Taste Catering and Event Planning

What Taste Catering and Event Planning does

Taste Catering and Event Planning is a full-service, privately held catering and event production company founded in 1978, headquartered in Millbrae, California, with a newly built 18,000 square foot commissary kitchen in Burlingame that enables multiple simultaneous large-scale events. The company delivers end-to-end event services — wedding catering, corporate and private event catering, in-house event design and production, and a dedicated Taste Beverage sub-brand for custom cocktail and bar programs — for groups of approximately 20 to 2,000 guests across the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, Marin, and Napa Valley. Its service portfolio is complemented by a 2022 co-branded partnership with Jalsa Catering (Taste x Jalsa) that adds authentic regional Indian cuisine, and an extensive venue partnership network of more than 20 premier Bay Area venues such as SFMOMA, the Asian Art Museum, Filoli Gardens, and the California Academy of Sciences.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model anchored by direct, quote-based sales through its website and a referral channel driven by preferred-caterer status at marquee venues. Revenue is generated primarily through professional-services engagements: per-event pricing is determined by guest count, menu selection, dietary and cultural requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergen-sensitive), service style, and event complexity, with custom menu design supported by an in-house culinary team led by Executive Chef Aaron Plascencia and Executive Pastry Chef Vanessa Garrido (CIA-St. Helena). The company is a nationally certified women-owned business, currently led by co-founders MeMe Pederson (CEO) and Janet Griggs (CFO) — both at the helm since 1992 — alongside President Margaret Teskey, and was the first major Bay Area caterer to obtain green certification from the San Francisco Department of the Environment.

Taste serves a diversified client base spanning enterprise technology (Apple, Google, Facebook/Meta, Salesforce, Square, New Relic, Qualys), healthcare (Gilead Sciences, Genentech, John Muir Health), financial services (JP Morgan), retail (Tiffany & Company, Tourneau), and nonprofit organizations (Meals on Wheels San Francisco, San Francisco SPCA). Distribution is wholly direct and on-site: services are delivered at client- or venue-specified locations with no retail or e-commerce channels. There is no public disclosure of revenue, no external institutional investment, no AI/ML capability evidenced, and no mobile app or public API; pricing is not standardized and all quotes are bespoke.

Name

Taste Catering and Event Planning

Legal name

Taste Catering and Event Planning

Website

https://tastecatering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Taste Catering and Event Planning is a privately held, women-owned full-service catering and event production company founded in 1978, serving weddings, corporate, and private events for groups of 20 to 2,000 guests across the San Francisco Bay Area from a 18,000 sq ft commissary kitchen in Burlingame.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ), Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Custom cocktail programs
• Event design production
• Bay Area catering

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Catering & Event Services: Full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Custom menus designed for each event with professional service staff. Revenue generated through per-event pricing based on guest count, menu selection, and service requirements.
2. Beverage & Bar Services: Full-service bar staffing and custom cocktail programs through Taste Beverage division. Includes specialty wine, spirits, beer selections, and zero-proof options.
3. Event Design & Production: Design services including florals, decor, furniture rentals, lighting, and production coordination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Taste Catering and Event Planning is a full-service catering and event production company serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It provides custom-designed catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations, with in-house culinary, design, and beverage teams operating out of an 18,000 square-foot commissary kitchen in Burlingame.

Product overview

Taste Catering and Event Planning is a full-service luxury catering company offering a comprehensive suite of event services through multiple branded offerings. The core portfolio includes Wedding Catering & Design, Corporate & Private Event Catering, and Food & Beverage Catering, supported by in-house Design & Production Services and the Taste Beverage sub-brand for custom cocktail programs. A strategic partnership with Jalsa Catering extends capabilities to authentic Indian cuisine. The company operates a newly built 18,000 square foot commissary kitchen in Burlingame and maintains an extensive venue partnership network throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, serving San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, and surrounding communities. Established in 1978 and certified women-owned, the company supports over 40 years of operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taste Beverage: Full-service bar staffing and custom cocktails for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and large-scale productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Products and services

