CATERER: K. BY CUNANAN CATERING

Rating Legend:
5 – highest
1 – lowest

9 months before the wedding, we were already supposed to book another caterer if only that caterer replied to our email. Good thing they didn’t as we got K by C instead.

As early as May 2011, we already inquired from K by C but crossed them off our list as soon as we received their quote. We were then looking for someone who could give us a rate of PhP 500 per head or less, already including SC and VAT. After several inquiries, we found that while we could find someone who could meet our budget, we then would have to find a separate event stylist to achieve that elegant ambiance we were after.

Three to four months and four foodtastings later, we have decided to book our caterer. We sent this caterer one last email about our concerns and was supposed to book him afterwards, but he never replied.

A month after waiting for the reply which never came, we sent an email to K by C again. At that time, the one handling our account was Mariann. Because we still wanted to stick to our budget, we tried to haggle. Mariann sent us their dinner menu which meant less wedding amenities, less flowers and tiffany chairs. That also meant goodbye to the elegant styling we first loved about K by C.

We discussed the original quote we received, and after a few weeks decided we’d get them. We told them we’d book them at one of the bridal fairs in order for us to get some freebies (which they only offer during bridal fairs). The next bridal fair – sometime January or February 2012.

When we requested for an initial foodtasting for December, we were told that they already closed their diary for November-January, and the next initial food tasting schedule would be by February. That was OK with us, we knew there were a lot of clients for December and January and they needed to finish all their final foodtastings and detailings with them. What wasn’t OK was when we learned they accommodated other people for an initial foodtasting from the time they told us they won’t accommodate anyone anymore.

They also took their time in responding to emails. M’s mom would call them and they would say they would ring back but they wouldn’t. There was also one time when M’s mom overheard the AE say “tell her I’m busy”.

Sometime between October 2011 to February 2012, our then AE, Mariann, resigned. According to Kaye, she would handle our account herself, we knew we were in good hands.

By February 2012, R was able to pay the required downpayment at a bridal fair. A few weeks later, M’s mom and sister were able to attend their initial foodtasting, and were attended to by Jieza. These were their faves amongst the dishes they tried:

After the foodtasting, we started exchanging emails with Jieza and all our replies were CC-d to Kaye’s email address as she mentioned she would still handle our account and Jieza would only assist her.

On the day of the final foodtasting, we were attended to by Jieza. Kaye, who was present by the time we started our detailing, was assisting another couple next to our table. At the end of the detailing, we were expecting Kaye would talk to us but she never did. When she went missing, we asked Jieza how come she wasn’t at the detailing with us and she said Kaye had an event that day that she had to attend to.

Everything was executed well during the reception. We heard a lot of guests rave about the food. We were also told that the guests were already full by the end of the cocktail hour that one of M’s sister wasn’t even able to try any of the desserts. They also plated up the kids’ meals that we ordered from Jollibee at no cost.

All the left-overs were divided into three – groom’s family, bride’s family, and the couple. All the wine bottles: full, half-full & empty, were turned-over properly.

And while we saw Jieza until the end of the program, we never saw Kaye there.

Here's our menu:

COCKTAILS:

- Hoisin chicken wrap
- Pan de sal bruschetta with adobo flakes, mango salsa and kesong puti

- Cheese and roasted pepper quesadilla

ENTREE:

- Assorted bread with 1)Pesto butter, and 2)Roasted peppers and garlic

SOUP:
- Squash soup

SALAD:

- Barbecue chicken salad

MAINS:

- Spicy tuyo, angel hair pasta

- Supreme of chicken, herb cream sauce

- Crusted dory, sweet soy glaze, asparagus, mashed potatoes

- Barbecued beef ribs, corn with tarragon butter, baby potatoes
- Carrot rice

DESSERTS:

- Lemon creme brulee

- Panna cotta with mango

- Flourless chocolate cake with vanilla sauce

- Strawberry and cream cheese crepes

- Queso de bola cheesecake

DRINKS:

- Raspberry iced tea
- Brewed coffee
- Tarragon tea

Package Cost: PhP 132,740.
Package Inclusion: Cocktail hour (3 Cocktails, Free-flowing drinks), Buffet menu (Assorted bread with 2 dips, Soup, Salad, 4 Main dishes, 2 Desserts, Rice, Free-flowing drinks), Wait staff, Flatware, glassware and dinnerware, Décor (Tiffany chairs, Buffet setup, Linen, Floral centerpieces, VIP tables with menu cards, Candles, Table numbers, Tables for cake, registration and gifts, Cocktail tables, Sofa, Backdrop, Luminaries), Sparkling wine, Note cards.
Freebie: 3 additional desserts, lechon carver.


R&M’s rating: 4.5