2027 Editor’s Picks · United States
50 States, 50 Caterers
The best caterer in every U.S. state — for weddings, galas, and the celebrations your guests remember, handpicked by our editors.
The right caterer is the difference between an event guests enjoy and one they never forget. From plated wedding dinners and black-tie galas to corporate celebrations and milestone parties, the best catering companies bring more than food to the table — they bring the calm confidence that every detail, from the first passed hors d’oeuvre to the last pour, is handled.
Our editors set out to find the best caterer in every U.S. state: one standout company per state, chosen for the quality of its food, the range of events it handles, and the trust it has earned with local clients. Planning a wedding, a fundraiser, or a company milestone? This is where to start — and the caterer in your state is only a quote away.
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The Best Caterers in America, State by State
Our editors’ pick in every state — chosen for exceptional food, event range, and the trust of local clients.
Alabama
Credit: Barron’s Catering
Barron’s Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Mobile & the Gulf Coast, AL
Barron’s Catering is a family-owned company that has been turning fresh, flavorful food into the centerpiece of Gulf Coast celebrations since 2017. Based in Mobile, the team caters the full range of events — from intimate gatherings to large celebrations — building customized menus around each client’s occasion, guest count, and tastes. What sets Barron’s apart is its blend of reliable, professional service and genuine Southern hospitality: clients are treated like family, and every event is handled with the care that keeps Gulf Coast hosts coming back. For a wedding, a milestone, or a company gathering in the Mobile area, Barron’s Catering makes the food the part of the day guests remember.
Alaska
Credit: Dianne’s Wild Fork Catering
Dianne’s Wild Fork Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Anchorage & Southcentral Alaska
Dianne’s Wild Fork Catering has been a fixture of the Anchorage catering scene since 1989, evolving from the beloved Dianne’s Restaurant into a dedicated off-premise catering company based in Spenard. The team is known for its “feel good food” — fresh, flavorful, and creatively displayed — handling everything from business meetings and open houses to weddings, rehearsal dinners, and life celebrations. Clients can choose gourmet trays to go, breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, elegant appetizer spreads, or fully customized menus, with the experience to confidently manage a gathering of ten or a crowd of five hundred. Deeply rooted in the community and committed to buying local and Alaskan, Dianne’s Wild Fork pairs decades of know-how with genuine Alaskan hospitality to make every Anchorage event memorable.
Arizona
Credit: Private Chef Nicholas Di Paolo
Private Chef Nicholas Di Paolo
Catering & Events
Serving Sedona & Flagstaff, AZ
With more than 30 years in professional kitchens, Private Chef Nicholas Di Paolo brings restaurant-caliber cooking directly to the table across Northern Arizona. His personal-chef catering spans the full range of events — relaxed family-style gatherings, intimate dinner parties, reunions, and exacting menus for tastings and formal occasions — each planned, prepared, and served in the comfort of the client’s own home. Di Paolo handles the menu, the shopping, the cooking, and the cleanup, tailoring every course to his guests’ dietary needs and tastes, so hosts can stay at the table and enjoy the evening. For Sedona and Flagstaff clients who want the ease of dining in with the polish of a fine restaurant, it is catering built entirely around the guest.
Arkansas
Credit: The Sous Chef
The Sous Chef
Catering & Events
Serving Northwest Arkansas & Southwest Missouri
Every menu at The Sous Chef begins with a conversation. Founded in Rogers by Justin Malonson more than six years ago, the company was built on a simple belief: great food should do more than feed people; it should create an experience. Rather than handing clients a set menu, the team works as a creative partner, shaping custom dishes around each event’s personality, from elegant plated dinners and interactive food stations to reimagined family recipes. Catering, bartending and full event service all come from one versatile, long-standing team, serving everything from intimate dinners to events for hundreds of guests across Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. Dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegan and alpha-gal menus, are planned from the very start with careful attention to cross-contact, so every guest at the table feels included.
California
Credit: Omni Catering and Events
Omni Catering and Events
Catering & Events
Serving Santa Barbara & the Santa Ynez Valley, CA
Omni Catering and Events brings delectable cuisine crafted with exquisite detail to celebrations across Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. From its home on North Milpas Street, the team designs fully customized, full-service catering for weddings, private parties, and corporate events — scaling seamlessly from an intimate dinner for 20 to a lavish gala for more than a thousand guests. Menus lean on fresh, seasonal produce and are built hand in hand with each client, while presentation gets as much care as flavor, from artful tray-passed appetizers and family-style courses to abundant grazing tables. Paired with polished, attentive service and deep experience at the region’s vineyard and estate venues, Omni has become a go-to name for Central Coast hosts who want an event that feels effortless and unforgettable.
Colorado
Credit: Rocky Mountain Catering & Events
Rocky Mountain Catering & Events
Catering & Events
Serving Denver & all of Colorado
Rocky Mountain Catering & Events has been a Colorado catering mainstay since 1998, growing from the back hallway of an Italian deli into a chef-owned company running a 15,000-square-foot production facility outside Denver. The team delivers restaurant-quality food and polished, unusually organized event support — and keeps catering, bar service, floral, wedding cakes, and rentals all under one roof, so clients manage fewer vendors and enjoy a more connected planning experience. RMC handles the full range, from intimate weddings and boardroom lunches to corporate brand activations, immersive experiences, and nonprofit galas at serious scale, including 800-guest galas and plated dinners for a thousand. Offering both drop-off and full-service catering, plus kosher-friendly and specialty menus, Rocky Mountain Catering pairs chef-driven standards with calm, confident planning — the kind of execution that makes hosts across Colorado feel genuinely cared for.
