Buckinghamshire · England
Live paella catering in California, Buckinghamshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in California.
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Live paella catering in California
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Paella catering in California, cooked live
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Whether it is christenings and family gatherings and big birthdays, we’ll put together a menu of paella Valenciana, black rice and vegetable paella and more.
A place like California often has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- California (HP21, HP20, HP19)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. In California, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in California? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Also near California
Also in California
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Why choose paella catering in California?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Office lunches and staff parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Oak Green School, can book us as a food stall.
Before booking anyone
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
- How late numbers can change
Your questions about paella catering in California
How far is California from London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Buckinghamshire. Find your area.
Is paella a full meal?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Paella catering around California
California is about 1 mile south of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. For an event in California, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around California. California is one of 263 places in Buckinghamshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Milton Keynes, about 16 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, Aylesbury station is in California itself. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 5 miles of California. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in HP21, HP20 and HP19, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Lee Road, Penn Road and Eaton Road or the roads around them. With the A41 and A418 close by, California is simple for us to get to for your event. Other places close to California for paella catering include Aylesbury (1 mile north), Walton (1 mile east), Queens Park (1 mile east), Southcourt (1 mile south) and New Zealand (1 mile north). Further out, we also cater in High Wycombe (13 miles south), Chesham (11 miles south-east), Buckingham (15 miles north-west), Amersham (13 miles south-east), Princes Risborough (6 miles south) and Haddenham (6 miles south-west).
A little further out are Friars Square (under half a mile north-east) and Dinton Castle (3.4 miles west). Open spaces near California include Beacon Hill.
- Schools near California include Buckinghamshire UTC (less than half a mile west) and Pebble Brook School (within half a mile west)
- Nearby, you will find King's Head Inn (less than half a mile north-east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Mention any other courses or food
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Buckinghamshire, including California
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff