The Chef and I Catering by A Grand Affair

e burden on us and our families. The food was delicious and the service was perfect--I really don't think there's a better caterer out there! Thank you, Chef & I.

mmodating throughout the whole process. When it comes to the food, we can't fit all of the complements we received the night of the wedding into this review! The steak was cooked perfectly for over 100 of our guests, the chicken was superb, and the vegetarian was "the best they've ever had". The service, set-up and cleanup were all seamless and the passed and plated appetizers all came out quickly and hot. The cookie table set up was beautiful and never left a tray empty. We can't say enough about how much Chef & I made our wedding day even better than we imagined.

ve and answered all of my questions and concerns. The day before and of the wedding the staff was professional and kept things moving smoothly. We had our wedding at a venue where we were responsible for everything. They even helped cut our wedding cake for us! I can't thank the Chef and I catering enough for the outstanding job they did!

ified my wedding plans would fall through during covid and the chef and I provided so much clarity around a great experience. THANK YOU!!

our day, the food was delicious and we had to worry about 0 decisions or problems!

s. We had our tasting months before the onset of the pandemic, and it was a great experience. The Chef and I team was prepared for us, and I was impressed at how many things we got to try. Best of all, everything was delicious. As the months passed and we were in a frenzy of new dates and changes, Nikki was always accommodating and available to answer any questions. When the day finally came, I was impressed by how professional and well organized the staff was. I did not have to worry once about anything food related. It is truly a talented team of individuals. The Chef and I always made sure we had food and water in the "getting ready room" while we were waiting for the ceremony and introductions. We enjoyed the passed appetizers so much and the dinner tasted just like we remembered from the tasting. We received so many compliments from our guests about how delicious the food was. The Chef and I also set up our our cookies and desserts on one of the tables. I was so impressed by how nicely they arranged everything (and there was a lot of cookies and desserts of all sizes). I had my 7 week old daughter with me on my wedding day (thanks COVID), and The Chef and I went above and beyond to help us wash and heat up bottles. I am truly grateful for that. Pricing was very reasonable, and all the details were always clear in any document Nikki would send us. I would highly recommend the Chef and I!

ef and I was extremely helpful as we planned a wedding during such a stressful time. She was quick to answer any questions we had and worked with us to have a tasting that we were comfortable with during the pandemic. We would definitely recommend the Chef and I to other couples planning a wedding.

ed at Soldiers & Sailors and received SO many compliments about the food and portions. We are a 100% Italian family so food is my family's baby and my parents, my fiancé, & I couldn't have been more pleased :)

t of all the food is delicious. All our guests raved about the food! From taste to presentation to staffing. They are the best!

r food for tasting so we could do a virtual tasting with Nikki via Zoom. We were sold with just that; the food being amazing felt like a bonus at that point. The day of the wedding went without a hitch, and I was so grateful to have a hot plate of delicious food at our reception, and they didn’t disappoint. I had a filet of beef, and my husband had the chicken; we both were looking for seconds before most of our guests had even finished! Ha!

edding, it was no problem! We received so many compliments on the food as well. Something that’s sets them apart: China and linens are included in the cost!

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y! So good and flavorful!! (Our favorite is the chicken romano) they are willing to help out in any way they can to make your day worry free and go smoothly. They were great at reaching out to us and communicating. All of our guests raved about the food. They even made us a to go dinner for later or the next day! We can't imagine The Chef and I Catering not being a part of our special day and will absolutely be using them for any of our future catering needs!

our food was so much better than anything they had ever had. We did the stations options, which was SO fun and our guests loved it! we got to pick so many different options for food, everyone got something that they loved. our food tasting with Nikki was also absolutely amazing. Chef gave us SO much food, we had leftovers for days! the chef and I was definitely one of the BEST decisions we made regarding our wedding.

were both great to work with throughout the process. They were extra accommodating and willing to work with us through our ever changing plans due to COVID-19. I highly recommend them!

us and The Chef and I exceeded our expectations in every way! We made several adjustments in the last few months as we postponed our wedding date and then worked to meet new Covid-19 guidelines, and The Chef and I were very helpful throughout the process. I highly recommend them!

ently and quickly. Two months after our wedding, we are receiving compliments from our satisfied guests about the food and the kind wait-staff.

had a question. They’re also very trust worthy. I’m glad we hired them for our reception. Everybody LOVED the food and talked about it weeks after the reception.

ing or seeming “budget friendly” might I add. Our wedding was beautiful and no one went away hungry! I can’t recommend them enough!!!!

ional, friendly, and very helpful. Most importantly the price was right, we got a lot for our money. They even supply table clothes and napkins. Trust me you won’t be disappointed!

and setup was top notch, and their professionalism out of bounds. Thank you for everything!