Connecticut
Credit: Marcia Selden Catering & Events
Marcia Selden Catering & Events
Catering & Events
Serving Fairfield County, CT & New York
Marcia Selden Catering & Events began almost 50 years ago in Marcia Selden’s own kitchen, when a request for a small wedding turned a passionate home cook into one of Connecticut’s most sought-after caterers. Still family-run from Stamford, the company is led today by Marcia alongside her daughter Robin, the managing partner and executive chef behind its creative, artful menus, and her son Jeffrey, who oversees sales, operations, and the company’s celebrated bar program. Together with a seasoned team of chefs, planners, and service professionals, MSC caters everything from a relaxed clambake to a black-tie wedding across Connecticut and New York, pairing inventive food and custom cocktails with polished, personal service that makes every guest feel like family. For smaller occasions, its Gourmet To Go line delivers ready-to-serve dishes straight to the office or home.
Delaware
Credit: Sherm’s Catering
Sherm’s Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Wilmington & New Castle County, DE
Since 2008, Sherm’s Catering has built its reputation on a simple promise: exceptional food and even better service, at prices that don’t break the bank. Founded by Michael “Sherm” Porter, who started out in restaurants as a waiter before moving into management and the kitchen, the Wilmington company caters weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings across New Castle County. Everything is homemade from the freshest ingredients, and menus are fully customizable — from plated dinners, buffets, and stations for weddings to hot lunches, BBQs, retirement parties, and the company’s signature omelet station. Clients consistently point to the team’s warm, responsive service as what sets Sherm’s apart, and its Heat and Eat line brings the same home-style cooking to busy Delaware households.
Florida
Credit: Embellished Catering and Events
Embellished Catering and Events
Catering & Events
Serving Wesley Chapel & Tampa Bay, FL
Embellished Catering and Events builds one-of-a-kind menus for celebrations across Tampa Bay. Based in Wesley Chapel, the team designs every menu around the client — with signature Cuban and Spanish spreads, brunch, and vegan and gluten-free options among its specialties — and pairs it with service that handles setup through cleanup. Weddings are a centerpiece, with tiered packages and all-inclusive options at Tampa Bay venues, including waterfront settings, while the company also caters corporate events, elevated drop-off orders, and life’s milestones, from birthdays, graduations, and baby showers to quinceañeras, retirements, holidays, and celebrations of life. Known for thoughtful planning, responsive communication, and budget-friendly packages, Embellished makes custom catering feel personal and attainable for Tampa Bay hosts.
Georgia
Credit: Talk of the Town Catering
Talk of the Town Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Atlanta & North Georgia
Talk of the Town Catering has earned its name by pairing decadent, distinctive dishes with flawless presentation for events across metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Based in Marietta, the team builds every menu around the taste and tone of the occasion, hand-picking local, organic produce and meats along with artisanal breads, cheeses, and charcuterie in keeping with its farm-to-table philosophy. Weddings, corporate events, galas, and social celebrations are its core, but the company also caters in-home gatherings, barbecues, mitzvahs, and TV and film productions, with chef-attended action stations like paella and yakitori grilling adding a sense of occasion. A highly trained service team handles everything from setup to cleanup, and clients can sample menus at the company’s private tasting room, North on 5th — the kind of care that keeps Atlanta hosts coming back for event after event.
Hawaii
Credit: DYNE by Chef Buddha
DYNE by Chef Buddha
Catering & Events
Serving Kona & the Kohala Coast, Hawaiʻi Island
DYNE by Chef Buddha brings elevated island cuisine to tables across Hawaiʻi Island, from vacation homes in Kona to villas on the Kohala Coast. Chef Dayne Tanabe spent 18 years as Chef de Cuisine at Hilton Waikoloa Village, overseeing all nine of its restaurants, before founding DYNE in 2018 — and now brings that resort-kitchen polish to intimate private dinners and small, upscale catered events, including weddings, receptions, cocktail parties, corporate lunches, and milestone celebrations. Menus start with what the island offers that day, from fresh-landed fish to produce from local farms, and range from refined plated courses to the signature Kamayan feast, a communal spread laid end to end on banana leaves. Hands-on cooking experiences round out the offering, making DYNE a deeply personal choice for hosts who believe, as Chef Dayne does, that food always tastes better with family.
Idaho
Credit: Horsewood Catering
Horsewood Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Boise, Meridian, McCall & Sun Valley, ID
Horsewood Catering is where food celebrates life. Rooted in Idaho’s lush farm and wine country and run by the Horsewood family from Nampa, the company is led by owner and executive chef Aaron Horsewood, whose menus pair local ingredients with global flavors and plenty of creativity. Sustainable practices and community support have been the cornerstone of the business from day one, and the team’s event philosophy is simple: every guest should feel truly cared for, while the event leaves a light footprint on the earth. Horsewood caters weddings, corporate events, holiday and birthday parties, and lunches across Boise, Meridian, McCall, Sun Valley, and Stanley, with bar service and take-and-bake meals available too — creative, made-with-love food that keeps Treasure Valley hosts coming back.
Illinois
Credit: Signature Catering by Ovy
Signature Catering by Ovy
Catering & Events
Serving Chicago & the North Shore, IL
Signature Catering by Ovy has been bringing restaurant-quality menus and warm hospitality to Chicago celebrations since 2010, and is fast approaching its 1,000th wedding. At the heart of the boutique company is Chef Ovy, who was raised on farm-fresh food in the Romanian countryside and went on to cook in MICHELIN-starred Chicago restaurants before turning his talents to weddings. No two menus are alike: each one is fully bespoke, blending the couple’s personal tastes and heritage with globally inspired, beautifully plated dishes that still feel like home. Ingredients come from partner farms and local producers, and the same care shown at the tasting carries through to the wedding day, from attentive service to a well-run bar — making Signature Catering a natural first call for Chicago couples who want their food to be the part of the day guests talk about most.
Indiana
Credit: Sweet & Savory Catering
Sweet & Savory Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Indianapolis, Carmel & Central Indiana
For more than 20 years, Sweet & Savory Catering has believed that food should do more than satisfy — it should set the tone, tell a story, and elevate every moment. The family-owned Indianapolis company is led by Executive Chef Melissa Mudd, whose scratch kitchen turns ingredients from Indiana’s finest farms, growers, cheesemakers, and artisans into bold, chef-driven menus with an inventive fusion streak born of a love for travel. Weddings are the specialty, with fully customized menus, private tastings, and elegant, stress-free coordination, but the team brings the same warmth and polish to corporate meetings and galas, private parties, and seasonal holiday celebrations, with rentals available to round out the details. Serving Indianapolis, Carmel, and the surrounding counties, Sweet & Savory is the kind of caterer that makes hosting feel effortless and leaves guests talking long after the plates are cleared.
