Kent · England
Tapas Catering for Chalk events
Planning tapas catering in Chalk? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Evening sharing boards
- Engagement parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
Tapas catering near Chalk
Events we cater in Chalk
Tapas are sociable food.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Chalk, people book us for events such as:
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas before paella
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas starters
Guests travelling by rail: Gravesend station is about 2 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
- Payment terms and deposit
- If the price includes VAT
Tapas catering in Chalk, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. For drinks reception canapés and cocktail parties, we’ll put together a menu of tortilla española, padrón peppers and Manchego with membrillo and more.
Near Chalk, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Your questions about tapas catering in Chalk
Can you cook in Shorne Woods Country Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cook inside?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want food that encourages guests to mingle, tapas are hard to beat. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Chalk
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
Send us the date, your venue or DA12 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Places near Chalk
Also in Chalk
How the day works
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, it is light in Chalk until about 9:20pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette served in wedges or squares.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Where we can cook in Chalk
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Unloading access
- Space on each table
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
Tapas for events in Chalk
Chalk is about 1 mile east of Gravesend, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Chalk and the surrounding area. We cook in 922 places across Kent. Our events stretch from Chalk to London (about 22 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Cobham College (2.8 miles south) and Temple Manor (4.4 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary.
This part of Kent takes in DA12, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Chalk Road, Castle Lane and Orlick Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Upper Ifield (1 mile south), Thong (1 mile south), Shorne (1 mile south-east), Shorne Ridgeway (2 miles south-east) and Higham (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Maidstone (12 miles south-east), Sittingbourne (15 miles south-east), Dartford (8 miles west), Sevenoaks (14 miles south-west), Northfleet (3 miles west) and Swanley (10 miles west).
A little further out are Rochester Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and Gravesham Museum (1.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Chalk include Gad's Hill and Rede Common.
- Nearby schools include Westcourt Primary School (0.8 miles west) and St John's Catholic Comprehensive (1.1 miles west)
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
- 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