Contemporary Catering

I struggle to find words that can properly articulate how I feel about Rob and the entire Contemporary Catering team. The customer service, attention to detail and obviously, the food, is nothing short of incredible. When I first met Rob he spent over two hours with me not only going through menu options but helping me find my wedding planner (Kristeen LaBrot, she’s the best!), florist, rental company and so much more.
During the months leading up to my wedding, Rob and his team served as more than just my caterers, they were my sounding board for all things wedding related — color palettes, flower arrangements, floor plans and even my wedding dress. The team has an intense passion for every project they take on. I sometimes felt like my wedding was the only event they had — that is how much attention and priority they give their brides. They make you feel like your big day is their big day too.
Beyond the exceptional customer service, the food is out of this world! The flavor combinations are unique, the ingredients are insanely fresh and the taste is on par with some of the best restaurants I’ve been to. Contemporary catered both my wedding and post-​wedding BBQ and guests couldn’t decide which meal they liked better. The food was the highlight of our wedding weekend. I’m salivating just thinking of all the amazing dishes that they came up with. The team truly listened to our menu vision and presented our guests with beautiful and delicious plates of food.
Contemporary should be every brides first call! I’m already trying to figure out the next event to book them for!

All I can say is WOW. I am a wedding planner in the Los Angeles area and have worked with a ton of catering companies. Contemporary catered the wedding I did this past weekend at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu and they were nothing short of amazing! From start to finish, their team was on it. They made my job a dream. Mark & Mark made sure that if I needed anything it was taken care of within seconds. There were no hiccups. None. The food was absolutely exquisite. From the apps, to the main entrees, to the late night bites. So, so good. The guests were raving about how everything tasted. I was able to get a behind-​the-​scenes view in the kitchen and I have never seen a chef work so hard and with such passion. It is clear that Chef Nathaniel loves what he does and puts his heart into each and every dish. If you are searching for a truly exceptional team for your event this is it. I wish I could work with them every weekend. Really, I could go on and on. Thank you for being such a pleasure to work with and for setting the standard for what catering should be.

What can I say??? ROB is amazing. Insightful, courteous, helpful and so knowledgable!
Truly. If you are looking for honesty and integrity call ROB.
I just got off the phone with him and I now know why he is the #1 catering company in la! Thank you!

If you are starting the process of finding a cater for your wedding/​event I strongly recommend making Contemporary Catering your first call. Rob and his team made my wedding day beyond amazing! The food was to die for. We collaborated with Rob and made the most delectable menu, everyone is still talking about the food. The presentation was gorgeous. The staff was professional, friendly with all of my guests, and gave my event the look I was striving for. Throughout the planning process Rob and Rachel were always quick to respond to any questions I had and often called to make sure that I was in the loop and confident that everything was going according to plan. My event was FLAWLESS! I have never heard of one single bride being able to say that, not one. I could fill pages sighting examples of how Contemporary Catering exceeded every expectation I had for a catering company, but I think the best way for anyone to understand is to give them a call.

I don’t generally rate a company I have not worked with, like some do, based on a phone call. However, a phone call says a lot about customer service. I just hopped off of the phone with Rob. What a dream come true he is!
I have no doubt that he can take my vision and create a masterpiece. He radiates honestly and confidence. He offered to turn his day on it’s head to meet my fiancé and I and to assist in finding us vendors.
We are a cost sensitive couple, and this is a top of the line caterer, all his products are beautiful and organic! Rob came to me highly recommended by a bride and I know why, I will update if we move forward given our restraints, but I have to say, my 100% instinct is to gratefully put this sensitive, me, elegant, quirky menu into his capable hands.

This company is AMAZING! Rob and Rachel are always there to help, answer questions, and make your special day the best that it can be! I 100% recommend using contemporary catering!!!

Called and spoke to someone… said
they would be calling back to discuss my catering needs. No one ever called back. Will be planning my party elsewhere!

The most professional, creative and delicious catering! Nace is a dream to work with. We had liquid cheesecake with balsamic strawberries tonight, they were out of this world. Thanks Nace!