Iowa
Credit: Amos Deans
Amos Deans
Catering & Events
Serving Solon, Iowa City & Eastern Iowa
Amos Deans is rooted, quite literally, in the Iowa countryside. The company is named for Amos Dean, whose Solon homestead became a hub of local food, Iowa tradition, and Czech heritage in 1967 — and whose homemade smoker gave rise to legendary cherry-wood-smoked country-style ribs and hams. Two generations later, Executive Chef and owner Michael Lipcamon carries that legacy forward after cooking at Binkley’s in Arizona, helping open the Kirkland Tap & Trotter in Boston, and working the line at MICHELIN-starred Bouley in New York City. Back on the land where his love of food began, he grows much of what he cooks, believing great food always starts with your roots. Amos Deans caters weddings and banquets with plated or buffet service, along with everyday drop-off catering, sandwich platters, power bowls, and its food truck, and partners with The Exchange on Vine in Riverside as a wedding venue — great food, on a paper plate or a silver platter.
Kansas
Credit: Olive Events
Olive Events
Catering & Events
Serving Kansas City & the Metro Area
For more than 15 years, Olive Events has been a trusted name in Kansas City catering, known for creative American cuisine, impeccable service, and innovative event concepts that set the mood for every occasion. Based in Kansas City, Kansas, the team brings its gourmet culinary expertise to intimate dinners, personalized weddings, corporate events, and social fundraisers, guiding clients through a thoughtful planning process from first inquiry to final course. Menus are designed to feel both inventive and inviting, and the company even offers its own event venue for hosts looking for a seamless, all-in-one experience. Planners and families alike return to Olive Events for the same reason: food that impresses and service that makes every guest feel looked after.
Kentucky
Credit: Marigold Catering Co.
Marigold Catering Co.
Catering & Events
Serving Louisville & the Bluegrass Region, KY
Marigold Catering Co. brings elegance and joy to celebrations across Louisville, pairing a high-end experience with food that is sophisticated but always approachable. Husband-and-wife team Kris and Adrienne Cole founded the company to share their culinary talents and their love of serving the community, and every event begins with a conversation about the client’s tastes, concept, and budget. From family-style buffets to multi-course plated dinners with wine pairings, menus are prepared fresh with seasonal ingredients and restaurant-quality care for every occasion, be it a wedding, an anniversary dinner, a Derby party, a bar or bat mitzvah, or a corporate luncheon. Marigold also offers its own showroom and restaurant for private events, plus the Golden Girls mobile bars, giving Louisville hosts everything they need to let an event bloom flawlessly.
Louisiana
Credit: Pigéon Catering & Events
Pigéon Catering & Events
Catering & Events
Serving New Orleans & Southern Louisiana
With more than 25 years of culinary mastery and event expertise, Pigéon Catering & Events has become a trusted name for celebrations across Greater New Orleans and southern Louisiana. Locally owned by brothers JP and Dean Pigéon, the family company designs a unique menu for every occasion, from bespoke weddings and intimate gatherings to grand corporate events, with full event planning to bring each vision to life. Clients can choose a venue from the company’s network of preferred spaces across the region, including its own Gallery venue, or keep things simple with pickup and delivery catering for holidays and smaller gatherings. Its gourmet market, Le Provisions, rounds out the offering with fine wines and handcrafted charcuterie — a reflection of the quality, innovation, and community spirit that keep New Orleans hosts coming back.
Maine
Credit: Bar Harbor Catering Company
Bar Harbor Catering Company
Catering & Events
Serving Bar Harbor & the Maine Coast
Bar Harbor Catering Company is more than a caterer — it is a full-service event team for celebrations on the Maine coast. Alongside custom menus shaped by the seasons and close relationships with local producers, the company handles bar service, rentals, staffing, and thoughtful planning support, so every event feels beautiful, personal, and completely cared for. Wedding weekends are a specialty, from welcome parties and rehearsal dinners to receptions and farewell breakfasts, with a team that often works like a day-of planning crew, setting up and styling every detail. The company also caters classic lobster bakes, private dinners, and brunches at home or by the water, as well as corporate meetings, retreats, and nonprofit fundraisers — bringing the same warmth and polish to every gathering along the coast.
Maryland
Credit: Zeffert & Gold Catering
Zeffert & Gold Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Baltimore & the Baltimore–Washington Region
For more than 30 years, Zeffert & Gold has been shaping some of Baltimore’s most memorable weddings, celebrations, and corporate events, earning a place among the most trusted special-event caterers in the Baltimore–Washington region. The team pairs thoughtfully crafted, seasonally inspired cuisine with refined event design and personalized service, sourcing from local Maryland vendors and building every menu around the occasion — plated, stations, buffet, or family style. Weddings are a hallmark, but the company brings the same precision to corporate gatherings, black-tie galas, bar and bat mitzvahs, private parties, and nonprofit fundraisers, at venues ranging from historic landmarks to tented fields. With guest lists from fifty to five hundred, Zeffert & Gold is known for creative food, seamless execution, and the kind of attentive care that guests remember long after the last dance.
Massachusetts
Credit: David Verdo Catering
David Verdo Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island
For David Verdo Personal Chef & Catering, it is never just about the food — it is about creating a culinary experience guests remember. Chef David Verdo and his team build every menu around the client’s tastes, guest count, and budget, preparing each meal fresh the morning of the event with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Serving Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the company caters wedding receptions, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, and private parties of every size, adapting easily to dietary needs and last-minute changes. Beyond the kitchen, clients can add professional bar service, event planning help, rentals, and decor, or book Chef Verdo for intimate personal chef dinners at home — attentive, flexible service paired with carefully crafted food at competitive prices.
