EXCELLENT

Affordable chef catered my wedding on November 5, 2010. My husband and I have nothing but EXCELLENT things to say about Mark, his staff, service, and DELICIOUS food.

Since meeting Mark last fall, he has been nothing short of professional, personal and very insightful. Outside of providing us with a myriad of menu options, we found him very resourceful and experienced, from recommending other vendors, giving us insightful pointers and useful recommendations so that we were completely prepared for our special day. He did all in the most unobtrusive way. We all found him very responsive and very accommodating to meeting with us, especially since our time was limited as we live out of state.

Regarding his food...it is amazing! Mark can prepare anything - any cuisine, any dish, and he does it so well! We were a bit all over the place, as we live in Brooklyn, and are exposed to food from around the globe. I seemed like anything we thought of, he had a recipe for or was willing to try something new.

We always knew we were in good hands, but actually seeing and tasting the food on our wedding day, was even better than what we had imagined. The food presentation and table capes were beautiful. His staff was professional and provided top service. We received countless compliments and even many inquiries as to who the catering company was and how people could contact him? Always a good sign!

I would highly recommend Affordable chef to any other prospective client looking for a caterer that can master any dish, provide professional service with a smile and offer excellent advice and insight into executing a memorable and delicious event.

Chef Mark Gallagher, Gourmet Food at an Affordable Price

When first contacting Mark Gallagher he was very personable and his attentive care began with our first converstaion and lasted through the day of the event, even checking in afterward.

I was nervous to higher a personal chef, not knowing what to expect, how the food would taste. But I was more than pleasantly surprised. The presentation alone was gorgeous, I almost did not want to eat the masterpiece. The vegetable dishes had an amazing color palette that enticed me and the flavor was nothing short of fantastic.
I had a variety of diners: vegans, pescadarians (hey, this is Santa Cruz), but Mark had no problem suggesting spring rolls, veggie lasagna, salmon teriyaki, and a chicken dish. I love meat so I was glad he didn't go all veggie.

Mark stopped by my house the week before the event to get the measurements, and was very laid-back which actually helped out because I was nervous about the family reunion, but it all went great, at a great price at that.

My family was excited about the excellent food, and without personally having to stress about anything I just got to be a great hostess. Since all the plates and cutlery were brought I didn't have even have to worry about clean-up. I think Affordable Chef is a great company in Santa Cruz. If I could afford it, I would have him cook all my meals, but I don't know if my husband would miss my domesticity, or maybe he'd actually eat my food.

Burlingame with Trudy and Jim

Sterling Gardens

Best ever

Mark...
I dont think there is any way to truly express how remarkable you and your staff are, how hard you all worked, or how much we appreciate all you did. Your food was probably the best I have had at a wedding. Lawrence and I were chowin down in our fancy suite out of a foil tray at 2 in the morning.

I hope our paths cross again and if ever I need a caterer again you bet it will be you!
Lawrence and I had the best wedding ever. Thanks for sending us into matrimony so nicely.

Karen

Recommendation

Mark and his company, Affordable chef, have provided catering for me for special events on numerous occasions.

I am happy to give him and his company a superlative recommendation on all counts: truly inspired cuisine, efficient related arrangements (rentals), experienced staff and a extraordinary ability to work within a budget. The latter is particularly important for non-profits in this environment when special events are often key to raising money.

In addition to being imaginative and flexible, Mark has been very responsive, answering questions and revising plans in a timely and professional manner.

here's to the next party !!

I just want to thank you again for a great event and a great party. We enjoyed meeting you and everyone of your staff, who were all wonderful. You guys were all super nice and made our event so enjoyable. everything was delicious, and couldnt have gone smoother. everything was just great and we/I really really appreciated everything you and your staff did. You guys were on it and made it all work! It was awesome! thank you so much again! Mark thank you again so much for everything. We will definitely recommend you and would love you to come back for any future events that we might have. I definitely plan on posting recommendations for you and really thought you and your staff were great, both professionally and personally.

All the best and here's to the next party!!

Kim

Chef Mark Thank you :}

What a wonderful time we had working with you and your staff! We loved the food at the wedding and everyone is still talking about it. You really helped to make our wedding special. We loved your willingness to listen to our ideas and work with us...Please thanks your staff - everyone loved them and thought they worked hard!...Please use us as a reference if you would like - we loved you and the delicious food!   http://www.affordablechef.info/event.html

August 28th, 2010 by Linda S in Santa Cruz, CA

Monarch cove Capitola

More of Mikes day

Highlands park ben lomond

Thank you...

Now folks, if you're looking for a great Chef for your events, well look no further because( Affordable Chef) will take care of you. I played at a wedding in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the Highlands Park. There I met Mark the Chef who was catering for the wedding. He was very pleasant and fun to work with and also his crew. Mark's cooking skills are AMAZING and he was always on top of everything and made sure there was plenty of hot delicious food to go around. I saw many people go back for thirds and that's very rare especially at events. People were talking about his food all night long how flavorful everything was and they were going to hire him as well. Well Mark all I got to say is, you made the wedding a success and The DJ (me) and Bride and Groom (Mike & Terresa) thank you very much for all you done to make this event a success.
Thank you
Ezequiel Gonzalez

He's simply a great caterer and a great guy.