These guys are great! We had a food tasting on Monday which was so much better than I thought it was going to be. My family and I were there to sample the food for our daughter’s wedding to take place next summer. We arrived promptly at noon as they had instructed us; they were ready exactly when we got there. Every food we tasted was more delicious than the previous. The presentation was superb only to be outdone by the savory and delicious tastes that our palates experienced. Nathaniel the owner, was extremely knowledgeable, polite, and was on top of every aspect of his catering company, this made all of us feel very confident that the wedding for 2016 could only be outstanding with him at the helm.
This was the only catering company that we have been to thus far, and I don’t know how it could get any better than our experience on Monday.. Five thumbs up!

The event was a huge success, thanks to all of the hard work, creativity and thoughtfulness of Rob Pausmith and Rachel Quinn and the dedicated staff. Working under very difficult conditions, the crew created an impressive meal the guests raved about. The dedication and passion to make sure every detail was perfect made for an amazing and really fun event. A great group of professionals, I wish I could work with again and again!

No words can really begin to express what an amazing experience I had working with Contemporary Catering.
I was in the process of starting my own event production company when I had a client who was referred to me very last minute to produce their wedding within two months. When I called to set up a tasting, I was directed to Rob, who is one of the most amazing human beings and goes above and beyond to exceed any and all expectations. Rob took me under his wing and helped me tremendously with managing my clients very high expectations.
We came in and did the tasting, and of course the food was exceptional and the customer service was beyond words. We sealed the deal and team Contemporary won over the hearts of my clients.
If it was not for Rob and Rachel, I do not think we would have made it to the finish line. The attention to detail and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure that our clients were happy was undoubtedly one of the best professional experiences I have ever had.
Contemporary Catering gets an A++ rating on quality of service and quality of food.
Thank you Team Contemporary, I could not have done it without you.

In our search for a wedding caterer, my fiancé came across Contemporary Catering during one of her late night wedding research binges. Contemporary Catering got back to us quickly and was the only one to extend an in-​person meeting. Most other caterers we had contacted preferred to discuss all business over the phone or by email.
Rob! Rob! Rob!
At our first appointment with Contemporary, Rob met us with an incredibly warm, bright welcome. It felt like meeting with an old friend rather than a prospective caterer. One of the best qualities about Rob, was from the beginning he was open and honest about everything. It was amazing to see how willing he was to go beyond the responsibilities of that of a standard caterer. It genuinely felt like he just wanted our day to be perfect and was willing do whatever he could to make that happen.
Contemporary was extremely accommodating of our budget, and were happy to collaborate on a menu for our day, while keeping in mind any allergies we had mentioned (My father-​in-​law-​to-​be is extremely allergic to garlic.). At one point we called Rob to break the news that we wanted to change up the entire menu concept. We were worried about how this news would be received. Rob laughed and said, «Love it. Lets do it!» He had the executive chef on the phone with us later that same day to rework everything, even though our wedding is not until next year. This kind of attentive service is just unheard of.
It was really refreshing to find a team like this who seems to truly care about their clients and take pride in what they do.

I am so lucky to have found Contemporary Catering to do my wedding. Rob Pausmith has become so much more than a wedding vendor… He was my cheerleader, support system, and above all, a very close friend. Since we started working with him over a year ago, he has become part of our family. He recommended so many other vendors and was so involved throughout the entire creative process. Whenever there was a bump in the road, he was the first to jump on it and make it perfect. He made me feel so supported throughout the entire process. I am so lucky to say that the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever been to was my own, and I owe so much of that to Rob. My entire family looks forward to working with him in the future.

Not only did contemporarycatering do an amazing job with award winning food, their staff was extraordinary! Many many many thanks to Catering Captain Rachel Quinn’s for leading your team and keeping them on track. Rachel, you and your team truly made a difference in saturdays event! You are all dedicated, punctual, on your A game, professional, flexible, helpful, cooperative, made amazingly delicious food, you guys went above and beyond and I am forever grateful! Please make sure you share this with every staff member that helped! I would recommend them to all my future clients! If you’re having an event and looking for a caterer please call them!