Michigan
Credit: Catering by Kelly’s
Catering by Kelly’s
Catering & Events
Serving Traverse City & Northern Michigan
Catering by Kelly’s has been feeding Northern Michigan celebrations since 1986. The family-owned company is led by Dan Kelly, who started out as a 14-year-old cook in a local restaurant and went on to own several restaurants before realizing his true passion was catering. Today, based just east of Traverse City in Williamsburg, the team prepares thousands of meals each year, customizing every menu to the client’s palate and budget and pairing one-of-a-kind hors d’oeuvres and diverse menus with artistic presentation and full beverage service. As a preferred caterer for some 20 of the region’s most sought-after venues — from vineyards and lakeside resorts to historic barns and estates — Catering by Kelly’s brings the finest ingredients and service that exceeds expectations to weddings and special events across Northern Michigan.
Minnesota
Credit: Create Culinary
Create Culinary
Catering & Events
Serving Minneapolis & the Twin Cities, MN
Create Culinary is more restaurant than caterer. Since 2006, the Minneapolis company has done what most caterers don’t: rather than cooking elsewhere and arriving with the food, the team builds a working kitchen at each venue and prepares every dish from scratch, on-site, the night of the event. Leading that kitchen is Founder and Executive Chef Philip Dorwart, a fixture of the Twin Cities fine-dining scene for more than three decades, who brings restaurant-level technique to weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate dinners, and social celebrations alike. Service is just as considered, with a team briefed on every detail before arriving so hosts can simply be present. For more intimate evenings, guests can also come to Create Atelier, the company’s private dining space with a permanent open kitchen in Northeast Minneapolis — the same exacting standard in Create’s own kitchen or the room you’ve gathered in.
Mississippi
Credit: Harding Catering
Harding Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Central & North Mississippi
Where style meets taste, Harding Catering has been bringing Southern charm and polished service to celebrations across Central and North Mississippi since 2002. Owner and Chef Bridgett Harding, a professionally trained chef who spent years in high-end hospitality before returning home, founded the company with her husband, Chris — and her background in interior design means every dish is styled to look as remarkable as it tastes. A large commercial kitchen and a fleet of fully equipped catering trailers let the team bring the kitchen to virtually any location in the state and handle multiple events of any size. Service options range from buffets and passed hors d’oeuvres to chef-attended stations, family-style spreads, and seated dinners for weddings, corporate events, and social occasions, all guided by a dedicated event manager who keeps planning stress-free and budgets in view.
Missouri
Credit: Catering on Locke
Catering on Locke
Catering & Events
Serving Kansas City & Independence, MO
Catering on Locke brings a chef’s sensibility and genuine value to celebrations across the greater Kansas City area. Chef and owner Marcus Locke, a Kansas City native, trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Austin and cooked at The Carillon there before returning home to kitchens including Lidia’s and Rozzelle Court at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and he has competed in Kansas City’s Iron Fork competition. Based in Independence, his team crafts scratch-made menus for wedding receptions, parties, and corporate events of every size, from passed appetizers and buffets to seated meals, and readily accommodates vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs. Tastings, delivery, setup, and cleanup are part of the experience, and clients consistently praise food that is clean, refined, and memorable — delivered by a team passionate about exceeding expectations.
Montana
Credit: Chef Daniel Cox
Chef Daniel Cox
Catering & Events
Serving Bozeman, Big Sky & Whitefish, MT
Private chef and caterer Daniel Cox brings custom, chef-driven dining to some of Montana’s most beautiful settings, from vacation homes in Big Sky to celebrations in Bozeman and Whitefish. Every meal begins with a conversation about dietary needs and favorite foods and drinks, and the menu is built entirely around the guests and the occasion. Offerings range from intimate multi-course dinners for two and laid-back family-style gatherings to rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions large and small, and holiday parties, with Chef Cox handling the food, service, and details from start to finish. A chef-driven event bar program rounds out the experience, pairing custom cocktails, beer, and wine with professional bartenders — so hosts can relax and enjoy an evening that feels effortless, personal, and memorable.
Nebraska
Credit: Catering Creations
Catering Creations
Catering & Events
Serving Omaha & Eastern Nebraska
Catering Creations has set a new standard for catering in Omaha, pairing inventive cuisine and impeccable service with a genuine commitment to sustainability. The certified woman-owned company is a member of the Leading Caterers of America and, through its partnership with Hillside Solutions, is Omaha’s only zero-waste catering company — a rare distinction for hosts who want their celebration to leave a lighter footprint. Its team brings the same expertise to intimate gatherings and large-scale productions alike, catering weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations with full bar service, event production, rentals, and delivery available. Catering Creations also manages several of the city’s notable event venues, giving clients a seamless, start-to-finish experience that lets them feel like a guest at their own party.
Nevada
Credit: Blend Catering
Blend Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Reno & Lake Tahoe, NV
Blend Catering tells your story through food, bringing fine dining to any setting across Reno and Lake Tahoe. The team pairs culinary artistry with genuine care, taking the time to understand each client’s vision and designing a bespoke menu around it — from a casual-chic outdoor affair to a meticulously curated dinner for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Dishes are prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients and serious attention to detail, and the repertoire ranges from elegant plated courses to globally inspired small plates. Weddings and corporate events are the specialty, and every detail, from on-site preparation to dietary restrictions, is handled in advance so hosts can relax and enjoy their guests. For Northern Nevada celebrations that should be as memorable as they are delicious, Blend brings the polish of a fine-dining kitchen to the mountains and the lake.
New Hampshire
Credit: The White Apron
The White Apron
Catering & Events
Serving the New Hampshire Seacoast
Since 2004, The White Apron has delivered culinary excellence to celebrations across the New Hampshire Seacoast. Owner and Chef Jay Curcio graduated at the top of his class from the Culinary Institute of America and cooked in fine-dining kitchens in Chicago and Boston, including L’Espalier, before opening the company with his wife and business partner, Liz — herself a CIA-trained hospitality veteran. Today their Dover-based team, led in the kitchen by Executive Chef Cameron Heins and supported by a dedicated pastry chef, designs bespoke menus in close consultation with each client, with plated, family-style, buffet, and cocktail-reception service and thoughtful wine pairing. The White Apron caters weddings, corporate events, private parties, special occasions, and celebrations of life at venues throughout the region, including its own event space, MILA, in Exeter — bringing restaurant-level craft and warm, personal hospitality to every table.
