Bella Cucina Catering/Bella Luxe Events

ONE OF MARIN’S FINEST CATERERS, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT…
I AM A FORMER CATERER AND RESTAURANTEUR. I know food like nobody’s business — I grew up in a family in the food business, I studied the culinary arts and was trained in Europe in the 70’s before it was chic to be a «Chef». I’ve eaten in Michelin-​rated Three-​star restaurants in Europe, I’ve eaten fabulous Asian food in the markets of Vietnam and Cambodia and Burma, Tagines and Bistilla in Morocco, and I’ve dined on Warthog Stew made in the bushes of South Africa. See, I get around, there isn’t much I haven’t put into my mouth, and I’m a stickler for quality, quality, and QUALITY. It can be high end or low brow as long as I’m impressed.
A CATERER’S CATERER, Bella Cucina Catering/​Bella Luxe Events has my vote, hands down. I knew within 5 minutes of meeting and speaking with Lisa that I had been directed to the right person, that I need not look any further. This was for our wedding in 2009, a casual yet classy event at our home for 65 people. I have very high standards, I have more experience in the food world than most catering clients would have, and honestly, more experience than most of the «caterers» here in Marin. Bella Cucina produced a marvelous, completely controlled event which even impressed two friends of mine from NY, one formerly a producer from the Food Network and the other a former editor of Gourmet Magazine. Lisa had a hold of the event I had envisioned, and took it even further. Hors d’oeuvres and Champagne out by the lemon trees after the ceremony, then a sit-​down dinner around the pool with one amazing dish after another, elegant food, top-​quality ingredients, and as I had requested, presented in an informal family-​style way for each table. Lisa brought a fine staff of professional service-​people, who were so experienced and gracious that I found no fault and didn’t have to ask for one thing to be attended to — they had it fully covered. Her knowledge and eye for detail, from the presentations of the food to the giant candles on the wall above the glowing swimming pool transformed our home into the perfect setting for celebrating life and love.
Just this January, 2010, I again hired Lisa to do a small, intimate and elegant birthday for a dear friend’s 55^th birthday. For only 10 guests, I had wanted it to be just like a perfect European dining experience — course after course of small teasers, orchestrated in a perfect balance of tastes and textures and colors, two experienced waiters to provide impeccable yet almost invisible service, allowing the guests to relax and chat and laugh and be wined and dined for three hours in an experience you normally don’t get here in the states. Don’t forget we eat with our eyes, and the presentations were all stunning. Lisa completely gets it, and she serves up her talent with such ease and grace and high energy and spirit, that you are guaranteed a memorable event.
Highly, highly recommended.