TLDR: Wedding’s are stressful enough. Go with Contemporary Catering and you’ll make sure that your special day is perfect. HIRE THEM FOR YOUR EVENT NOW!
Long version: If I could give more than five stars I would. Rob and Rachel from Contemporary Catering made our wedding.
A little backstory: We found out that because of personal circumstances that we’d have to move our wedding up by 4.5 months, which gave us about one month to plan and execute our special day. I gave Rob a call, told him the type of cuisine we were interested in and within a day or so we had a tasting scheduled and a menu that was within our budget (which was much more generous than what other caterers were offering for the same price).
I was skeptical of every caterer we had spoken with, but as I soon found out my skepticism of Contemporary Catering was unfounded.
They nailed the tasting, capturing my fiancé and my tastes perfectly. They knew exactly what we wanted and the food was amazing. We loved it so much that we offered them money and booked them right on the spot.
Leading up to the wedding Rob was in constant communication, letting me know where things were at with the menu, the money, rentals and preparation. I felt well communicated with and well taken care of. I knew what to expect the day of my wedding, which was especially reassuring because there were so many unknowns going into our special day.
On top of that, along the way, Rob and Rachel communicated with my parents, friends and anyone else who wanted to contribute some sort of food item. They coordinated everything perfectly with the menu that they built.
On the day of our wedding the staff was prompt, professional and organized. Again, I wasn’t worried about the food even though to us it was one of the most important aspects of the wedding.
They accommodated the countless food allergies that both my partner and I have, as well as those of our guests. Vegans, gluten free folks, dairy free folks, nut free folks… everything was handle delicately and the food did not suffer.
We had vegan dishes, gluten free dishes, and plenty of mouth watering meat. The steak was a perfect medium rare. The salmon was perfect as well. The vegetables, including the brussels sprouts, the salads and the appetizers were also perfect. The sauces were savory and perfectly seasoned.
But most importantly (even though I know that this point is a bit selfish) I actually got to try all of this food during my wedding. Rob made sure that we had something to eat the entire night. By the end I was full and I had the opportunity to try everything from the appetizers to the desserts. God! And everything was so delicious!
We all know how awful wedding food can be, especially if it’s a buffet for 150 people, but straight up, I’d be blown away if I ate this food in a restaurant. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.
Rob’s importance at the event can’t be overstated. Besides making everything run smoothly, he even called an Über for a guest who was too drunk to drive themselves home. This wasn’t included in any service, but he’s a good guy and was looking out for us and our family.
I wouldn’t have changed one thing about the food, about the service or about anything else regarding Contemporary Catering. Rob and Rachel were amazing and you’re making a big mistake if you don’t hire them for your event. They’re no bullshit, awesome people and when you’re navigating the wedding world, we all know that’s a rare quality.

