Greater London · England
Paella catering in SE5
Hosting a party in SE5? We cook in East Dulwich, Camberwell and Denmark Hill and every street in between, with paella cooked from scratch.
Paella catering in SE5
Where we cater in SE5
What we do in SE5
- Wedding paella catering
- Paella party catering
- Corporate paella catering
- Live paella catering
- Tapas & canapé catering
- Festival & event paella
- Every service
Tell us your date, numbers and venue for a quote: use our quote form.
About paella catering in SE5
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We’re frequently asked to cater birthday celebrations and leaving dos and retirements, with vegan paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
What you will pay
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why hosts in SE5 choose us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- We cover SE5 and the whole of Greater London
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Local landmarks in East Dulwich
Locally, our events take us close to The Charter School, Dog Kennel Hill School and Brunswick Park and the streets around them. Also close by are The Fox on the Hill pub (within half a mile north-west), The Latter Rain Outpouring Revival Church (within half a mile north-east) and The Charter School East Dulwich (less than half a mile south-east). There’s a railway station in East Dulwich itself: East Dulwich station, handy for guests travelling by train. Well-known places in the area include Dulwich Community Hospital (less than half a mile south-east) and Nunhead (1.4 miles east). Not far away are Knight's Hill and Centre for Wildlife Gardening.
Paella catering in SE5: local guide
There are 3 towns and 0 villages and hamlets in SE5, so whether your event is in East Dulwich, Bermondsey and North Brixton or a quiet village, the approach is the same: a level, ventilated spot and a clear plan.
East Dulwich: Parks such as Brunswick Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Latter Rain Outpouring Revival Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Planning an evening event in East Dulwich? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we typically call guests over.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Why live paella works
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Whatever you’re celebrating in SE5, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
SE5 questions
How many different paellas?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate 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