About this vendor
The Raging Skillet Great Food, Way Outa the Box!
The Raging Skillet is a wedding catering service based in New York, NY. With over 25 years of experience catering weddings and other events, they are famous for global and regional cooking.
Chef Rossi is well known for her flair for mixing Yiddish home cooking with upscale comfort food. Famous for global and regional cooking. Chef Rossi is not your typical wedding caterer. Featured in numerous publications, Chef Rossi is a radio-personality alongside being catering director, owner, and executive chef at The Raging Skillet.
At The Raging Skillet, everything is personalized down to the menu and style of service. If you want something more out of the box than a traditional sit-down dinner, family-style dining, French Service, or the unique Floating Supper are all on offer. Whatever style and cultural taste fusion you want is possible. Their menu features fusion dishes from all over the world as well as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and home-style Hungarian Yiddish cooking from Chef Rossi's mother.
Details
Business Attributes
- LGBTQ+-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Cuisine
- American
- Eastern European
- Fusion
- Indian
- Italian
- Latin American
Dietary Options
- Gluten Free
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
Food & Catering
- Buffet
- Seated Meal
- Servers
Awards and Affiliations
Pricing
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.0166 reviews
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How lucky we were to hire Chef Rossi and her crew for my son‘s wedding celebration at the Picnic House. She was so warm, respectful of our needs and talented with many plant-based appetizers. Charmaine and the rest of the staff were likewise so caring that it felt like family rather than a food vendor taking care of us. Thank you!
We hired Raging Skillet for our Indian/Western fusion wedding at the Prospect Park Picnic House in June 2024, and we had a fabulous experience.
We loved how Chef Rossi tailored the menu for our wedding just for us. She created a custom menu with Indian food, Texas BBQ, and Philly Cheesesteaks, that was by all accounts some of the best wedding food our guests had eaten.
The staff was super professional - even despite a little chaos (some decor caught on fire and a table collapse, neither of which was the fault of the Raging Skillet).
The whole process was smooth and straightforward. Couldn't recommend raging skillet enough!
I can't say enough about how thankful we are to Chef Rossi for creating the wedding menu of our dreams! We took a minute to warm to Rossi, thinking other vendors had a more "set" way of doing things that would be easier for us. How little did we know.
Chef Rossi and her team are true pros who have been doing this for 20+ years and it shows. From the start, she was very clear and firm about what we'd need in terms of staff and support, while also being game for all of our wild menu ideas. In the end, she created a tiny Jewish deli for us in hors d'oeuvres form - pierogis, chicken liver, tofu reubens, white borscht, and more. Our mains were Caribbean-leaning - chutney, arroz con gandules, tropical salad among them. She even made a mumbo sauce chicken to honor my husband's DC roots.
There is no other vendor who could handle a menu this eclectic and personal. At every point in the process she met us where we were at and found ways to turn our ideas into reality. The day of the wedding, Rossi and her catering manager Charmaine made everything run smooth as butter - and made truly the most beautiful catering setup we'd ever seen.
The food exceeded all expectations - weeks later, we're still hearing raves. My Ukrainian mother said Rossi's chicken liver rivaled her own (words I've never heard from her in my life). My husband and I literally split the mumbo sauce chicken left over for us into smaller and smaller bites for the whole week after because we couldn't part with it. Chef Rossi even left a bottle of the sauce for us on our couples table.
I can't say enough about how wonderful Rossi and Charmaine were to us. If you have a chance to have her cater for you, don't hesitate - jump in and you'll never look back.
Any questions?
I cannot express enough how thankful I am for Chef Rossi, Charmaine, and the rest of The Raging Skillet team! From the beginning, Chef Rossi was warm and welcoming and immediately shared my excitement about the wedding. What I love most about TRS is that everything is customizable and Chef Rossi wants to make sure her food reflects the wedding vision. She paid attention to every little detail I asked for. Creating a menu and signing an agreement with her was such a breeze! Closer to the wedding, her administrative team was totally on top of every change and request I made. I felt at ease going through a walk through, setting up the timeline, and making sure all bases were covered. They have years of experience and that was certainly demonstrated from beginning to end. On top of all that, her food is some of the best food I have ever tasted in my life. It is not typical wedding food and we received hundreds of compliments throughout the reception. Every item on the menu reflected who my husband and I are as people. Chef Rossi is an extremely unique caterer and we absolutely loved every second working with her! Thank you thank you thank you! The TRS helped us create memories that will last a lifetime!
I don’t have enough nice words in my vocabulary to complement Chef Rossi. As the mother of the bride, putting on an event from several states away, she put all my fears to rest. I worried if there would be enough food- there was plenty. I worried if the food would be interesting (no boring chicken) it was very interesting and flavorful. And the staff!!! I did not know staff could be that attentive. There was lovely person who would appear every now and then with water for me - cause she knew I would forget to hydrate- how thoughtful!! And Chef Rossi came out to speak to me - which impressed my southern friends!! They couldn’t believe the Chef was actually there! And the accolades kept coming in from the guests days later. You won’t regret the decision to hire Chef Rossi. Oh- I almost forgot- we have food allergies that she had to work around. Soy- which is in everything- no problem for her. High high praise from this MOTB.
Working with the Raging Skillet was so phenomenal! They were quick to respond, super fun to work with, and really had some amazing suggestions to help us choose the menu and the items to set up the event. The team made the day flow smoothly and they took care of so many little details for us that made us feel special; from appetizers waiting in our bridal suite to even a care package of leftovers to take home at the end of the night. Everyone was blown away by the quality and creativity of the food!
Chef Rossi and her team lead by Charmaine at Raging Skillet went above and beyond my expectations for the most recent wedding I produced for my son and daughter in law. As a wedding planner, entrusting someone to provide the cuisine was a decision I did not take lightly. At every turn Chef Rossi was there to support our needs, specifically a very important guest's food allergies.