New Jersey
Credit: Chef’s Culinary Journey
Chef’s Culinary Journey
Catering & Events
Serving Montclair & Northern New Jersey
Chef’s Culinary Journey turns every occasion into exactly that — a curated culinary journey. The full-service, off-premise caterer, based in Montclair, specializes in luxury weddings, elegant special events, and premium corporate gatherings, and it is distinguished by an unwavering commitment to culinary integrity. Menus are built on organic produce, free-range meats, and sustainably sourced ingredients from esteemed farms and artisanal vendors across New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York’s Hudson Valley, so every dish reflects the season and genuine craftsmanship. From elegant cocktail receptions to grand multi-course dinners, the culinary team blends contemporary trends with classical technique while honoring each client’s traditions and vision, and a curated portfolio of preferred ballrooms, pavilions, and outdoor venues helps every celebration find its perfect setting.
New Mexico
Credit: Marigold Kitchen
Marigold Kitchen
Catering & Events
Serving Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico
Make a toast, and break roti. Marigold Kitchen brings the flavors of Indian and American cuisine to celebrations across Santa Fe and northern New Mexico, creating culinary memories for weddings, destination weddings, galas, corporate events, birthdays, and cocktail parties. At its heart is Chef Dhiru, whose passion for cooking took root in his mother’s kitchen in a small town in southern India. He began formal culinary training at 17 and, after immigrating to the United States, built his experience in restaurant kitchens in San Francisco and Philadelphia before finding a home and community in Santa Fe. Every menu is custom-tailored to the event and its guests, and Marigold’s trusted catering staff runs both the front and back of the house so the day unfolds smoothly — a vibrant, nourishing, and genuinely distinctive choice for New Mexico hosts.
New York
Credit: Fig & Pig Catering
Fig & Pig Catering
Catering & Events
Serving NYC, the Hudson Valley & the Catskills
Fig & Pig Catering began with a sought-after Brooklyn supper club and has grown into one of New York’s most personal wedding caterers, serving New York City, the Hudson Valley, and the Catskills. Executive Chef and founder Holly Sheppard, a Culinary Institute of America graduate who cooked in restaurants across the country, launched the company in 2012 with a focus on high-end, quality comfort food — once calling herself the “anti-caterer caterer” before embracing catering as the nuanced art form it is. She treats every event as its own story, crafting bespoke menus with each couple. Chef de Cuisine Zachary Lovenguth, also a CIA graduate, leads the kitchen with a deep commitment to farm-to-table cooking and close ties to local farms and purveyors, while dedicated catering directors guide events in the city and upstate from first inquiry to the last dance.
North Carolina
Credit: Roots Catering
Roots Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Charlotte & the Carolinas
Roots Catering is all about elevating the experience for celebrations across Charlotte. Led by Owner and Executive Chef Craig Barbour, the company is part of the ROOTS Food Co family, which also includes ROOTS Café in South End, and it brings a restaurant team’s depth to every event. Service is offered at every level — full-service, attended, and drop-off — so the same kitchen can handle an office lunch, a social gathering, or a fully staffed wedding. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team spans culinary development, event production, staffing, and a full bar and beverage program, and custom options let clients shape menus that make their event unique. For Charlotte hosts who want polished food, thoughtful service, and an unforgettable experience, Roots is a natural first call.
North Dakota
Credit: Hometown Elegance
Hometown Elegance
Catering & Events
Serving Minot & North Dakota
When everyone else says no, Hometown Elegance Event Catering & Productions says yes. Based in Minot, the company treats every client’s vision as its mission, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary celebrations for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings across North Dakota. Menus are fully customized and prepared fresh on-site, so guests are served food at its best rather than reheated from afar. Beyond the kitchen, Hometown Elegance is a true one-stop partner, handling event design, decor and draping, florals, rentals, and day-of coordination — even building beautiful reception spaces at private homes that other vendors might turn away. The team also works closely with Minot’s Regency Event Center, giving hosts elegance, precision, and a touch of magic from the first idea to the final toast.
Ohio
Credit: Hudson’s Edge Catering
Hudson’s Edge Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Columbus & Central Ohio
Fresh, local, and simple — never frozen. That farm-to-table promise is the foundation of Hudson’s Edge Catering & Events, a small family business serving Columbus and all of Central Ohio. The Wilson family, who own the company, come from a strong background in Ohio agriculture and carry that respect for good ingredients into every menu, while keeping pricing approachable enough to suit nearly any budget. Their culinary and baking and pastry teams work directly with each client to build menus that reflect the couple or host’s ideas and heritage, and monthly tastings at partner venues let guests try new dishes before they book. With relationships at more than 40 wedding and event venues, plus bartending, decor and rentals, coordination support, and a holiday curbside market, Hudson’s Edge makes every client feel like part of the family.
Oklahoma
Credit: Abbey Road Catering
Abbey Road Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Norman & the Oklahoma City Metro
For Abbey Road Catering, hospitality is everything. Since 1999, the Norman-based company has paired quality cuisine with superior service across Norman and the entire Oklahoma City metro, guided by a mission of trusted personal service, an exquisite culinary experience, and genuinely artistic presentation. Menus are vivid and strikingly original, built on the freshest ingredients and constantly refreshed with new dishes and trends, then personalized to reflect each client’s style and budget. Abbey Road caters weddings and social events at partner venues ranging from museums and gardens to chapels and historic homesteads, runs a food truck, and even serves Greek houses at the University of Oklahoma with daily meal plans — bringing the same care to a wedding reception as to a family-style dinner.
