Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Crouch, Kent
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Crouch. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Cocktail parties
- Engagement drinks
Tapas catering for Crouch events
Tapas for events in Crouch
Crouch is about 3 miles south-east of Preston, in Kent. Give us the address of your event in Crouch, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Crouch is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent we cover. We cook right across the region, from Crouch to Canterbury (about 6 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Belmont House and Gardens (4.2 miles west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Crouch is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Tapas catering in ME13 is planned around your venue and timings. If your venue is just outside Crouch, we also cover South Street (1 mile south-east), Gushmere (1 mile south-west), Neames Forstal (1 mile south), Hickmans Green (1 mile east) and Oversland (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (10 miles south), Canterbury (6 miles east), Sittingbourne (10 miles north-west), Whitstable (6 miles north-east), Faversham (3 miles north-west) and Herne Bay (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Tower keep castle at Chilham (3 miles south). Not far away are Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Sondes Arms (0.5 miles south)
Tapas catering in Crouch, cooked live
Sangria and bar staff can be added, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. Popular choices include Serrano ham, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, and typical bookings are for cocktail parties and engagement drinks.
In a rural spot like Crouch, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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.
Occasions we cook for in Crouch
Tapas get people talking.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Tapas before paella
- Evening grazing
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Anniversary parties
Guests travelling by rail: Selling station is about 0.5 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How each diet is kept separate
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
Also in Crouch
For event organisers in Crouch
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Why choose live paella in Crouch?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Crouch
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- We cover Crouch and the whole of Kent
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. At midsummer, it is light in Crouch until about 9:15pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Crouch: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter and St Paul?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Crouch?
The closest is Selling station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more for a suggestion.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Include staff for canapés
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Tapas go out to the tables.
Staff to serve canapés.
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A spot for our serving station
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- 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