Chef Rossi took the time to research the allergy and provided a completely safe tasting. Chef and Charamaine and the entire team were seamless and very organized, not to mention providing THE BEST FOOD EVER. It has been a month since our wedding and my guests are still talking about the food at our event. The team was so helpful and allowed me to customize everything on the menu in coordination with the favorites of our bride and groom. Mac and Cheese family style at the dinner table, with delicious steak? Who can go wrong? Chef Rossi is very simply fabulous, fun to work with, kind and light hearted and a yes person. I highly suggest her services and the Raging Skillet Team for a successful and enjoyable experience in catering
Just wow! Chef Rossi and her team were amazing! We loved her custom take on wedding food, and the fact we did not have to pick from pre-planned menu options. She was able to customize our whole menu to suit our dietary needs and food preferences. We had a few celiac guests and she was able to make 90% of our options safe and gluten free for them. We are still getting rave reviews from her cooking now weeks later. 10/10 recommend Chef Rossi and her team to everyone!
Chef Rossi not only makes unbelievable food, she and her team rock! We got a great deal too and she was a part of our special day! I’d highly recommend her brisket, it is to die for!
Chef Rossi is amazing! We absolutely love, love, LOVE her! She went above and beyond to accommodate a food allergy… which began with some research and ended in making her own ketchup! Chef Rossi’s professionalism, talent and willingness to learn about something new resulted in an amazing wedding where the food was center stage! I cannot give her enough praise to make it known how much we appreciate the extra time she took to make our event perfect in every way.
~ Mother of the Bride… the one with a crazy weird food allergy!
Chef Rossi transcends stereotypical wedding cuisine by focusing on creativity, personalization, and FUN. The Raging Skillet team are total pros when it comes to the nontraditional and making sure that you can customize your menu and experience to exactly how you envision it. We hosted a continuous cocktail style party, meaning a variety of small passed plates for both cocktail hour and dinner, and it was an absolute hit. We received so many compliments from our guests saying how the casual/fun style was totally refreshing and kept things exciting. Everyone loved each bite and we are so glad we had the opportunity to work with Chef Rossi & the RS team!
We LOVED The Raging Skillet. Chef Rossi and Charmaine are incredibly kind, funny, and creative. They put together a Floating Supper and Grazing Table for our 145 guests that kept everyone full and excited. Our guests loved our cocktail hour's bacon and peanut butter sandwiches, bbq pork on a ritz, sweet potato latkes, to name a few. They even created toasted ravioli as a tribute to my husband's St. Louis hometown. The passed entrees (pasta, fish and meat) were all so tasty and able to be eaten standing or sitting. And the small desserts were perfect! S'mores pops, key lime pies, etc.! Charmaine checked in on us throughout the evening - made sure we and our families were fed! She even put together a cracker plate for our niece and nephew before the ceremony. Chef came by for a hug on the dance floor. Seriously the coolest and most fun/elegant food. We couldn't have been happier! Thank you!
Chef Rossi is an absolute unparalleled genius!!!! The entire planning process was an absolute blast. Chef Rossi instantly felt like a long lost family member and gave us the attention detail and care that made us feel that way! I miscalculated and initially had planned on doing food stations, but when I realized my mistake it became clear our venue didn't have the space for food stations. This was after invitations had gone out so I hadn't even gotten meal choices from our guests! Chef Rossi, an absolute hero, pivoted without question to a seated dinner and made enough food for each guest to choose their meal at the wedding! She catered to my celiac-ridden family with so much gluten free deliciousness, had amazing options for my vegan friends, and combined our roots of Texas, California and New York into the most exciting and delicious menu I could've ever imagined. A month later our guests are STILL talking about how good the food was.
Chef Rossi is the most incredible chef and an even cooler human being and I feel blessed to know her and honored to have had her cater my wedding!! I only wish I had another event soon so we could work together again. Cannot recommend enough!!!
The best wedding food, hands down. Working with Chef Rossi was so much fun, and our wedding food was exactly what we wanted! It felt like we had an entire menu customized just for us - all of our guests couldn't stop talking about how amazing the food and drinks were!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine and the rest of the team were the absolute best. Chef Rossi helped us create a menu that was a perfect blend of two cultures in such a beautiful way...the food was delicious, the staff were IMPECCABLE, and we were just so happy at the end of the night. We recommend this as your caterer 100x over!!!!!
Chef Rossi is the absolute best!! OMG we could not get enough compliments on the food from our wedding. We did a floating supper and it turned out AMAZING. She was so amazing to work with. We never stressed about anything. We got to taste so many amazing foods during our initial meeting with her and we immediately fell in love. THEN we got work with Charmaine and what a team they are. Everything went off without a hitch. The edible table was INSANE and she calls it Oreo crack for a reason. I would highly recommend Raging Skillet if you want your guests leaving full and satisfied and if you want to have a blast planning the food portion of your wedding.
When it came to planning our wedding, what we were most excited about what sharing a great meal with our friends and family. The Raging Skillet team delivered on that and so much more!
The menu that Chef Rossi put together was a joyful reflection of our taste and time together (from our family’s favorites like shrimp cocktail and pigs in a blanket to the more creative tuna tartar on ridged potato chips!) Friends stopped us all night to tell us how good the food was and continue to email us asking for recipes (in particular, our nephews are demanding more buffalo chicken ice cream cones).
The team was also a joy to work with and made us feel calm and cared for all night. I want to give a special shout-out to Charmaine, who brings humor, joy, and care to everything she does – as one guest put it, “you should take that woman with you everywhere you go; she is amazing!”
I also need to talk about the “oreo crack,” the desert of my husband’s dreams! Rossi, we will take the recipe when you are ready! Just kidding, it would ruin us – but we will just need to find more occasions in life to celebrate with you and your amazing team!
Chef Rossi was great to work with, and she put together a fun and delicious menu that our guests loved!
Working with Chef Rossi was fantastic. People are so used to wedding food being rote and unmemorable that the inventive, thoughtful, and, above all, delicious meal Chef Rossi and her team puts together will definitely stand out, and you can expect positive comments about the food at your wedding to roll in after the event. The whole process working with Chef and her excellent maitre' d, Charmaine, is very collaborative without being taxing, and so you see that a little input and effort on your part goes a long way in the hands of these professionals that are committed to the success of your vision. We are very happy that we picked The Raging Skillet for our wedding and would recommend them to any other couple looking for wedding catering services that do much more than just feed a crowd.