y work with whatever your budget is.

ashed potatoes! Kris, Nikki, and everyone else I spoke with were professional and very helpful in the very stressful process. They made it easy for me and I will use them again in the future. I definitely recommend them.

have enjoyed the left-overs & would pick them again hands down!! Thank you guys so much ♡

mother-in-law who is vision impaired what was on the plate and where it was on the plate. I thought that was very nice and above and beyond. We received so many compliments on the the food and how professional your staff was. We would definitely recommend you to anyone looking for a caterer.

ontinue enjoying. The food at our wedding was a huge hit and we got a lot of compliments on how delicious everything was!

ch with any time we needed to chat during the wedding planning process. They communicated at the beginning of our contract the dates that they would check in with us, and they checked in right on schedule every single time! I felt so confident everything was going to be taken care of, I didn't feel any stress the day of the wedding. Nikki made sure everything was beautifully set up on the day before the wedding and Kristopher checked in with me several times during cocktail hour to make sure we had enough appetizers in the board room and everything was flowing according to plan. The food was absolutely AMAZING and came out hot and at the exact right time it was supposed to come out. The room was served in less than 10 minutes for almost 150 guests. It was amazing working with the Chef & I and I HIGHLY recommend them to Soldier's & Sailors brides.

hey were so accommodating and truth provided one of the best meals we’ve had at a wedding. They were efficient and set up everything in a ballroom for over 300 people so beautifully and perfect. The staff was extremely polite. They trayed all 1,000+ cookies of ours - which meant a lot since it took a load off of us! I come from a big Italian family with many outstanding cooks, and they were blown away at how wonderful the meal was (especially the brajole!) highly highly recommend them to anyway! Their price was also very affordable which was a huge bonus for us - otherwise we truthfully might not have been able to have our wedding where we did!

down with The Chef and I, we knew we wanted them to be part of the wedding. We canceled our other appointments.

ey were in charge put my mind at ease. They even set aside a meal for my husband and me, knowing we really wouldn’t have a chance to eat. We ate it that night! From the moment I called to arrange the taste test until the day after the wedding, I was impressed!! I 100% recommended these professional, kind people!

The "stuffed" pork chop...was indeed not stuffed but rather a flat piece of meat with stuffing served beside. Also, it takes several unanswered emails, before someone answers your questions. Our guest were happy...and I guess thats all that matters. Over all it was and ok experience.

nd the service staff were friendly and helpful in packaging up leftovers. We would certainly recommend the Chef and I catering to anyone planning their wedding reception!

I will aslways reccomend Kristopher and his team :) Thank you for a job well done and making our dreams come true!

were always available to answer any questions. Everything through the process was very straight forward. We were so excited for leftovers the next day!

l of the delicious appetizers. Kris and team were very professional and all invoicing was timely and accurate. All costs were exactly as outlined.... Kris was always available (or would call back timely)to answers all of our questions! Would highly recommend!

te on their very busy calendars. Thankfully, we met Kris, chef Ken, and the Chef and I team! They exceeded our expectations from the first meeting and went above and beyond for us in every way, WITHOUT charging a small fortune. I felt like we were working with family...it was such a good feeling. It's clear that the Chef & I's priority is their client, not their bottom line. They recognizes how important the day is for you and your family, and they make yours feel like the only wedding on their schedule. After our wedding, we received countless compliments on the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, and we got RAVE reviews on the food (try their eggplant parm!). We will not forget what a positive impact the Chef & I had on our wedding. Forever thankful to this team!!!!!

and Brian Hilliard

inner was. The rolls were also really good! Also loved how they set up the stationed appetizers during cocktail hour. Our table was supposed to be served first, but we decided to make our rounds to other tables first and Kris 100% completely catered to us and the last second change. He made sure we got our food at a time when we could sit down and eat it -- after a long day, you realize how important that it!

hey made all my choices easy and had no problem with making changes to our itinerary throughout the process. I was able to make it out to Pittsburgh for a tasting and go over details, which is when I knew my choice was the right one! The food was delicious! My guests are still telling me how good the food was and how satisfied they were with how the buffet ran. The stuffed chicken breast was a crowd favorite. My tables looked beautiful with the linen and napkin set up. I was amazed at how beautiful the cocktail hour area was set up as well! The gold décor matched perfectly with my reception colors. The price for everything was great for the value. Service was excellent as well! I am very pleased with this vendor, and I wouldn't change a thing from the evening. Everything was delightful from the planning process to the reception. Thank you!

