FAQ
The practical questions
Everything hosts usually ask before the first call.
Can you handle dietary restrictions?
Any of them, with notice. We craft the menu around your restrictions so the night is memorable for every guest at the table. Tell us in the inquiry form and we build around it from the start.
What does my kitchen need to have?
Less than you think. A working oven and stove cover most menus. We ask a few questions about your setup before the night, and we have cooked in some truly tiny kitchens.
How far do you travel?
Chicago and the near suburbs are home turf. Further afield is a conversation, not a no. Travel costs show up as a line item in the proposal, never a surprise.
How does alcohol work?
We don’t sell it: Catalpa doesn’t hold a liquor license, and dinners in private homes work from your cellar or a shop list Ali sends ahead of the night. At partner venues, the venue pours under its own license. Ali’s work is the selection, the service, and the stories.
Who does the serving?
For most dinners, the three of us are the whole team: Bradyn cooking, Ali on the floor and the glasses, Phil wherever needed. Bigger nights bring trusted service staff we’ve worked with for years, included in the proposal.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
The deposit holds your date. Outside seven days (fourteen for corporate events), rescheduling is easy and cancellation refunds the deposit. Inside that window the deposit is non-refundable: the farms and the calendar are already committed. Full details on the booking page.
What do you bring, and what do I provide?
We bring the food, the equipment we need, plates, glassware, silverware, service pieces, and printed menus. You provide the table, the chairs, and the people. If you have pieces you would rather we use, say so and we build the service around them. Anything missing gets solved in the planning call, not the night of.
My venue has stairs. Is that a problem?
Usually not. Tell us about access when you inquire (stairs, elevators, parking, load-in) and we plan for it. If a guest needs specific accommodations at the table, we want to know so the night just works.
Something we didn't cover? hello@catalpachicago.com. One business day, promise.