Chef Rossi & the Raging Skillet team were phenomenal! The whole experience from selection to event was great. We were invited to a tasting before we made our final choice, and it was so much fun! It was like a little dinner party with 4-5 other couples, we chatted about wedding planning and compared notes.
Chef's personality is totally reflected in her food. This is not boring food, it's full of flavor. Raging Skillet will make sure your guests are NOT hungry. Her pricing was also very reasonable. Her team also helped us with ordering rentals, which we needed to do as our venue was a "blank space." Charmaine was amazing to work with, very patient with our several changes, and made the process very easy.
On the night of the event, the service was SUPERB. After the ceremony, my husband and I enjoyed a tray made especially for us with 2 of each hor'dourve. They also prepared a plate for us at dinner - so I was never hungry throughout the whole event. My parents commented multiple times on how great it was. The caterers passed out cake outside, so people could have a chance to try it. So often at weddings people are having too much fun and miss the cake, but the Raging Skillet team didn't let that happen.
Definitely would recommend Raging Skillet!
Chef Rossi lives up to her legendary status -- the food is sensational. We requested a floating supper for 180 wedding guests, and the Raging Skillet team didn't break a sweat, pumping out tray after tray of creative showstoppers. We had a lot of dietary restrictions/allergies to consider, and Chef Rossi easily designed menus that made sure everybody would be full and happy. Not only did we get compliments from our guests for days about the food, everyone seemed to have a different favorite item.
We met the catering director Charmaine at our venue walk through, and she immediately wiped away our anxieties about our floor plan, rentals, and timeline for the day. She listened to what we were looking for, made a plan and executed it, keeping us in the loop as needed without overwhelming us. When it looked like the weather would not allow us to use an outdoor area as we had planned, she made an alternate floor and rental plan for us to review before we even thought to check in.
We really felt we were in great hands every step of the way -- these people are pros and THEY'VE GOT YOU.
The moment we met with Chef Rossi, we knew we had our caterer! The enthusiasm and love she had for food and couples was infectious and we knew her and her team would make our wedding beautifully delicious :) Chef was responsive, easy to communicate with and helped guide us through the catering process with her expertise. Catering is not just food! It's the set up, the staff and all of the little things you may not think of when bringing in vendors to an event space such as The Foundry. They walked us through the venue, made suggestions and were able to bring our wedding to life! Our guests loved the food and the staff were on top of everything!
Chef Rossi, Charmaine, and the rest of the Raging Skillet team were downright wonderful for our wedding this June - I can’t recommend them enough! Chef Rossi’s menu is easily the most interesting and flexible I’ve ever seen, she was super responsive and kind, and always gave thoughtful, detailed answers to any changes we had throughout the process. Oh yeah - and the food was delicious to boot! I think I ate 5 or 6 of the Mac and Cheese fritters all by myself, not to mention the half dozen other delectable apps we had on the menu. The steak was wonderful and I heard nothing but compliments from everyone all night. Their staff was professional and great, and everything went off without a hitch.
And - I must also mention - that a huge thanks for that is due to Charmaine, who helped us through the logistics planning process and coordinated everything decor and layout related with the venue’s rental company. Could not have asked for a better experience - thank y’all so much!
Amazing food and amazing service. Chef Rossi and Maitre d' Charmaine were so helpful in planning pretty much everything but the ceremony.
Chef Rossi and her team did an incredible job on the food for our wedding! Our guests have told us many times since, how much they loved it. Several have recounted exactly the appetizers and the amount they ate! From our first zoom call with Chef Rossi, we felt in great hands. Her unique style and fun approach to food made our day even more unforgettable! If you are looking for a caterer with out of the box thinking Rossi is for you! You will make your guests very happy!
I've always had good food at the weddings I've been to. But I didn't know that wedding food could be BADASS.
I started to see how creative and cool Chef Rossi was when I perused the "Sample Menus" section of the Raging Skillet website. These menus were diverse, kooky, fun, but also...really sounded delicious.
After I tried some Rossi bites at an open house event (the best tuna tartare I've ever had served on a Ruffles potato chip--what?!), I was hooked. When we started working with Chef Rossi, we sent her a mega list of foods we liked, and she found a fun way to work in our favorite foods in unexpected ways--for example, I had pop tarts on our list (I know, embarrassing), and she ended up serving homemade mini pop-tarts as a part of our mind-blowing dessert station. The passed appetizers were a zany array of my favorite foods, and the dinner (served family-style) was definitely a notch up from most wedding dinners I've been served. And the best part of evening for me were the mini milkshakes passed around during dessert--I even left the dance floor to get one.
Chef Rossi has magic at her fingertips. And every single person on her team was kind and so good at their job. Shoutout to Catering Director Charmaine--that woman gets things DONE. Charmaine is efficient but thoughtful at the same time. She came out to say hi during dinner, and I was touched by the fact that she wore blue--same color as my bridal party and all the decorations.
I know that the Raging Skillet does a lot of weddings, but I really felt like mine was special. And that's what you want, right? Oh, and you also want tuna tartare on potato chips.
It took me a while to sit down and write this review because I didn't know where to start - there are so many amazing things to say!!! Chef Rossi was amazing to work with from our very first inquiry. We met for a tasting pre-covid, and it was amazing. I'm a vegetarian, my husband is a serious meat eater, and we also have a parent with really serious dietary restrictions. And we had a couple gluten free people in the mix too! She's literally a genius - she captured all this even in our initial tasting (and we also had a blast because she's also just an amazing person!!)
Then covid hit about a month later, and we ended up pushing our wedding from Dec 2020 to Dec 2021. Chef Rossi was so supportive and helpful during that process as well!
We'd reach out sporadically during 2021 to make sure we were on track (we're seriously terrible planners and put everything off even though we had an extra year to plan) and at every juncture Chef Rossi pointed us in the right direction, recommending vendors and confirming things for us.
Charmaine was the point person as the day of the wedding got closer, and she is also just one of the most lovely people you could ever meet. She helped us make sure we had all the rentals we needed for the venue, did a walk through with us, and was just wonderful!!!
On the day of the wedding, Chef Rossi, Charmaine, and the rest of their team made sure everything flowed smoothly. Charmaine made sure we got to try everything, and if for a split second I didn't have a drink, she made sure I got one! She took such good care of us, as did the rest of the staff :)
The food was so wonderful. So many people commented on it afterwards, complimenting the food as well as the service. They made sure everything flowed at the right time, and they collaborated and coordinated everything with other vendors to make sure everything stayed moving.