Oregon
Credit: Sage Bleu Catering
Sage Bleu Catering
Catering & Events
Serving the Northern Oregon Coast
Sage Bleu Catering creates events that feel as good as they look along the Northern Oregon Coast. The chef-led, full-service company designs every menu around the client’s vision and prepares everything fresh on-site, no matter the location — even building a working kitchen where one doesn’t exist, from vacation rentals in Cannon Beach to private properties near Astoria. A dedicated coordinator guides each event from first conversation to final walk-through, and a calm, experienced team handles the day itself. Menus follow the seasons and lean into Pacific Northwest flavors, with cocktail-hour, brunch, and vegetarian and vegan options, while handcrafted cocktails, rentals, personal chef dinners, and pick-up catering round out the offering for weddings, corporate retreats, and milestone celebrations on the coast.
Pennsylvania
Credit: The Posh Kitchen
The Posh Kitchen
Catering & Events
Serving Philadelphia & the Tri-State Area
Exceptional food, elevated service, and effortless hospitality define The Posh Kitchen, a high-end personal chef and catering company serving Philadelphia, its suburbs, and the Tri-State area. Its chef and founder, a Philadelphia native and Le Cordon Bleu graduate, honed her craft in restaurants and catering kitchens across several cities before launching the business, and her menus fuse New American cooking with international flavors — Caribbean, Southern, Cajun and Creole, French, Latin, Asian, and Mediterranean among them. The Posh Kitchen specializes in intimate, personal experiences: in-home plated dinners for up to 20 guests, romantic dinners for two, cooking classes, and custom meal plans, along with small-event catering for weddings, social gatherings, and corporate functions of up to 100 guests. Every dish is made fresh, by hand, and full of flavor, so hosts can relax and enjoy their own celebration.
Rhode Island
Credit: Blue Rocks Catering
Blue Rocks Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Westerly, Coastal Rhode Island & New England
Blue Rocks Catering has been creating food-driven celebrations rooted in the Rhode Island coast since 1993. Based in Westerly and led by owner Katie Behan, who learned early that food is how you show love, the kitchen is built on seasonal ingredients, close relationships with local producers, and a commitment to doing everything from scratch. Weddings and wedding weekends are a specialty, alongside private dinners, backyard gatherings, and coastal cocktail parties throughout New England, with menus that move easily from passed appetizers and lobster rolls to family-style dinners and abundant charcuterie spreads. A signature oyster raw bar, private chef service, and a roster of exclusive partner venues round out the offering — bringing warmth, intention, stylish presentation, and genuinely exceptional food to every table.
South Carolina
Credit: Duvall Catering & Events
Duvall Catering & Events
Catering & Events
Serving Charleston & the Lowcountry, SC
Since 1978, Duvall Catering & Events has been welcoming the magic of celebration across Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. The full-service company does far more than cook — hand-selecting flowers, setting tables, sourcing locally, crafting cocktails, setting the lighting, and obsessively organizing every detail so hosts can savor the moment. Duvall is South Carolina’s only member of the invitation-only Leading Caterers of America, and it brings that standard to waterfront weddings and garden receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events with tight deadlines and high expectations, and social and holiday gatherings of every kind. With in-house floral and decor, thoughtful planning tools, and private chef dinners that bring the same culinary refinement into clients’ homes, Duvall remains a cornerstone of Charleston entertaining.
South Dakota
Credit: En Place Catering
En Place Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Sioux Falls & Southeast South Dakota
Named for the kitchen principle of mise en place — everything in its place — En Place Catering brings a boutique, chef-driven approach to events across Sioux Falls. The company was launched in 2021 by chef Jordan Taylor and business partner Barry Putzke, the team behind some of the city’s most-loved eateries, after demand for their food outgrew what their restaurants could handle. Taylor, a farm-to-table chef who returned home to Sioux Falls after years cooking in Portland, leads menu development with remarkable range, and the team prides itself on being “beyond customizable.” En Place handles everything from boxed lunches and corporate buffets to in-home private dinners and full-service weddings, with custom menu development, tastings, and staffing included for couples. It is also a preferred caterer at the Washington Pavilion and Orpheum Theater Center, and it hosts seasonal multi-course dinners with beverage pairings for local food lovers.
Tennessee
Credit: A Catered Affair
A Catered Affair
Catering & Events
Serving Nashville & Middle Tennessee
Incredible food and seamless execution are the promise of A Catered Affair, a full-service catering company serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Every event begins with a conversation and a personalized proposal: clients start from curated packages with clear, straightforward pricing and no hidden fees, then refine every detail to fit their guests and the feel of the day, with a tasting before everything is finalized. Presentation is a signature, from interactive food stations and polished plated service to abundant buffets and photo-worthy dessert displays. The team caters weddings large and small, corporate meetings, conferences, and holiday parties with full-service or drop-off options, and social gatherings from a handful of guests to several hundred, working dietary needs into every menu and handling setup, service, and cleanup so hosts can simply enjoy the celebration.
Texas
Credit: Vestals Catering
Vestals Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin & San Antonio
Experience taste. That invitation sums up Vestals Catering, a Texas-based company that pairs culinary expertise with genuinely unmatched hospitality. With kitchens in Dallas and Austin and nearly 20 years of event experience, the team caters weddings, galas, nonprofit benefits, corporate events, and private parties across Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and beyond. Menus are seasonally inspired and built from scratch with a meticulous focus on ingredients, then tailored to each client’s vision, for hosts who arrive with a clear plan or simply need inspiration. Polished bar service and detail-driven event management carry every celebration from first call to final toast, and clients can also host at The Studio at Vestals or order chef-prepared platters through Vestals Fresh in Dallas — the same care, scaled to every kind of gathering.
Utah
Credit: Culinary Crafts
Culinary Crafts
Catering & Events
Serving Salt Lake City, Park City & All of Utah
Culinary Crafts caters so its clients can connect. The family-owned company began in 1984 with just $600 and a dream, and four decades later a third generation is working the front of the house — still guided by the founding lesson that hospitality is really about taking care of people. A 27-time Utah Best of State winner, Culinary Crafts brings locally sourced, intentionally crafted food and a thoughtful bar program of wine pairings, craft cocktails with local spirits, Utah beers, and creative non-alcoholic options to weddings, corporate events, and milestone celebrations in every corner of the state. Its team specializes in on-site catering, bringing a full kitchen to forests, mountaintops, and even the Salt Flats, and it is the exclusive or preferred caterer at more Utah venues than any other provider, from Park City estates to mountain lodges. Private chef dinners and cooking classes round out a remarkably complete experience.
