Kent · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Heart's Delight, Kent
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Heart's Delight: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
Tapas catering for Heart's Delight events
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Tapas catering in Heart's Delight, cooked live
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Popular choices include gambas al ajillo, tortilla española and padrón peppers, and we’re often booked for evening sharing boards and anniversary parties.
Near Heart's Delight, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of where we’d cook
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space on each table
- Space for a serving table or station
- Access to unload near the serving area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
Who books tapas catering in Heart's Delight?
They’re the classic starter before paella.
In Heart's Delight and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Tapas starters
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas and paella menus
Historic houses near Heart's Delight include Acrise Place (4.4 miles south) and Goodnestone Park (4.5 miles north-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Step by step
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. At midsummer, it’s light in Heart's Delight until about 9:15pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:00pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:50pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear our equipment afterwards.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Places near Heart's Delight
Other catering in Heart's Delight
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ensure dishes are labelled
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
Heart's Delight: venues and local tips
Heart's Delight is about 6 miles north of Hawkinge, in Kent. For tapas catering in Heart's Delight, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Heart's Delight. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 6 miles away.
Parks such as Jumping Downs have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St John the Baptist, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Heart's Delight, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Kent takes in CT4. That could mean an event in a garden on South Barham Road, Green Hills and Railway Hill. Nearby, we also cater events in Derringstone (1 mile north-east), Barham (1 mile north-east), Gravel Castle (1 mile east), Marley (1 mile north-west) and Out Elmstead (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (13 miles west), Canterbury (6 miles north-west), Dover (8 miles south-east), Folkestone (8 miles south), Ramsgate (15 miles north-east) and Whitstable (12 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Kent and Canterbury Hospital (5.3 miles north-west).
Questions from Heart's Delight
Can you cook in Jumping Downs?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Is Heart's Delight too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Yes. Sangria can be added, and bar staff if you are providing the drinks.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
- 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