• Wedding Catering & Design Full-service wedding catering with custom-designed menus, florals, bar programs, and styling tailored to each couple's preferences. Covers grand estate celebrations, modern city ceremonies, and intimate garden gatherings for couples and families planning weddings in the SF Bay Area.
• Corporate & Private Event Catering Catering for corporate events including product launches, conferences, executive dinners, holiday parties, fundraisers, and private milestone celebrations. Serves groups from 20 to 2,000 guests for Bay Area enterprises and private clients.
• Food & Beverage Catering Catering services featuring seasonal menus designed around local, organic ingredients sourced from Bay Area farms. Offers California farm-to-table cuisine, global flavors, and accommodation for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-sensitive dietary needs.
• Design & Production Services In-house event design including custom florals, event layout and floor plan design, furniture and tabletop styling, lighting and audiovisual equipment, music coordination, calligraphy, signage, and logistics. Led by Executive Designer Andrea Cruz.
• Taste Beverage Full-service bar staffing and custom cocktail program featuring handcrafted bitters, tinctures, shrubs, syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, and infused spirits. Provides signature cocktails, specialty wine and spirit selections, zero-proof options, and custom bar design for weddings, corporate events, and private parties across the SF Bay Area.
• Taste x Jalsa (Indian Cuisine Catering) Indian catering partnership offering authentic regional Indian cuisine at Bay Area events. Jalsa specializes in dishes prepared with seasonal, organic, locally sourced ingredients combining traditional spice blends with modern presentation. Co-founded by Vittal Shetty (Executive Chef) and Reshmi Nair (Operations).
• Venue Partnership Network Service Coordination with preferred Bay Area venues including wine country estates, art galleries, historic landmarks, San Francisco buildings, private clubs, outdoor gardens, ranches, and contemporary event spaces. Assists clients in venue selection and booking coordination through long-standing preferred caterer relationships.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.75M raised for Meals on Wheels San Francisco at 36th Annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jalsa CateringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary collaboration bringing authentic Indian cuisine to Bay Area events. Jalsa specializes in regional Indian dishes with seasonal, organic, locally sourced ingredients. Partnership combines Taste's event planning and service expertise with Jalsa's bold regional flavors. Co-founded by Vittal Shetty (Executive Chef, trained at OCLD) and Reshmi Nair (Operations, 15+ years hospitality experience).
• Filoli GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier wedding venue partnership. Taste is a preferred caterer at Filoli Gardens, a historic estate in the San Francisco Peninsula.
• Asian Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred catering partner at San Francisco's globally renowned Asian Art Museum for special events and celebrations.
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for dynamic and surprising events at SFMOMA, with creations as creative as the modern and contemporary art in this community treasure.
• California Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred catering partner for events at the California Academy of Sciences, including the Dream Lab Showcase.
• City View at MetreoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for JP Morgan Week and other corporate events at City View venue.
• Napa Valley WineriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with wine country estates and Napa Valley vineyards for wedding and event catering.
• Meals on Wheels San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting annual Star Chefs & Vintners Gala. Helped raise $3.75M in 2024 (up from $3.7M in 2023), providing 750,000+ meals for older adults in the Bay Area.
• Leading Caterers of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in industry association. Participation in annual executive summits including 2023 summit in Seattle.
• Junior Achievement of Northern CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership with Executive Chef Aaron Plascencia serving as Career Speaker at Paul Revere Elementary School.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bite Catering Couture: San Diego-based premium catering company focused on weddings and corporate events with custom menus and design services. Comparable to Taste in upscale positioning, integrated event production, and customization-led offering.
• 24 Carrots Catering & Events: Premier Southern California catering company serving weddings and corporate events with emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine and full-service production. Comparable to Taste in California regional focus, premium pricing, and integrated event design.
• Occasions Caterers: Mid-Atlantic premium catering company serving weddings, corporate galas, and large-scale events with full-service production. Comparable to Taste in full-service offering, scale of events handled, and venue partnership strategy.
• Global Gourmet Catering: Bay Area corporate event caterer serving technology, healthcare, and enterprise clients across the San Francisco region. Direct comparison to Taste's corporate catering segment with overlapping enterprise customer base and venue relationships.
• Thomas Caterers of Distinction: Established multi-decade premium caterer serving weddings, corporate, and private events with full-service production. Comparable to Taste in operating longevity, upscale positioning, and integrated culinary/event execution model.
• Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events: Established Bay Area luxury catering company serving weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Closely comparable to Taste in premium positioning, Bay Area focus, full-service culinary/design offering, and venue partnership strategy.
• McCall's Catering & Events: Long-standing Los Angeles premium caterer specializing in weddings, corporate events, and galas. Comparable to Taste in full-service model, in-house design and beverage capabilities, and high-end event positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tastecateringsf
• Xx.com/tastecateringsf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taste-catering

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taste Catering and Event Planning