Vermont
Credit: Bevo Catering
Bevo Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Burlington & Northern Vermont
Fresh. Local. Exquisite. Bevo Catering brings bold, creative, and personalized fare to celebrations across the Burlington area and beyond, with a team that is comfortably outside the box. Based in Colchester, the company caters weddings, corporate events, birthdays, and special occasions wherever clients want to gather — at a private home, a favorite local venue, or Bevo’s own scenic event space at Stine Orchard. Menus celebrate fresh Vermont ingredients and are tailored to each occasion, and a fully licensed bar service pours everything from classic and specialty cocktails to Vermont craft beer and wine, along with thoughtful non-alcoholic options. Known for an easygoing, professional style and beautifully presented food, Bevo lets hosts relax and enjoy their own celebration while the team runs the show.
Virginia
Credit: What The Chef
What The Chef
Catering & Events
Serving Northern Virginia & the DC Area
What The Chef brings creative culinary excellence to every occasion across Northern Virginia and the greater Washington area. The Springfield-based café, catering, and events company is Black- and woman-owned and family-run, and its kitchen celebrates diverse flavors and culinary traditions from around the world, crafted by a team of professionally trained, passionate chefs. Services span weddings and personal celebrations, intimate private dinners and multi-day vacation service, drop-off catering for events of any size, and corporate dining from meetings and holiday parties to daily food service. Its team-building cooking challenges, cocktail classes, and chef-led signature tasting events set it apart, while a genuine commitment to ethical sourcing, local purveyors, waste reduction, and community giving shapes everything the company does — one dish at a time.
Washington
Credit: Twelve Baskets Catering
Twelve Baskets Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Seattle & the Eastside, WA
Thoughtfully crafted menus and exceptional hospitality have defined Twelve Baskets Catering for nearly 50 years of serving the Greater Seattle area. From its Kirkland kitchen, the team creates scratch-made dishes from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with menus that change with the seasons and dedicated vegan and vegetarian options alongside year-round favorites. Every menu is bespoke, shaped through close collaboration with each client, and the company is as known for inspiring unique event ideas as for executing them flawlessly. Twelve Baskets caters weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and special events throughout the region, with full bar service and thoughtful non-alcoholic beverages, a roster of preferred venues, and even its own El Koreano food truck for something more casual — all guided by a simple aim: inspire, elevate, excel.
West Virginia
Credit: Mountaineer Custom Catering
Mountaineer Custom Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Wheeling & the Ohio Valley, WV
Mountaineer Custom Catering doesn’t just cater events — it creates unforgettable culinary experiences. Based in Wheeling, the company serves the Ohio Valley across West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and its signature is food that delights the eyes as much as the palate, with unique custom presentations and artfully crafted displays that turn any gathering into something extraordinary. Menus range from elegant hors d’oeuvres to lavish buffets and are tailored to each event’s theme, style, and dietary needs, prepared with the finest local ingredients. The team caters weddings with beautifully designed displays and attentive service, corporate events, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and holiday parties, and works closely with clients who arrive with a specific vision — bringing top-tier culinary artistry to the heart of the valley.
Wisconsin
Credit: Gracious Events
Gracious Events
Catering & Events
Serving Milwaukee & Southeastern Wisconsin
Gracious Events redefines what a catered event can be. What began in the 1950s as Grace Smock Catering, with a simple goal of surpassing expectations through excellent food and exceptional service, has grown into a boutique catering, floral, and full-service event design company based in Wauwatosa. The team believes a perfectly designed event thrills all the senses, pairing thoughtfully crafted menus built on fresh, seasonal ingredients with the visual feast of beautifully curated table settings and florals. Gracious brings that approach to weddings, rehearsal dinners, and private celebrations from the Milwaukee lakefront to farm venues and Door County, with wedding management services to guide every detail — personalized, one-of-a-kind events delivered with acclaimed cuisine, elevated design, and genuinely gracious service.
Wyoming
Credit: Bistro Catering
Bistro Catering
Catering & Events
Serving Jackson Hole & Teton County, WY
Bistro Catering brings the premier fine-dining experience to events across Jackson Hole. It was created by Gavin Fine and Roger Freedman, the creative minds behind the valley’s beloved Fine Dining Restaurant Group, in response to overwhelming demand for their food at weddings and private events — and it carries the same reputation for quality, reliability, and impeccable attention to detail. Personalized menus are built around each occasion, from weddings framed by the Tetons to corporate gatherings and intimate private dinners, and the team offers everything from private chefs and catering drop-offs to fully staffed, full-service events and private event spaces. With a well-trained staff handling every detail from planning to execution, hosts get to enjoy their celebration as much as their guests do.
Your Next Unforgettable Event Starts Here
From intimate celebrations to events for hundreds, the caterers in this guide define hospitality in their states — handling the menu, the service, and the details so you can be a guest at your own event. Find your state, request a quote, and start planning the celebration your guests will remember. Still searching for the right setting? Explore the best wedding venue in every state.
