The professional resources in culinary and service skills at Elena’s Kitchen & Catering assure you that all of our commitments will be carried out to the industry standards. In order to ensure you and your guests a well- organized function, we must ask that we both adhere to the following catering policies:

 

Payment and Deposit

For wedding, corporate or social events, a non-refundable deposit of of 20% or $400 (whichever is less) is required to hold the date for your events. Billing arrangements for all events must be made in accordance with catering policies. Payment in full is due, no later than 2 weeks prior to the event. If payment is not received by this time, contractual obligations are nullified and no refunds are due. Payment may be made by cash, check or card (2% fee will be added to all card transactions). If for any reason a check is returned by the bank a $35 fee will be added. Final guest count confirmation for your event is required 2 weeks prior to the event.

 

Cancellations

A 2 weeks advance phone notification to the person who took your order, is required to cancel a confirmed order. If there are costs incurred as a result of your cancellation, you will be billed only of those costs and not the entire cost of the event. If the event is cancelled the deposit is forfeit and can not be used towards another event or as credit. If the date of event is changing due to unseen circumstances, deposit may be moved to the new date if the new date is available but prices aren't guaranteed. Please call us at (916) 750-5036 to cancel an order.

 

Menu Selection and Leftover Food

Menu selections are to be finalized no later than 2 weeks prior to your event date. We may leave leftover food that is safe to consume, if the client requests beforehand and signs the release of liability waiver. A signed waiver must be on file 2 weeks prior to event with instructions for release. The client must and is responsible to provide full or half steam foil trays and covers, minimum 1 per menu item, for the catering staff to transfer the leftover food to. If client fails to provide foil trays and cover for the leftover food, then the food will be discarded. There are NO exceptions to this rule. We do not recommend serving leftovers after the event as we cannot anticipate how long leftover food has been held at unsafe temperatures. Once the food is transferred to the foil trays, the client will assume full responsibility for any liability as a result from consuming leftover food after the event. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience, but it is due to the Sacramento County Health Department that we adhere to this policy strictly.

 

Portion Sizes

Our menu items are sold on a per guest basis, with generous portion sizes having been determined by our experienced catering staff. If you feel there will be a shortage of food, please order for additional people.

 

Food Allergies

Elena’s Kitchen & Catering cannot guarantee full omission of all ingredients we use in our kitchen. Our catering kitchen is an open plan facility and allergens such as nuts and gluten are present, so there is always the possibility that food may come in contact with it. We will not assume any liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed, or items an individual may come in contact with, at any event catered by Elena’s Kitchen & Catering.

 

Outside Food and Beverage

The client is welcome to bring up to 2 Cultural foods of their own to the event. If the client chooses to do so they must notify the caterer 2 weeks prior to the event, fill out and sign a liability waiver. The client is responsible to set the food out on a separate table, replenish the food as needed and take it away when it's done. Elena's Kitchen & Catering does not handle or touch any food we did not prepare nor do we provide or rent out our serving equipment for food that is not ours. Our catering staff is not licensed to serve alcoholic beverages.

 

Wait Staff/Servers

Wait staff are not included in our catering fee but are available for hire: $70 per server based on 3 hours of labor, additional hour is $20 per server. Wait staff is responsible to tend to the guests, bus the dinner plates, and refill drinks. The number of servers required depends on the size and nature of the function. Out of town catering is subject to out of town rates. 

 

12% Catering Fee

A 12% catering fee (operational cost) will be added for all catered events and is based on 2 hours of service, from the arrival time. Service time may change due to menu selections. This is an additional fee to cover operational cost such as administrative fees, set up staff, equipment used, liability insurance, appointments, scheduling and other such costs that aren't covered by food cost.

This is not a tip or gratuity, the staff does not receive any part of the catering fee. Gratuity is not mandatory but is always appreciated. Gratuity is added on at clients request and goes to the staff working that event

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Sales Tax (Determined by country of the Event)

The Board of Equalization in the state of California requires sales tax to be applied to service charges, drinks, food, or events served by Elena’s Kitchen & Catering. Sales tax applies to all labor that is related to the event, rentals and operation/administration fee – Refer to regulation 1603 in the Board of Equalization. Tax-exempt organizations must provide documentation with order.

 

Pricing

Our menu and website prices may be subject to change due to the market price fluctuation, additional charges by your venue to caterer, as well as product availability. Substitutions and additions on any menu will reflect price changes on the final bill.

 

Liability

While our team will try their hardest to avoid any accidents during an event, by booking an event, the client understands that Elena’s Kitchen & Catering is not responsible for any accidental injury or damage caused by its staff or equipment. Elena’s Kitchen & Catering is not responsible for accidental injury of a person at a party, including, but not limited to: burns from hot food or equipment, injury from dropped items, injury from tripping and falling, a vehicle accident, food poisoning, fire, or natural disaster. During the event, no unauthorized person is permitted to be in the kitchen due to food safety and health regulations. A copy of our Certificate of Liability is available upon request.

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