75 people were served. Any suggestions or changes we asked for, Kris quickly replied and took care of. Even during the set up the day before the wedding they made the specific changes we requested. The appetizer display was beautiful and the appetizers were wonderful! We cannot say enough good things about the Chef and I and would recommend them to anyone!

es' dinners and had apps waiting for us at our table. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for delicious food and an awesome staff!

ns if necessary. The food was delicious -the twice mashed potatoes were a melt-in-your mouth favorite mentioned by multiple guests. Denny was also really great about taking my vision and making it a reality. I sent him a simple outline and details of how I wanted things set up and everything looked perfect for our day! Thank you Denny for the wonderful experience!

really genuine! He was also just a super sweet guy in general. The food was INCREDIBLE- our guests were raving about it all night. They had all of our delicious leftovers packed up for us with sweet notes! I would pick them over and over again!!!

ceremony ending, I walked up to the balcony and saw our reception space come to life. I am so grateful to have Chef &I part of our special day. thanks everyone!

iti was my husband's favorite! Our guests were raving about how good the food was. Definitely recommend!!

in December and the food was good and at a fantastic price. Everything was set. Then I got a call this past Friday from a man named Kris, saying the Chef and I had merged with his company A Grand Affair, so now he owns both under one umbrella. He reassured me that quality would be the same, if not better, my menu wouldn't change, and everything on our contract was still valid. He offered a second tasting for reassurance purposes. I live out of state and by chance was going to be in town that very weekend. Kris bent over backwards to rally the troops and had a lovely tasting that Sunday morning, with less than 48 hrs' notice from the time I found out about the change in ownership. He was right: everything was as good and much was even better! Kris explained a few improvements he had made and why, and I was so pleased. He was really easy to work with and bent over backwards to accommodate and stay in touch. What could have been a very stressful situation worked out to be even better than I had planned! The food was divine at the tasting and I can't wait to work with Kris, Denny, and the rest of the crew next month. Update, post-wedding: I'm SO pleased with The Chef & I! Our August 2017 wedding was great and we got lots of compliments on the food, especially the "Pittsburgh station", which had stuffed cabbage and pierogi. They made sure to save us some appetizers in the bridal suite and left us TONS of well-packaged leftovers at the end of the night. The price was excellent for the quality. I'd definitely recommend this caterer.

e food and the entire process was so smooth. They cannot be more highly recommended!

to ensure everything went smoothly, and Vicky stayed after to clean up! She seriously is the best!! She was there for days ahead setting up our linen, and everything was perfect. I would recommend them to EVERYONE!!!!

eet us in downtown Freeport and he would give us a ride to their property. We were able to make it there on our own, but truly appreciated the offer! When we arrived we were taken into a private room and we met Denny and Vicky. They spent over an hour with us: giving us generous portions of food to taste; showing us photographs of their works and set-up at other wedding receptions; showing us linen and flatware options; going over a very tentative timeline and contract. We really felt like they wanted to get to know us and make everything fit our needs and wants. We had gone to other caterer meetings where there 3 or 4 couples trying food at the same time and we certainly weren't given the personal attention that we were given at the Chef & I. Denny helped us to come up with a tasty menu that fit our fall/barn-themed wedding. Our guests really loved the food! The tables were set-up beautifully. Our guests also really enjoyed the coffee station that we had. We would definitely recommend the Chef & I!!

again.

K YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Only regret is that there is only 5 Stars for rating - I would give it 100 Stars if I could.

e second I talked to Denny at "The Chef and I", I knew he was different. He was actually excited about the possibility of catering our wedding. He offered many different suggestions for food and was able to work well with our budget. The food at the taste testing was excellent. Much better than any wedding food I had tasted. The Chef, Ray, and the manager, Vikki were so helpful and full of ideas. We sat around and discussed the wedding like a group of old friends. Needless to say, the actual event was perfect. The staff showed up and were so helpful with everything, the food was hot and delicious and they did a super job of cleaning up. My husbands cousins are still talking about how delicious the ham was! If you want a professional caterer who actually cares about your wedding go no further than "The Chef and I"

every little detail, helping us along with getting things done, and being so flexible with the schedules of the bride and groom. We had no worries or concerns. We were able to be 100% confident that everything would be perfect....and it was!

at Laube Hall in Freeport in June, and we had approximately 250 guests to serve which we were afraid of how time consuming it would be. The Chef &I had everyone served in less than 20 minutes! The tables were set perfectly, and the linens, table settings and decor were beautiful! Denny responded quickly to any questions or concerns we had throughout the planning process, and overall made everything stress-free for that day! They were the first caterer we met with, and we enjoyed the tasting so much we didn't want to look anywhere else. I highly recommend The Chef & I to anyone who has recently been engaged because I want them to have the same wonderful experience as we did!