Quick Reference: The Best Caterer in Every State
| State | Editor’s Pick | Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Barron’s Catering | Mobile & the Gulf Coast, AL |
| Alaska | Dianne’s Wild Fork Catering | Anchorage & Southcentral Alaska |
| Arizona | Private Chef Nicholas Di Paolo | Sedona & Flagstaff, AZ |
| Arkansas | The Sous Chef | Northwest Arkansas & Southwest Missouri |
| California | Omni Catering and Events | Santa Barbara & the Santa Ynez Valley, CA |
| Colorado | Rocky Mountain Catering & Events | Denver & all of Colorado |
| Connecticut | Marcia Selden Catering & Events | Fairfield County, CT & New York |
| Delaware | Sherm’s Catering | Wilmington & New Castle County, DE |
| Florida | Embellished Catering and Events | Wesley Chapel & Tampa Bay, FL |
| Georgia | Talk of the Town Catering | Atlanta & North Georgia |
| Hawaii | DYNE by Chef Buddha | Kona & the Kohala Coast, Hawaiʻi Island |
| Idaho | Horsewood Catering | Boise, Meridian, McCall & Sun Valley, ID |
| Illinois | Signature Catering by Ovy | Chicago & the North Shore, IL |
| Indiana | Sweet & Savory Catering | Indianapolis, Carmel & Central Indiana |
| Iowa | Amos Deans | Solon, Iowa City & Eastern Iowa |
| Kansas | Olive Events | Kansas City & the Metro Area |
| Kentucky | Marigold Catering Co. | Louisville & the Bluegrass Region, KY |
| Louisiana | Pigéon Catering & Events | New Orleans & Southern Louisiana |
| Maine | Bar Harbor Catering Company | Bar Harbor & the Maine Coast |
| Maryland | Zeffert & Gold Catering | Baltimore & the Baltimore–Washington Region |
| Massachusetts | David Verdo Catering | Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island |
| Michigan | Catering by Kelly’s | Traverse City & Northern Michigan |
| Minnesota | Create Culinary | Minneapolis & the Twin Cities, MN |
| Mississippi | Harding Catering | Central & North Mississippi |
| Missouri | Catering on Locke | Kansas City & Independence, MO |
| Montana | Chef Daniel Cox | Bozeman, Big Sky & Whitefish, MT |
| Nebraska | Catering Creations | Omaha & Eastern Nebraska |
| Nevada | Blend Catering | Reno & Lake Tahoe, NV |
| New Hampshire | The White Apron | the New Hampshire Seacoast |
| New Jersey | Chef’s Culinary Journey | Montclair & Northern New Jersey |
| New Mexico | Marigold Kitchen | Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico |
| New York | Fig & Pig Catering | NYC, the Hudson Valley & the Catskills |
| North Carolina | Roots Catering | Charlotte & the Carolinas |
| North Dakota | Hometown Elegance | Minot & North Dakota |
| Ohio | Hudson’s Edge Catering | Columbus & Central Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Abbey Road Catering | Norman & the Oklahoma City Metro |
| Oregon | Sage Bleu Catering | the Northern Oregon Coast |
| Pennsylvania | The Posh Kitchen | Philadelphia & the Tri-State Area |
| Rhode Island | Blue Rocks Catering | Westerly, Coastal Rhode Island & New England |
| South Carolina | Duvall Catering & Events | Charleston & the Lowcountry, SC |
| South Dakota | En Place Catering | Sioux Falls & Southeast South Dakota |
| Tennessee | A Catered Affair | Nashville & Middle Tennessee |
| Texas | Vestals Catering | Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin & San Antonio |
| Utah | Culinary Crafts | Salt Lake City, Park City & All of Utah |
| Vermont | Bevo Catering | Burlington & Northern Vermont |
| Virginia | What The Chef | Northern Virginia & the DC Area |
| Washington | Twelve Baskets Catering | Seattle & the Eastside, WA |
| West Virginia | Mountaineer Custom Catering | Wheeling & the Ohio Valley, WV |
| Wisconsin | Gracious Events | Milwaukee & Southeastern Wisconsin |
| Wyoming | Bistro Catering | Jackson Hole & Teton County, WY |
Frequently Asked Questions
About hiring a caterer for your event.
How do I find the best caterer in my state?
Start with this state-by-state guide. Each entry is our editors’ pick for a standout caterer in that state, chosen for the quality of their food, the range of events they handle, and their reputation with local clients. Once you’ve found your state, reach out directly through the caterer’s quote request to check their availability for your date and the style of event you’re planning.
What questions should I ask a caterer before booking?
Ask about availability for your date, their experience with your type of event and guest count, their tasting options, and how they handle dietary restrictions and allergies. Confirm what’s included in their per-guest pricing, and which services — staffing, rentals, bar service, and cleanup — are part of the package versus billed separately. It’s also worth checking that they hold the required licensing and insurance for your venue.
How far in advance should I book a caterer?
For weddings and large events, many caterers book three to twelve months ahead, and popular dates in peak season go first. Smaller gatherings and corporate events often need less lead time, but reaching out early gives you the best choice of date and menu. If your date is fixed, contact your preferred caterer as soon as possible to confirm availability.
How much does catering cost per person?
Per-guest pricing varies widely by state, event type, menu, and service style — a drop-off buffet costs far less than a plated, fully staffed dinner with bar service. Rather than quote a single national figure, we recommend requesting a quote from the caterer in your state with your guest count, date, and the style of service you have in mind, so the estimate reflects your actual event.
What is the difference between full-service and drop-off catering?
Drop-off catering delivers prepared food to your location for you to set up and serve, which keeps costs down for casual events. Full-service catering handles setup, on-site cooking or finishing, professional serving staff, bar service, rentals, and cleanup, so you can host without managing the details. Many of the caterers in this guide offer both, scaled to the event.
Can these caterers accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?
Most professional caterers routinely handle vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and allergy-sensitive menus, but the specifics vary by kitchen. When you request a quote, share your guests’ dietary needs up front so the caterer can confirm what they can accommodate and build a menu that works for everyone at your event.
Do caterers provide staff, rentals, and bar service?
Full-service caterers often provide or coordinate serving staff, bartenders, china, glassware, linens, tables, and sometimes a bar package — either in-house or through trusted rental partners. These are usually priced separately from the food, so ask for an itemized quote that spells out exactly what’s included for your event.
How do I choose between two caterers in my area?
Compare them on the things that matter for your specific event: availability for your date, experience with your guest count and event style, the tasting, the clarity and fairness of their quote, and how responsive they are when you reach out. A caterer who communicates clearly and answers your questions thoroughly before booking usually does the same on the day of your event.