Long story short- I can't recommend Chef Rossi highly enough. Amazing food and amazing people! :) THANK YOU!
Response from the Vendor on 06/06/2022
Albert,
I am old fashioned, I believe the customer is always right, but in this case I can not agree with you.
You terrorized us for over a month. With endless emails and calls with daily changes, so many changes even to the last minute. ...
AND everyone in your family wanted something different. While Charmaine was setting up your floor plan, she had family members yelling they wanted a smaller dance floor. This is the opposite of what you were worried about the entire time. She did her best, trying to please everyone. One of your moms did not like it, so she changed it. So what?! It was changed in fifteen minutes. This was a 90 degree day and our staff went up and down 3 flights of stairs all night. When finally, after working for 8 and 9 hours, we started to give our staff short dinner breaks in small groups you and your mom objected and still here in your review you are objecting to them getting a break! That is shocking and cruel. You had fabulous food from start to finish and never once said thank you to me. I froze your food price despite the fact that food cost practically doubled. You were supposed to have brisket for 80 not filet mignon. In no planet is filet mignon NOT more expensive than brisket. I gave you an ESTIMATE for AVERAGE rental prices in 2020! Since then a few things happened. GIANT PANDEMIC INFLATION!!!The rental company due to inflation and fuel costs raised their price like everyone else BUT ME! AND the location stopped doing half the things they were offering in 2020. I can not control ANY of those things! You were unhappy with the rental price and were very nasty to us about it. Charmaine and I spent weeks doing everything we could to get your rental price down. I even carried things over from my kitchen so you would not have to rent them. After dinner service was over, the waiters went to bus the entire room! All your guests were on the dance floor. In that time your mom said, some one wanted water. Once your mom told us this, SCREAMING at me in front of my entire staff, I had the waiters offer water all night long. After a long struggle they were able to co-erse 3 people into topping off their water glass. NO ONE WANTED water! I have been a wedding caterer for 32 years. Anyone can look at our history and the beautiful reviews we have gotten. I am honest to a flaw! Famous for that blunt honesty. I am being bluntly honest with you. Albert I have never done this in my life and hope to never do this again, but I need to review YOU as a client. I bent over back wards for you and your groom because I am gay and Jewish and have experienced a lot of homophobia in my life, so really wanted to shower you with love. But honestly you were thankless and cruel. I have waiters who worked that night who said they never worked harder in their life. I had waiters who watched the way your mother attacked me and Charmaine and worried for our well being. Even calling us days later to see if we were okay. I felt like someone had beaten me up. I put so much love into your wedding and was rewarded with what felt like a punch in the stomach. I should have asked you to go elsewhere the first time you yelled at me. No client has every yelled at me. I never yell at any staff member. I have never yelled at a client. Respect and kindness is my motto. Weddings are supposed to be about love! I tried so hard to please you both, even adding things to your menu that you did not pay for. I brought food for an extra 75 people to make sure I had ample food to feed you, the staff, the location workers and more. I wrapped up so much food for you to take home, you could have had another party! My waiters told me ALL NIGHT LONG guests were raving about the food! Your other mother told her waiter that everything was great. She was thrilled. There were guests who came up to the waiters and stopped them just to say how wonderful everything was. It seems you want to search for any flaw to harp on. How is that love?! You seem obsessed with causing pain. I wish you and your groom no ill will. The world is harsh enough to the gay community. I choose love. Go in peace. Chef Rossi
Further NO bartender in our employ is ever allowed to ask for tips. This is a fire-able offense!
What can I even say about Chef Rossi; what an incredible human and chef to work with for our twice rescheduled wedding. Forget that her food looks amazing and that it tastes even better -- she is an unbelievable partner in curating a food experience and we had so much fun doing it alongside her!
She is clearly skilled and experienced but never makes you feel like this is the one millionth event that she's catered. She's professional and whimsical and just a total joy to be around. The food was outstanding and our guests cannot stop talking about how delicious it all was, how full they still are, and how wonderful her staff is. If you're looking for a fun, low stress wedding planning experience, this is your gal.
Chef Rossi and the team at The Raging Skillet are second to none! Chef Rossi worked with us through the most difficult year in wedding planning history with unparalleled patience and positivity, always listening to our ideas and helping to make them better. Their food is out of this world and was exactly what we wanted--from cocktail hour to dinner to dessert. We had so many people that came up to us to say it was the best food they've EVER had at a wedding. We couldn't agree more! And don't even get me started on the day-of professionalism and level of service of their whole team. Huge shoutout to Charmaine! We highly recommend Chef Rossi and The Raging Skillet.
Lennie and I loved working with Chef Rossi, Charmaine and the rest of the Raging Skillet crew. From the moment I met Chef Rossi, I knew that our menu would would be top notch! In addition to everything being so tasty, Chef Rossi 's creativity can't be met. Our guests are still raving about the mini sloppy joes and tomato soup and grilled cheese shooters. :) I'm still snacking on the Oreo Crack Cookies!!! I highly recommend! You won't be disappointed.
AHHHHH! Rossi and her team at the Raging Skillet just catered our wedding this past Friday and they were PHENOMENAL! Incredibly kind, wonderfully warm and professional, and most importantly, completely delicious. Crab cakes, pastrami tacos, latkes, and the most delicious salmon entree you’ve ever had, to say nothing of DESSERT! Raging Skillet, now and forever!
I cannot say enough about Chef Rossi and her team with all they did to make my daughter and son-in-law's wedding the most beautiful event possible. We first met with her about 8 months prior to the event date. She was wonderful with her menu suggestions and options and even prepared a little tasting. We knew immediately we were going to have her cater the wedding. She was very creative, understanding, patient and considerate of all our wants and needs. She made us everything we wanted and to perfection. Our guests could not stop raving about how delicious everything was and most importantly they were impressed that everything was hot. We highly recommend Chef Rossi for any event. It we be magnificent
I thought the Raging Skillet did a phenomenal job ,from the first day we set our date right up to the wedding day. Fantastic menu suggestions and boy did they deliver. Everything was so delicious and our guests are still talking about it. Besides the food being so good , I was very impressed by Chef Rossi's staff . So professional from setup to breakdown and all very cordial. Chef Rossi was so fun to work with. We hit a home run choosing The Raging Skillet.
