Wokingham · England
Paella party catering in California, Wokingham
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in California: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
- Christenings and naming days
Book paella party catering in California
California questions
How far is California from London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St James: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
About our paella party catering in California
We cater parties at homes, village halls with outdoor space, clubs and hired venues. We are frequently asked to cater christenings and naming days and engagement and anniversary parties, with mixed paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
A country party near California is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the space, if you can
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your party in California, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Parties in California: gardens, venues and local tips
California is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Wokingham. Wherever your party is in the RG40 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 35 towns and villages in Wokingham. We cook right across the region, from California to Reading (about 7 miles away).
Thinking of a party in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve? Cooking in a public park generally needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Crowthorne station, about 2.4 miles east.
Here we cover the RG40 postcode area, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. Local streets include Warren Lane, White Horse Lane and Fernbank; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Arborfield Garrison (1 mile west), Finchampstead (1 mile south-east), Barkham (1 mile north), Langley Common (1 mile north-west) and Eversley (1 mile south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Reading (7 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles north-east), Woodley (5 miles north), Earley (5 miles north-west), Crowthorne (3 miles east) and Lower Earley (4 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles west) and Wokingham Hospital (2.6 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Horseshoe Lake and Holt Copse & Joel Park.
- Local schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1 mile west)
- Local pubs include The Queen's Oak pub (0.7 miles south-east)
Nearby places to California
Also in California
How it works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your party. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in California until about 9:25pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- You tell us the date, address, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a menu suggestion and a clear price.
- On the day, we set up and get cooking.
- Guests gather round as it cooks, nibbling tapas if you’ve booked them.
- We serve it hot from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A picture of the garden helps us check the space
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Dishes our guests love
Tapas
Bravas, tortilla, croquetas and more to start.
Vegetable paella
Vegetable paella in its own right, with peppers, beans and artichokes.
Occasions we cook for in California
It is sociable food, ideal when people want to mingle.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Milestone birthdays
- Retirement celebrations
- Family get-togethers
- Summer garden parties
After a christening at a church like Church of St James, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Questions to ask before you book
- Allergen information for each dish
- VAT, if it applies
- Staff numbers and hours
- How bad weather is handled
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Is live paella right for your party?
A takeaway order is easy but forgettable. Live paella gives guests a show. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- We cover California and the whole of Wokingham
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- 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