all was the food. I am huge advocate of farm to table dining and everything they prepared was delicious. I loved knowing how much of it came from their farm as well. The mushroom bisque appetizer, red wine braised beef, mushroom lasagna and rolls with lavender butter were all particular hits with everyone, but I honestly loved everything I tried. We had many guests approach my husband and I about how much they loved the food. I couldn't recommend them more highly.
If you are looking for caterers who will go above and beyond to make your rehearsal dinner or wedding delicious, beautiful and memorable, please consider MacDonald Farms. The food...
was fresh, delicious, simple yet elegant and displayed with simplistic elegance. Michael and Daniel arrived and set up everything just as we had discussed. They used creative herbs and flavors to enhance the food in new, creative ways. They were easy to communicate with and flexible with requests right to the last minute. You cannot go wrong with MacDonald Farms.
Our experience with MacDonald Farms was absolute perfection. Michael and Daniel are simply the best! You can tell that they put their hearts and souls into their business, as it sh...
ows not only through their food, but their glowing personalities and energies as well. Catering is such a huge part of a wedding day, and immediately after our first conversation, I knew I could trust them with anything and everything. The food was an absolute hit among our guests and they still tell us even a month from our wedding. The effort and flavors of the food were *chef’s kiss* and I’m so so thankful that they made our day simple and without a hitch. Thank you both so much!
Let me start by saying we would give Macdonald Farm Catering 10 stars if we could. Michael and Daniel are such kind sweet individuals and it was a joy to work with them and they ma...
de our wedding day with their fresh and delicious farm to table food. The communication leading up to our wedding was really nice and we felt like we were in good hands with all questions answered. They have a beautiful story of how they started their business so you know you’re working with honest and down to earth individuals.
The pricing for their food and services is really fair in a world of outrageous catering pricing. We almost decided not to have a wedding at all after getting so many quotes for a 50 person wedding that left us shocked and saddened by the fact we could not afford any companies we contacted. We then came across Macdonald Farm! The kindness and can do nature of Daniel and Michael is wonderful alone, but the food they offer is just out of this world. The appetizers we ordered (corn fritters, butternut squash arancini, bruschetta and brie, prosciutto and arugula crostini) were so good all of our guests were raving about them. The buffet dinner had such good flavor, we knew it would be great, but we were truly blown away.
We are so grateful to have found Macdonald Farm. They have worked at Wind & Sea in Big Sur many times and are pros there. Everything went so smoothly. We unfortunately don’t live near by, but will definitely have to have some event in the Monterey area in the future just to work with and be able to eat their fabulous food again.
Daniel and Mike did a great job for our intimate wedding in Big Sur, they were very helpful with planning the menu and getting everything set in our very short timeline! Everyone l...
oved the food and we had the best time working with them. I love their backstory and visiting them on the farm for a tasting was so fun, it’s amazing how they grow their own ingredients and the skill they have making every dish taste amazing! We’re had several dietary restrictions but luckily that wasn’t an issue. Most of our dishes were dairy and gluten free and no one could tell which was so impressive! If you want a caterer who is sustainable, flexible and makes delicious food MacDonald Farm is for you!!
There is no one out there like Daniel and Mike. The story of how they started MacDonald Farm is as heartwarming as the meals they serve; meals that warm the soul and are made with ...
love, using healthy, locally-sourced ingredients from their family farm in Monterey, CA. Both Daniel and Mike were an absolute joy to work with from day one and completely blew away all of our expectations with the most delicious and breathtaking reception dinner for our wedding at the Wind & Sea Estate in Big Sur. The farm-fresh deviled quail eggs garnished with parmesan crisps and borage flowers were an absolute hit! We were also gushing over the glazed chicken meatballs, the strawberry and ricotta kale salad, and their homemade chimichurri sauce… I could go on!
We were nervous how we would pull off an elegant dinner without a coordinator at a challenging and remote venue, but Mike and Daniel are truly masters in the kitchen who showed the utmost professionalism from start to finish, making the whole experience easy, fun and so enjoyable. We especially loved how genuinely excited they were to be a part of our wedding instead of feeling like we were just another event - it makes a BIG difference!
Mike and Daniel won everyone’s hearts over at our wedding, including our other vendors! Nearly every guest or staff member in attendance asked us at one point or another, “How did you find them?!?” That’s how memorable they were! We are SO impressed and happy with our experience, and cannot recommend Macdonald Farms enough. We truly found a diamond in the ruff with Mike and Daniel. Thank you both for everything.
Do you want to work with a low-stress caterer who will customize the menu to any of your vegan/vegetarian needs? And do you want all of your guests to remark how good the food is a...
t your wedding? If yes, Daniel and MacDonald Farm are the perfect caterer for you!
I hired Daniel to cater my little wedding with less than 15 people in Big Sur and he was awesome to partner with!The wedding was scheduled to be outside and when a storm was predicted, we moved it up a day and to a new venue at the last minute. Daniel was so flexible and responsive through all of the changes and he was able to deliver delicious food despite it all. Within minutes of my guests starting to eat lunch they were all saying how great the food was. And we saved all of the extra and the guests ate the rest for lunch the next few days :)
I highly recommend Daniel and his team for your wedding or event!
Contact
Monterey County
MacDonald Farm