. OUTSTANDING!! You MUST try the cinnamon carrots!

anted. We had multiple conversations throughout the planning process during which Denny reviewed details to make sure we had all of our bases covered. This was very reassuring as we were figuring out the planning process as we were going. All of the staff are very personable and professional, and my family commented on how much they enjoyed meeting and talking with Chef Rey at the event. We had a variety of dietary preferences and requirements, including meat lovers, vegetarians, and guests with Celiac Disease, and the Chef and I was able to easily accommodate all needs with one menu. We received many compliments on the food! Overall, we are extremely satisfied with The Chef and I Catering and are so happy we chose them for our event!

taste of the food. Everyone especially raved about how convenient and versatile the station-style was for a wedding reception. We heard overwhelming positive feedback on how delicious the food was at every single station. All of the groom's friends and family from the Philadelphia area commented that our Philly cheesesteak station tasted exactly like the authentic Philly cheesesteaks from back home. And of course, the delicious taco bar was the cherry on top for the bride! Looking back, we honestly can not think of even one thing to suggest for improvement. Overall, Chef and I was wonderful to work with. They were all very friendly, professional, and dedicated to providing the best possible for our event. So grateful to Chef Rey, Denny, Kimberly, and the rest of the staff for helping us have the wedding of our dreams!

l do anything to make sure your wedding day goes off without a hitch. My wife and I highly recommend The Chef and I Catering!!

morable day of our life. They helped us plan the entire day to make it just perfect. The food was beyond delicious and extremely affordable. All of our guests still rant and rave about how tender and flavorful both main courses were. All of the tables were perfectly set up just how we wanted if not better!! The colors of the linens matched perfectly with our theme. It was absolutely wonderful! I recommend the Chef and I constantly to all of my friends getting married or just having large or small party. I can't say it enough how wonderful my wedding day was because of Denny and the staff. If you choose them for your big day I promise you it will be the best decision you make!!!

ing to emails. When we went in for our tasting, they even remembered that I was a vegetarian and had extra things for me to try since I wouldn't be able to sample many of the menu items. We ended up going with stations and people raved about the food! The food quality was great, and their prices can't be beat. Plus, their service is exceptional. Truly the best.

ess buffalo wings. We decided we had to have that in some form during our cocktail hour as an appetizer. While Chef Rey admitted he had never had a request for them at a wedding before, he gladly accepted the challenge. Not only did my husband and I love them, they were one of the most popular items at our wedding! I highly suggest the chicken romano (delicious!!), carved beef and the seasonal veggies. We received compliments from all of the entrees/food items but one of the biggest hits was actually the pasta (we did penne noodles and their signature tomato sauce)! I cannot tell you how many people said it was some of the best they ever had (and went back for 2nds and 3rds!). I will most certainly be calling them for pasta in the future! We had so many leftovers to take home at the end of the night as well, except for the boneless wings, apparently everyone loved them! My husband and I, as well as 30+ guests at my parents' house the day after the wedding feasted on leftovers and they still loved it! Denny was always responsive via email, as well as Vikki. I am so happy we picked the Chef & I, not only because they were affordable, but also the outstanding customer service and quality of food. If you choose them for your wedding reception, you will not be disappointed :). P.S. I am so happy Chef Rey stopped by the dance floor at the end of the night to see how everything went so that I could tell him myself how happy we were with everything! Thank you again! (I have a feeling you will now be adding boneless wings to your appetizer menu in the future!)

n't have to think about a thing and everyone said the food was delicious!

e able to afford a caterer that was also satisfying to our palate. Those worries were put to rest the first time we met with The Chef and I. Denny was wonderful to talk to at our first meeting, and we got to try every dish we were interested in. From the moment we tasted our first bite, we were hooked. The food was seriously wonderful, and our least expensive option by far! They absolutely exceeded our expectations by far on quality and taste of food, as well as budget. After our first meeting, we had everything decided except our second entree. We were able to come back a second time and try another entree for no charge. And although we were just tasting the entree, we were served an entire meal. Once we signed our contract, Denny was very responsive to emails and willing to work with us on anything. Two weeks before the wedding, he called me and we went over every single detail, which was incredibly reassuring. Once the big day arrived, I had no stress that what we had planned was going to occur without a hitch. The service was great and the food was delicious. People were raving about it all night (and still are). You will not go wrong if you choose The Chef and I for your wedding catering.

dor you can trust, look no further than Chef & I catering. I would hire their services again in a heartbeat.

whole experience was amazing and I am so happy we chose the Chef and I to cater our wedding at Five Pines Barn. :)

not let me down. Denny was able to work with our budget and even then, the food was absolutely fantastic! I've been to a lot of weddings and while I would say our food was the among the best, our guests confirmed that the food was superb! The wait staff was kind, energetic and eager to please...which was so nice on such a stressful day. The entire team did a wonderful job!