Kent · England
Live paella catering in Caring, Kent
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Caring and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Book paella catering in Caring
How our paella catering works in Caring
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We’re often asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and retirement celebrations, with mixed paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
Somewhere as small as Caring, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Working with your venue
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What affects the price in Caring
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
- How many courses
- Distance and access to the venue
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Live paella in Caring: local details
Caring is about 3 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. For paella catering in Caring, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Caring. We cater in 922 places in Kent. We cook right across the region, from Caring to Canterbury (21 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bearsted station, about 1.5 miles north-west. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Nicholas's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Caring is within about 3 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
For paella catering in ME17, we plan around your venue and timings. From Caring Lane and Caring Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Otham (1 mile south-west), Bearsted (1 mile north-west), Langley (1 mile south), Langley Heath (1 mile south) and Willington (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (3 miles west), Ashford (14 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Gravesend (15 miles north-west), Tonbridge (14 miles west) and Faversham (13 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include The Mall Maidstone (3.1 miles west) and Laundry Museum (1.4 miles east). The countryside around Caring includes Detling Hill.
- Local pubs include The Orchard Spot Public House (1 mile west)
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Questions from Caring
Do you come out to small places like Caring?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Caring close to London?
Roughly 34 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
What happens with live paella?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Do you cover Caring?
We do. Caring is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
Nearby places to Caring
More for events in Caring
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Count adults and children separately
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Make sure each pan is labelled
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
The process
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Around midsummer it stays light in Caring until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:50pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Events we cater in Caring
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Leeds and Broomfield Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
- The wet-weather plan
- When final numbers are due
- 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