Chef Rossi is THE BEST!!!! She was so patient and listened to everything I wanted. Not only is her food delicious she is hilarious and so much fun to work with. She comes with an amazing team and working with Charmaine was an absolute dream leading up to our special day, she made sure I was well fed and always had a drink in my hand!! I felt at ease knowing she was there the day of.
I cannot recommend the raging skillet enough, if you want amazing food and amazing people to work with on your special day don’t look any further!!!
Love the Barone’s :)
How to begin? TRS was the linchpin of our wedding. We knew we wanted our food to be fun (which Chef Rossi provides in spades), but we had no idea that it would turn out to be as beautiful and delicious as it finally was. In the early stages, we were really concerned about pulling together a proper wedding. Our budget was a real question mark, and being just jeans-and-tee-shirt fellows, we did not have much big event experience. Chef Rossi was there, doing us favors, helping us left and right, answering question after question with an ultra-positive attitude (she is one upbeat lady!) As time went on, she was easy with menu adaptations, and hooked us up with Woman Friday Charmaine at TRS, who had a lot of great suggestions and saves as to floor planning and timing/presentation logistics. Chef Rossi also introduced us to the good folks at Convive Wines, who became our booze suppliers and who I also highly recommend using: they were smart and warm, had really good labels, and bought back bottles we didn't use. The day-of was a dream. We knew it would be great, but we didn't realize it would be THAT great. The food tasted terrific and looked adorable (the tofu Reubens! the s'mores! the macaroons!), and our guests were so thrilled and happy with everything; the waitstaff saved our tucheses a couple times; the bartenders were two really cool guys who I enjoyed talking to; Charmaine helped us out when we got a little stuck cutting the cake; and Rossi came out from the kitchen to give me a great big hug. It all ended up coming off so beautifully. We are very grateful.
Chef Rossi and Charmaine were an incredible partner to us for our wedding at a BYO-everything venue in LIC. Not only was the food and service incredible, Chef Rossi was super flexible and understanding during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Chef Rossi completely customized our menu and was willing and interested in getting to know us to ensure the food reflected our personality and tastes. Charmaine was our quarterback at the event and made the evening seamless and FUN. Highly highly recommend The Raging Skillet for your wedding.
We loved working with Chef Rossi and Charmaine! They were both so kind, creative and helpful throughout the entire process. Our guests raved about the food and they helped create a unique and fun vibe.
Chef Rossi and her crew at The Raging Skillet were amazing to work with both in planning our wedding reception and in seeing the event through. Not only did our guests rave about the food at our wedding (in which we had a floating supper), but we were also able to completely customize our menu to fit our tastes and dietary preferences. Chef Rossi is pure magic and a pleasure to work with.
Raging Skillet created a fantastic bespoke menu for us based on our loose guideline. Chef Rossi is one of a kind in creativity and just a fun person to be around, making the whole experience feel good.
Chef Rossi was simply one of the best aspects of our wedding. People continue to mention how great the food was whenever the wedding comes up. From the tasting to the customized menu, she and her team were incredible partners to us, and made our day super special. She blended my English roots with my Italian husband’s love of food beautifully in a menu that was delicious and perfect for our Copacabana Themed event. Use her - she is amazing!!!!
Rossi and her team are amazing! The Raging Skillet catered our wedding, now 2 years later we were fortunate that they could cater an intimate anniversary dinner for us. Great food, creative menu, and amazing people!!
Eight years after our wedding in 2012, my husband and I *still* get comments about how fabulous Chef Rossi and the 'Skillet crew are! That's why I was so thrilled to work with them again this summer to put together a rocking outdoor MiniSkillet picnic so our friends could have a fun, safe reminder of good times, and food made with love & joy! Rossi and her team did it all -- incredible multi-course tasting menu, bottles of bubbly, desserts, more than enough for everyone to take home as many leftovers as they could carry, and all neatly packed up with everything we needed to serve and enjoy, plus a cheese platter to make the Dairy Gods blush! These folks are my forever favorite, and I'm still excited about planning a tenth anniversary dinner :D
Chef Rossi was so incredible and personable in helping us to craft our perfect day, tailored the menu to liking, and also even helped connect us to additional vendors for everything else. I would highly recommend Chef Rossi and hope to use her again in the future!
Raging Skillet & Chef Rossi absolutely rocked! She & her team struck the perfect tone for our wedding vibe —comfortable in feel, very downtown NY & not typical at all—it was precisely what we envisioned. The food was nothing short of outstanding . We lapped up leftovers of the best breakfast sausage, a to-die-for quiche & x rated sea salt brownies, not to mention one of a kind tahini cookies—and we didn’t miss cocktail hour bc they prepared a platter for us “newlyweds” taking a 15 min break—omg those pastrami tacos! If an atypical experience is on your list —this is the caterer for you!
Chef Rossi catered our wedding 25 years ago and now she's doing our silver anniversary dinner! Food was amazing and beautiful.
She was and is the best!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine made our afternoon brunch wedding dreams come true! Our guests still rave about how excellent the food was. The menu was creative and refreshing - just what we wanted. And their expertise in how to coordinate a meal was so appreciated. We had a good feeling about Chef Rossi from the first time we met - would definitely recommend working with her!
Chef Rossi and her team absolutely crushed it for our wedding. When we met her for a consultation, we felt like we had struck gold. She made us feel like we were guests in the kitchen of her own home, serving us samples and taking us through what to expect with her and her team as our caterer. They 100% delivered. From that meeting, up until our wedding, Chef Rossi was very flexible in helping us figure out exactly what we wanted on our eclectic menu. Communicating with her was extremely easy. They served our guests a range of foods, and everything was delicious. Her staff was professional, fun, and warm. We have had endless compliments about the food, and we spent the week after our wedding finishing every scrap of leftover, as it was all very delicious. Thank you Raging Skillet!!!!