We hired Mark back in January for our June 26th wedding in Monterey Memory gardens.

Mark maintained contact with us leading up to the actual day of the wedding. He is incredibly personal, and his easy going attitude really relieved a lot of stress from my wife. He knew what he was doing and everything was delivered as promised. His staff was wonderful and the food was a big hit. He made sure we didn't have to worry about anything the actual day. Mark was essentially a caterer and wedding planner all wrapped up in one!

If we ever need a caterer again, we will definitely be going with Mark. I would recommend him to anyone. He's simply a great caterer and a great guy.

Memory Gardens Montery CA

Highlands park set - up

The eco-friendly way to say 'I do'

The environmental movement seems to have tinted every part of daily life green. And the world of weddings is no exception, as more and more brides try to balance glamour and environmental awareness on their big day.

With a little imagination, the possibilities are endless. Easy options include hiring a specialist planner, arriving in a low-emission vehicle, and arranging eco-catering, which uses local organic products.

You can also do your bit by growing your own flowers or choosing to send electronic invitations instead of classic paper ones.

Guests can get involved, too. Rather than presenting the couple with a plasma TV, the latest trend is to make donations to non-governmental ecological organisations in the bride and groom's name.

For example, the World Wildlife Fund provides lots of resources for couples that want a wedding with a low environmental impact. Their special 'Weddings and Celebrations' web site even allows you to create a registry where friends and family can make donations.

There is, of course, one other important element that can be given the green touch: the bride's look.

Bridal fashion has gone eco-friendly, and these days many women are opting for gowns made from organic silk, cotton or bamboo.

Another way to turn your white dress into a green statement is to use vintage family heirlooms, which don't require textile processes that can harm the environment.

Wedding day jewels are also a consideration, as brides and grooms can select ethical accessories, like engagement rings and wedding bands made from Fair Trade gems and recycled metals.

Affordable chef was Great !

When planning our wedding, there were a lot of uncertainties that we were nervous about. But not only did we luck out with the wedding venue, we also lucked out with the Catering company.

The Affordable Chef Catering company did a tremendous job at our wedding, and we would highly recommend them for any event. The staff was highly professional, and the food was delicious. All of our guests were commenting on the quality of the food and the excellent service. The entire day went flawlessly as soon as they arrived. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect event.

Thank you Affordable Chef Catering!! Lexis

Sally Baldwin Thanks Affordable Chef

We just had our wedding catered by Chef Mark Gallagher of Affordable chef. The food was spectacular and the staff was on time, professional and went above and beyond. Mark was great and even saved the last delicious crab cake for me- the bride. Despite the fact my wedding was a small event of only 24 people, I was treated as if I was planning an event of 250. I couldn't have asked for a better experience, from the planning to execution. Thank you Affordable Chef !

Pumpkin Chai Latte Martini ...

INGREDIENTS:
3 oz. Stoli Vanilla Vodka
1.5 oz. Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur
1/2 oz. Pumpkin Liqueur
2 graham crackers, crushed
3-4 oz. simple syrup

PREPARATION:
1. Chill martini glass while preparing the recipe

2. Crush the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag with the back of a spoon and pour onto a small plate. Set aside.

3. Pour simple syrup onto a second plate or shallow bowl and set aside.

4. Mix the following ingredients in a shaker with ice: Stoli Vanil, Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur and Pumpkin Liqueur.

5. Take the martini glass and turn it upside down, dipping the rim of the glass in the simple syrup which will aid in adhering the crushed graham crackers to the rim.

6. Strain the liquid into the glass, being carefully not too fill too close to the top. Enjoy!

What exactly is local food?

Talk of local food is everywhere. But what does it mean? How local is local? Local is shorthand for an idea that doesn't have a firm definition. Unlike organic standards, which entail specific legal definitions, inspection processes, and labels, local means different things to different people, depending on where they live,how long their growing season is,and what products they are looking for.

Practically speaking,local food production can be thought of in concentric circles. We at Affordable chef catering start with growing food at home.The next ring out might be food grown in our immediate community - then state, region, and country.For some parts of the year or for some products that thrive in the local climate, it may be possible to buy closer to home. At other times,or for less common products, an expanded reach may be required.

People who value local as their primary food criterion are sometimes referred to as locavores. The term "locavore" was coined by Jessica Prentice from the San Francisco Bay Area for World Environment Day 2005 to describe and promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested from within an area most commonly bound by a 100 mile radius.With such excitement and momentum building in the local food movement,the New Oxford American Dictionary chose locavore as its word of the year in 2007.

One easy way to start buying local is to choose one product to focus on.Vegetables are often a good place to start. Produce also offers a good introduction to eating seasonally—an excellent way to learn about local agriculture. Then,try seeking out sources for local meat or dairy. Check out the Shop Sustainable section for more on how to make buying local fun and easy.With a pantry and fridge full of beautiful, local foods, you may want to start experimenting in the kitchen. For recipes, cookbook reviews, tips, and other culinary tidbits.

While local is certainly a flexible term, the basic concept is simple: local foods are produced as close to home as possible. Buying local supports a more sustainable food system because true sustainability goes beyond the methods used in food production to include every step that brings food from farm to plate.Affordable chef.

Fajita,s for everyone