We facilitate delicious and life is delicious in all senses of the word!! We are here to delight you with the most glorious foods for your most special days…the once-in-a-lifetime affair, the milestones, the wedding celebrations, the elaborate, and sometimes just because it’s Tuesday. A Taste of Elegance is made up of a team of intensely dedicated, detail-oriented, talented individuals. Our strengths complement each other, giving us just the right balance of grit and poise.
We love working with clients that are open to collaborating. We understand trends but don’t feel compelled to follow them. Instead, we’d rather craft menus and designs that are unique to you. A Taste of Elegance understands that these are the events that will forever be carved in your memory and we’re invested in making your heart sing!
A Taste of Elegance is honored to be the sister company of two distinctive and inspired brands, each dedicated to elevating the art of celebration. MIRTH celebrates the power of great food to bring people together, infusing every gathering with the effortless charm of Carmel Valley. MIRTH is distinguished by its relaxed catering style, a fresh, inviting approach that favors fun, less formal atmospheres where guests are encouraged to help themselves and savor each bite without unnecessary fuss. Our family also includes Quench Bar Catering, renowned for its impeccable beverage curation and warm, professional service. Their team brings a refined touch to every glass, ensuring that each toast is as memorable as the occasion itself. Together, we share a commitment to exceptional quality, creativity, and hospitality, tailoring each experience to reflect your singular vision.
There is joy in our kitchens. We love our craft because onions make us cry and smile… and that’s why we cook. We also LOVE food and our community, especially with all the beautiful things we can source locally and sustainably, to eat seasonally. Our chefs have relationships with farmers, fishmongers, and fine purveyors. This allows us to procure the best ingredients. We take great care and finesse to highlight the quality and natural flavors of the ingredients. We are skilled in creating menus that travel the world with the foreign and exotic, but are equally comfortable staying right at home with our distinct California flair….. we can even find the perfect balance of both!
We can go on for eons about food. However, we feel deeply that what truly makes for a great experience goes beyond great food; it’s a culmination of atmosphere, delicious food, and genuine hospitality.
Our design team routinely scours a myriad of different sources, including antique markets, import shops, and various artisans, to add props and décor to our collection. Whether the desired look is contemporary with sleek, clean lines, rustic meets luxurious, or bohemian with a touch of medieval, we can do that! Our team of servers, lovingly known as “Team Turkey”, is there to take care of your guests. Trained in proper service but just as comfortable tying lobster bibs, our staff are happy to follow etiquette to the letter or throw it out the door! Their goal is to make you and your guests happy. Unlike being in a restaurant, our servers are an extension of you. They don’t just spend a couple of hours, but the entire day with your guests. They are the team that will squelch thirsts, offer tasty delights, and to ensure that your guests are happy.
We’re often out in the field, literally….and sometimes on the side of a cliff, in an alleyway, in a garage, you name it! A Taste of Elegance can adapt and find smart solutions for even the most remote and challenging event sites. We thrive on creating custom experiences, from corporate events to weddings. Here are just a few highlights from our past season - clubhouse villas during the Concours d’ Elegance featuring fine dining “restaurants” and concierge service; an elegant private estate wedding at Stonepine Estates in Carmel Valley featuring seasonal dishes and vineyard-side service; a one-of-a-kind strolling dinner on a Big Sur cliff that transported guests into a modern day medieval food village (read how we approach catering in Big Sur); and a haunting Mrs. Havisham themed dinner in a real deal castle. We love creativity and welcome more opportunities!
We’re here to cultivate visions into life, so dream big! If we sound like people you’d like to work with, let’s talk. This could be the beginning of a delicious relationship!