Chef Rossi is amazing. She did our wedding in NY a while back and everything was amazing. It was so amazing that my brother ended up using her at his wedding! Many of our guests told us - "best wedding food ever". I can't suggest her and her team enough. A great group to work with.
Searching for a caterer that could think of the box and also deliver on amazing cuisine for our wedding was daunting to say the least--until we found The Raging Skillet! Chef Rossi's enthusiasm is infectious and she was so incredibly collaborative as we worked to create the perfect Latin/Jewish Fusion menu. She was a delight to work with and I've never heard so many people rave about the food at a wedding!
Chef Rossi is the absolute best! My wedding was 8 years ago and our guests still rave about the food. We've been to countless weddings since and everything pales in comparison. If you want to serve your guests a memorable meal that's outside of the box, definitely go with Rossi and Raging Skillet. I couldn't recommend more!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine have created a business that makes every customer feel like family. My experience with Chef Rossi and Charmaine is not different. Their attention to detail, timelines, and taste are second to none. They are the cherry on top of an already perfect day. I would definitely recommend them to anyone that is in the market.
Chef Rossi and Charmaine were great to work with! From the very beginning Chef Rossi was up front with us about what to expect with cost and the amount of guests we were expecting for our venue. Chef Rossi was able to blend both our cultural backgrounds into the food (Caribbean & Italian). Our families and friends were impressed with the food and complimented the jerk chicken all night! Definitely would recommend The Raging Skillet for any event!
Chef Rossi and her team are nothing shy of rockstars! We got rave reviews from family and friends about how amazing all the food was at our wedding. I still think about all the delicious things she made for us on our special day. I also think it has to be mentioned that her staff is so professional but still SO fun. She is so much more than a chef and The Raging Skillet provides so much more than just food. Our experience makes me want to have her cater every major life event.
The Raging Skillet catered our 140-person wedding at The Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn and they were fantastic. First off, the food was delicious. Chef Rossi worked in some personal flourishes for us (including some fish and chips during cocktail hour as I'm British) and our guests had high praise for the food all night.
Second, Charmaine and the whole team took great care of us during the wedding -- from bringing us a tray of hors d'oeuvres to a private room just after the ceremony, to making sure we had drinks whenever we needed them, to sending trays of leftovers back to our apartment with our coordinator. In the run up to the event, Charmaine quickly and competently answered several of my questions about seating plans, rentals, timelines and more, and she was totally integral to organizing the perfect evening that we had.
Overall, the food, service, presentation, and planning were wonderful, and Rossi, Charmaine, and the team were a joy to work with.
Chef Rossi and her team were absolutely incredible from start to finish. We had so much fun designing a wedding menu with Chef Rossi - she was not the slightest bit afraid to be creative and try new things and was super accommodating of all our requests. The food itself was AMAZING - everything from the appetizers (highlights were pastrami reuben egg rolls and wild mushroom wontons) to mains to dessert. Our guests were all raving about it the next day. On top of that, both Chef Rossi and her team were an absolute delight to work with. We honestly could not have asked for anything more and cannot recommend the Raging Skillet enough!
We had an incredible experience with Chef Rossi and The Raging Skillet Team. Our wedding was a heavy passed apps dance party (no seated dinner) and Rossi made sure our guests were stuffed by the end of the night. Everyone kept complimenting us on the catering, and even though we were serving a "fourth meal" of sorts, people left totally full from the evening. Rossi is down to talk any sort of vision or budget you have, which was really helpful for us because we wanted something a little different than most. If I could do my wedding over a bazillion times, I'd still hire her over and over again!
Chef Rossi is my hero - working with her and her team was truly wonderful experience. She's got a great sense of humor, keeps cool and calm but also on top of every detail. Her food is very photogenic, but more importantly, tastes amazing. She's able to create a menu customized for cultural preferences, and add her own cool twists when needed. Her special desserts are really really fun. Crafting with menu with her was a great experience. The service the Raging Skillet provided on the day of the wedding was impeccable - drinks were flowing, the timing was perfect. Working with her catering director, Charmaine, was also fantastic. She helped us with her wedding timeline, suggested a lot of best practices for setup, seating, etc. Prior to the event, the Chef and Charmaine were always available for any last minute questions. It's fun company and I really couldn't recommend them enough.. we are so happy to have been able to work with them. Our family and friends loved those passed hors d'oeuvres so much my phone almost broke from all the text messages about them! THANK YOU!!! - Nick & Yvonne
Will forever be raving about Raging Skillet! It is so nice and refreshing to work with a non-stuffy wedding vendor. They were the only caterer we met with and we booked them right on the spot. Rossi is a WIZARD. She is very warm, welcoming, and will keep you laughing. She loves to have fun fun fun but do not be put off by this.. she is insanely smart and very business savvy. Her food is amazing but I don't have to tell you this because once you go for a tasting, you will be hooked. Our tasting was one of our favorite things about wedding planning. It was super fun, we met a ton of nice/cool people and had a great night. The day of your big day, Charmaine will be your CHAMPION. She was fantastic all throughout the day and night and made us feel like a King and Queen. We are forever grateful to them in helping us fulfill our dreams in our own non-traditional way. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND for your event or wedding. You will not be disappointed... our family and friends are still talking about the apps and the food (TUNA TAR TARE CHIP WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY!)
From the moment my husband and I met Chef Rossi, we knew she would be the one to create one of the most important aspects of the wedding, THE GOOD! Chef and her team absolutely crushed our wedding from start to finish. Her creative and fun personality comes alive in all her food and her laid back attitude helps create such positive energy. We absolutely loved Rossi and her team, especially her maitre'd, Charmaine!
Chef Rossi and her staff were the best. I couldn't imagine anything better. The food was awesome; everyone talked about the cocktail hour and how they stood near the kitchen to not miss a chance on anything. The bartender was superb and fun (as I have heard from a bunch of my guests). Secondly, Charmaine was the one person that we relied on the most. It rained and we had to go to Plan B, but she took care of everything and it all worked out perfectly. I would highly recommend to anyone, but especially a friend or family member, so that one day I can try her food again!