So imagine this… you have planned for months for your outdoor wedding at a gorgeous vineyard in Malibu, in July, during one of the worst droughts in California’s history. Then at 2pm on the day of said wedding… out of the blue, a flash thunderstorm opens up from the skies above and turns into a downpour that does not end until after wedding is over. If you have ever been married, if you have ever planned a wedding, or if you just have a pulse… your heart just skipped a beat.
I was that bride. And my heart skipped more than a couple beats that day. But I am here to say that what could have been one of the most disappointing days of my life turned into an absolutely magical day because of two words… Rob Pausmith.
But first let’s go back to the beginning. Our wedding was small, only about 45 people. I spoke to a couple caterers, which all seemed capable. But when I spoke to Rob, I knew I had found our match. While Contemporary Catering often does larger events, Rob’s enthusiasm and personal interest in our event was unique and genuine. With the other caterers, I felt I was talking to a vendor — with Rob, I was talking to someone who truly cared.
Caring got us through the door, but the tasting sealed the deal. The food was absolutely delicious, and unlike many other caterers, Contemporary cooks their food onsite (rather than warming pre-​cooked food). So we knew we were tasting exactly what our guests would be eating. Not only was the food delicious and gourmet level, but the creative presentation was a notch above.
After the tasting, most interactions with a caterer are limited to walk-thru’s and rentals. But not with Rob! As many have already noted here, Rob acts more as a wedding planner than a caterer. From the color of the votives, to wedding timeline, Rob was with me every step of the way.
Cut to the day of the wedding. It had not rained more than a drizzle in California for months. Though the forecast had a small chance of rain, the skies were clear. By the time I reached the venue, however, the skies had started to cloud up. Rob and I talked about bringing the whole event into the barn which was reserved for dancing later in the evening, but neither of us would give into that just yet. Instead, Rob wanted to «preserve the integrity of the reception» by tenting the dinner tables.
As I sat in the middle of the barn having my make-​up done, the skies got darker and darker, and the wind whipped up. Rob was still outside with his staff, putting the tents up, refusing to give in. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, there was a huge flash of lightening and thunder right over head. And all of my dreams of my beautiful outdoor wedding immediately were washed away with the ensuing downpour.
In a normal situation, the caterer would ask the wedding planner what to do. But remember, no wedding planner! Just me and Rob, and I was still planted in the makeup chair, trying to hold back tears. We agreed we had to bring it all inside. I understood, but obviously was just crushed.
Then, the truly miraculous occurred. And I honestly don’t think any other caterer on the planet, let alone wedding planner, could have pulled off what Rob did. He somehow made the barn, that was just supposed to be for our dancing, into a beautiful ceremony, cocktail and reception space. With his amazing team, who all got completely drenched while moving things inside and out, he was able to transform a large empty space into an intimate, warm and very romantic wedding venue. He grabbed baby’s breath from the florist and found candles in the barn and created a gorgeous perimeter for the barn which seemed as if it had been completely planned. He even remembered to grab my vows and place them on an old wine barrel he fashioned into a beautiful wedding stand. When the ceremony was over, like clockwork he and his staff moved out the ceremony «set» and arranged a cocktail area. Similarly, when it was time for the reception, Rob and team moved the tables into a perfect configuration as if it had been planned all along. And then everyone got to eat that same delicious food we had tried at the tasting — even though the chefs had to cook it outdoors under a tent in the pouring rain!
As I write this, I have nothing but the deepest gratitude for Rob. I am not being dramatic nor exaggerating when I say that our wedding would have been a complete disaster had it not been for Rob and his team. Everyone is still commenting that it was as if Rob was a guardian angel who had been sent to make our wedding unforgettable.
Rob, we can not thank you enough. Never for one second did you seem anything but totally confident and in control of the situation (even though you may have been dying inside!), and accordingly, we felt nothing but utter trust in you that you would pull it off. And you did, in spades. You pulled a rabbit out of a hat, my friend! We love you!!! xoxoxo
Jennifer

I am completely blown away by the service I witnessed by Contemporary Catering.
I have photographed quite a few weddings, and have met a lot of vendors along the way. And never ever ever have I seen caterers commit so much to making an event PERFECT. You see for them, it’s not just about the delicious food. It’ about creating a wonderful experience for their clients.
The wedding we did together could have been a disaster. It was POURING rain and the couple had put in so much work into their outdoor wedding/​reception. But Rob had an incredibly positive attitude and he and his team went to work moving everything indoors, buying tents so the kitchen staff could cook outside and giving the small barn more room for the guests. The ceremony site he created was BEAUTIFUL. After the ceremony, his team went to work again, flipping the ceremony site and turning it into the most elegant reception.
If you are looking for a caterer, look no further. These guys give their all and don’t just provide amazing food, but an amazing experience, too!

Where do I start, I truly could not have accomplished my event without Rob and his team. Unlike other caterers that are just interested in squeezing you for as much money as possible and delivering a mediocre job. Rob takes on the event as his own and is truly committed to making sure that every single aspect is flawless.
There were times I honestly forgot he was the caterer and looked at him as my production partner. Rob demands excellence from all of his staff and all of his vendors and will fight for your until it’s perfect. Working with him is like working with your best friend that just simply wants the best for you.
Oh and did I mention that the food was DELICIOUS! No request was too big or too small and more often than not he had ways to make our ideas even better. They are more than willing and capable to make adjustments on the fly and cater to the ever changing needs of your guests.
My only hesitation in writing this review would be that the fact that I want to keep this team all to myself! Trust me — this is the only catering team you need.

When I’m working with these guys, I know it’s going to be a great day!
Not only is their food incredible, the level of service they give each of my clients is unmatched by anyone else.
I highly recommend!

Another dinner party and Rob nails it– so attentive to every detail and last minute decision– so cheerful and has a sense of humor about everything and put us all at ease.
I asked if sushi was possible– he said anything was possible– so grateful for them! Thank you Rob!!!