Dinner Party Catering in West Sussex

Catering throughout West Sussex and beyond, Man With A Pan offer a full dinner party service with a twist - their professional chef, Jean de Rien, can sing for guests while he cooks for them! Specialising in European Bistro, this fully table waited and professional dinner party catering company have entertained and fed all different types of people, from Knights of the Realm to wonderfully ordinary people in their own homes.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

To help us provide you with a comprehensive quote there are few things we need in terms of information. The venue and what is has available (e.g. power and water) is always vital to ensure we can quote something that will work and succeed in those surroundings. The exact date and time are also needed, as well as an estimate of how many guests we'll need to cater for. Finally, make use of that last box where you can describe what it is you're looking for - that's always really helpful!

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

As providers we love to give you more information about what we provide (or at least all the good ones do!). Make sure you get as much detail as possible so you can manage your expectations and those of your guests - you don't want any surprises! As a caterer, we'd also recommend you find out where ingredients are sourced from - the better the source, the better the quality!

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

After cooking for friends and family for over 25 years, I finally got the chance to leave the "rat race" and start up a catering business; focusing on baking, street food and fine dining. I'm passionate about what we do and I am always looking for new ideas for the best way to prepare and cook dishes. Our aim at Man With A Pan is to give you a truly unique dining experience.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

We have found Add to Event a real catalyst to our business getting to where it is today. There are so many great events that we've catered for, found through the site. One memorable one was catering for a family occasion at a luxury barn accommodation near Arundel, West Sussex. In a kitchen that was new to us we prepared a three course menu (with choices at each course) right in front of the guests as it was an open kitchen. Being the Singing Chef, I also entertained them with some Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble. The reviews were so good and we were pleased everyone enjoyed themselves. We would recommend this site to anyone involved in events or the service industry - it really gives great opportunities and the chance to create unforgettable memories. Long may the Add to Event team continue!