Chef Rossi and the Raging Skillet team are truly the best. Not only is Chef Rossi simply fun to be around and keeps you smiling, but she also creates inventive, delicious recipes and always makes the right recommendation. Her expertise in the field is unbeatable and I was so impressed by her attentive, professional team on the day of. Charmaine was a dream to partner with through all of the logistics, which is especially needed at the Boathouse in Prospect Park as not only is the venue hidden in the park, it's comes with no kitchen and a strict set-up and curfew time. She kept both myself and husband fed, kept the timing on point, and made sure everything was running smoothly during the entire affair. The bartender did an excellent job whipping together the signature cocktails we picked out. You can't go wrong with The Raging Skillet!
Raging Skillet is #1 for a reason! They were absolutely professional and accommodating the whole way through. They made sure both me and my hubby's cultural backgrounds were represented in the food while putting their own funky spin on things! Everyone raved about the food all night! I even saw people fighting over the last few bites but don't worry they make sure the bride and groom taste everything! The staff also rolls up their sleeves and takes care of everything from set up to the end. Chef Rossi is the aunty everyone needs taking care of the food at the wedding haha. I just love her and her team esp Charmaine who made sure everything ran smooth as butter. Don't hesitate just book them already!!
My pre-wife (now wife-wife!) and I decided when we got engaged that our wedding would be the biggest, best party we had ever thrown, and we needed vendors to help us make that party-vibe a reality. We chose our venue first, The Bell House, and started with their preferred vendors list. We met with most of the caterers on this list, but Chef Rossi and her crew at The Raging Skillet really got our intentions and were the exact right amount of chill about catering. It set our minds at ease knowing we were working with one of NYC's longest serving queer caterers, and that she had a staff of people to back her up who were on top of their game. We loved working with Charmaine, her maitre d', who was essential to getting everything coordinated for the day of the wedding. She connected us with our rental company, and held smelling salts under our noses when the initial estimate we got from them sent us flying. She worked with us closely to bring the number down, and on the morning of the wedding, was there to receive deliveries and work with our wedding coordinators to execute our vision.
And the food! We can't speak highly enough of Rossi's food. We wanted an eclectic mix of Mexican and Southern to honor our roots, and Rossi delivered with an amazing family style menu that even our vegan friends could walk away from happy and full.
We didn't know walking into this just how much an NYC caterer actually does for a couple during their wedding planning process, and we are so grateful that we had Rossi, Charmaine, and The Raging Skillet team along for the ride.
Chef Rossi, Charmaine, and the team at Raging Skillet were a dream to work with from start to finish. Chef Rossi was by far the most responsive of the caterers my husband and I contacted, quickly answering e-mails and setting up a call. She was an amazing combination of professional, competent, and friendly — we knew from the outset we would be in very capable hands but also that we would have a lot of fun working with her and that she would embrace our vision for a laid-back wedding at which all our guests felt taken care of. At our first meeting, which wasn't presented as a tasting, Rossi brought out a huge assortment of hors d'oeuvres and desserts for us to try, and we got to sample the bulk of the appetizers we wound up serving at our wedding.
(There was a later tasting at which we got to try even more amazing options and drink copious amounts of wine.) Rossi was happy to work with us on budget and help us reach an amount with which we were comfortable, with no shaming or upselling. Throughout the process, Rossi was super responsive and accommodating, answering all our questions and getting on the phone as needed. She presented an initial menu based on our (complicated!) dietary restrictions, worked with us to make sure the menu fit our needs, and repeatedly expressed willingness to tweak the menu over time. (For reference, I am gluten- and dairy-free, my husband is a pescatarian who doesn't eat shellfish, and we had a number of vegans as well, and every person at the wedding had multiple great food options.) But it was once I met Charmaine that I realized what an incredible company the Raging Skillet really is, even beyond how fabulous Rossi is herself. Until our walkthrough at the venue, I had been uncertain about how all the details of the wedding would come together, and I had worried that I might be doing a lot of the choreography on the wedding day myself. Charmaine promptly relieved me of that fear, demonstrating a complete knowledge of the venue and answering all my nagging questions about setup, service, breakdown, and troubleshooting. She was an amazing resource in the month leading up to the wedding, advising on timeline, handling the rentals with only minimal input from me (which was just how I wanted it), consulting on our proposed alcohol plan, and convincing me at every turn that she had things covered. At the wedding itself, Charmaine thoughtfully put aside a plate of passed apps for my husband and me to eat between the ceremony and cocktail hour and sent it to us with some champagne — I'm not sure we would have remembered to try the hors d'oeuvres otherwise, and I'm so grateful we did! She also prepared our dinner plates. Rossi showed up to supervise the kitchen, and both she and Charmaine were so sweet and supportive; I was genuinely thrilled to see and chat with them both at the wedding because they are so lovely, personable, and fun. And, of course, the food was phenomenally good! Not just "good for a wedding" but completely delicious and innovative. My favorites were the sweet potato latkes with apple chutney and deviled eggs, my husband loved the vegan nori rolls, and MANY of our guests are still talking about the tuna tartare on potato chips — you really can't go wrong. The Raging Skillet played an enormous role in making our wedding the wonderful and relaxed experience we had hoped for, and I truly can't imagine that there is a better wedding caterer out there.
The Raging Skillet was absolutely awesome. The menu selections were all so different and sounded so yummy it was hard to choose! Everything was delicious and our guests complimented the food all evening. We had over 200 guests, and Chef Rossi's staff served the crowd flawlessly! The appetizers kept coming and coming! Most importantly, The Raging Skillet was a pleasure to work with; Charmaine was beyond helpful, and I even took a few of my guests to the kitchen to meet Chef Rossi who wowed everyone! Five Stars! Could not have been happier!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine are champs. The team was incredible. We planned as best we could but there are always going to be loose ends with any event like a wedding. Raging's team always picked up the slack. It was a great fit from the beginning but they pulled through more than we thought they could day of. Charmaine was calm, helpful and ran the reception like a pro. Moreso, everyone was kind and a fantastic force in our wedding. If you want to have awesome, dynamic and memorable food at your event, Raging is the caterer for you.
Chef Rossi and Charmaine are absolute rock stars and deserve nothing but the highest praise for their work -- and they're fantastic people on top of it!
They worked up a phenomenal fusion menu with us and delivered beyond our expectations. Leave it to this crew to perfectly execute an Indian-German meal. We heard "best wedding food ever" from many of our guests.
All those great reviews about Chef Rossi and Charmaine are true! From the initial email to the countless emails that followed to the big day they were a blast to work with and the end result was exactly what we wanted. Both Chef Rossi and Charmaine were super responsive, answered all our million questions, gave us guidance, and did their best to alleviate our wedding planning stress. Having our wedding at The Foundry meant that we had to coordinate a lot of moving parts and The Raging Skillet team worked seamlessly with the rest of our vendors. We did not want a cookie-cutter sit down dinner so we did a floating dinner instead and it was fabulous! We received many compliments from our guests about the food. Every time I turned around Charmaine was there handing me a drink or a plate of food and Chef Rossi was so excited to have us taste a dessert that she made for us (mini banoffee pies!). We were so so happy with our decision to use The Raging Skillet and I plan on recommending Chef Rossi to all my friends, hoping I get to eat her delicious food again!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine are the absolute best. Before we began the process of looking for a caterer our wedding , we had gone to another wedding where the Raging Skillet was the caterer and my partner said it was the best food we've had at wedding. So when it came to deciding a caterer for our own wedding, we went to Chef Rossi and her team first. She was able to combine our Jewish and Filipino heritages and also our love for junk food and fine foods and make an AWESOME menu. Her tastings are SO FUN and they are with other couples so its fun to hear about other weddings in the area.
When it came down to the actual logistical aspects (rentals etc) , charmaine and chef rossi were real pros. We actually worried about nothing. They know everything and the night went off with out a hitch. Our guests RAVED about the food.
I can't recommend the Raging Skillet enough. They are truly the best and so cool and I'm sad our wedding is over because I won't get to work with them anymore !!!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine rock! They were excellent to work with for our wedding at 26 Bridge in Dumbo.
Rossi worked with us to plan a menu that took into account the flavors of our Italian and Chinese backgrounds and we are still hearing great things about our wedding food from our friends and family, six months later.
The Raging Skillet is absolutely wonderful and Chef Rossi will be forever in my heart! My wedding was in October of 2017 and our guests are still talking about how delicious the food was and how artfully it was plated. They especially loved the jaw-dropping, gravity-defying pizza and artisan bread display atop her Tuscany table. Whether you're Italian or not, this grazing station is a must-have! As for the dinner course, my husband and I ate lobster mac and cheese, filet mignon, and salmon for breakfast AND lunch the next day because it was just too perfect to throw away. I would absolutely recommend The Raging Skillet for any occasion!
About a year ago, I contacted Chef Rossi of The Raging Skillet about my son's wedding that we had just booked at 26 Bridge for 4/14/2018. Chef Rossi told me about her creative wedding menus and her "avant-garde non-traditional floating entree " wedding party. Both my wife and my future in-laws were a little skeptical about the idea but with the good counsel of Chef Rossi and Charmaine of the Raging Skillet they agreed. Well, the wedding was two weeks ago and we could not have been happier. The food was fantastic and all of the guests had a great time. Chef Rossi and Charmaine were instrumental in making the event fun and special. I highly recommend The Raging Skillet and Chef Rossi.
Thank you so much to Chef Rossi and her team for creating delicious and beautiful food and providing expert guidance. With exquisite taste and positive energy, The Raging Skillet was the perfect caterer to make our celebration a huge success. Our guests raved about the entire experience.
Having planned many professional events, this personal celebration was one of the least stressful we have ever experienced thanks to Chef Rossi, Charmaine and their entire team.
We had the pleasure of working with the Raging Skillet team for our wedding at the Prospect Park Picnic House in October. From pre-event planning through event's conclusion (when they gave us some delicious leftovers) Chef Rossi, Charmaine and their talented team helped make our wedding a memorable event for all.
The food/drink was a big priority for us and Chef Rossi did a great job helping us hone our vision pre-event. We followed Chef's recommendation to go with a Floating Supper, something neither of us had experienced before, and were thrilled with the results. We came up with a creative menu (which went through a few revisions) that they executed flawlessly. The service was impeccable - they kept wave after wave of appetizers and small plates coming, ensuring our guests ate as much as they pleased. The bartenders were also outstanding, making delicious drinks and keeping everyone's glasses full throughout.
They not only did a superb job anticipating the needs of the crowd, but kept a close eye on my wife and I to make sure we too had plenty to eat and drink.
We couldn't be happier with choosing the Raging Skillet team and give them our highest endorsement for being a talented, professional and attentive caterer!
Chef Rossi and Charmaine as wonderful to work with. Chef is so funny over email, too! My wife and I had met with two caterers in person and spoken to one other over the phone. Chef was the only one who did a tasting where we got to taste an entree before signing a contract. And what a tasting that was. Us, along with three other couples, got to taste around 8 different hors d'oeuvres, a smaller portion of the entree and a few desserts. Chef was also great about helping to explain why she has such a wide potential cost range for a wedding.
Charmaine, the event manager, is great with the logistics of running a wedding. At our walkthrough, she took charge, made some helpful suggestions given how we were using our venue. She also was helpful in the last few weeks with explaining the rental list and what her thinking on counts of certain items. At the end of our wedding, Charmaine and Chef Rossi packed up a bunch of food for my wife and I to take as leftovers and she arranged with the venue for us to be able to leave them in the refrigerator to pick up the next day.
Speaking of the food, it was excellent at the tasting, excellent at the wedding and excellent in leftover form, too. We received so many compliments about the food from our friends and family and some of our friends after were wanting to arrange to get dinner with us because the food at the wedding was so good.
The service by their waitstaff was really good, from what I could tell. Obviously, being groom and bride, you're going to get special treatment, but I didn't sense anyone was unhappy with getting drink refills or when they received their food or that they had been given negative attitude by any of the staff.
If you're wondering what's negative to say, for me there was nothing. But some might be turned off by the fact that The Raging Skillet doesn't provide alcohol or a cake. That's not to say that they charge a fee for serving those items, since they do not. But you'll have to find a vendor to provide these items. For my wife and I, we managed to save a good amount on liquor and wine compared to what other caterers quoted us for their providing it. And we didn't have to worry about whether our caterer would have a limited selection of cake flavors.
Needless to say, I highly recommend The Raging Skillet.