The old real estate maxim “location location location” rings true when it comes to finding the perfect venue for your event. Indeed, you can plan the best event, but if the venue is subpar, it can cast a pall over the whole affair, leaving you and your guests, at best, unsatisfied or worse--unimpressed. The right...
While most people in Vancouver know that Savoury City is famous for its custom catering, fewer folks are aware that they also bring their same brand of fabulosity to corporate catering! Donna Wadsworth, Savoury City’s Head Honcho, firmly believes that all food should be exciting and elegant no matter the situation, environment or purpose! There...
I recently had the good fortune of being invited to Blackwood Lane Winery’s member appreciation evening, a fabulous annual event hosted by owner, Carlos Lee. To be clear, this event has always been one of the gastronomic highlights of my year, largely because Blackwood Lane’s wines are some of the best in Canada! However, this...
Whether you believe in the Easter Bunny or not, that cute rabbit is just around the corner, and that means family and friends will be coming to town to visit! Easter is a fabulous time of the year to bring people together. It’s one of those holidays that has something for everyone–the kids will love...
Upon departing for Thailand and Laos, Savoury City’s Donna Wadsworth and Blaine Arnot made a pact that whilst traveling throughout the country, they would stick to only authentic Thai eateries–sticking mostly to street food, and even venturing from the street to the alley where some of the most challenging fare can be found! Food being...
Over the month of February, Savoury City’s Donna Wadsworth and Blaine Arnot continued their epic culinary journey throughout Thailand, discover-ing new flavours and dishes along the way. When culinary legends like Donna and Blaine go on vacation, they are also looking for gastronomic inspiration and fresh ideas to bring back home. So, of course, I...
When your life’s work and passion is food, culinary inspiration is always a major part of every trip abroad. Savoury City’s Donna Wadsworth’s and Blaine Arnot’s epic trip to Thailand was certainly no exception! Having just arrived back in Vancouver after eating their way through this land of spices and flavour, we simply had to...
We know it’s hard to please everyone at the office! Every individual wants something different! You’ve got your meat lovers, your vegetarians, your vegans and everything in between! So, we get that when it’s time to plan the menu for your next corporate meeting or seminar, you tend to break into a minor nervous sweat....
By and large, Canadians love the Queen! We love that we are connected to the rich tradition of monarchy, and the pageantry, pomp and circumstance that go with it. And while we love Liz’s face on our money, what so many of us Canucks really get excited about are the royal weddings and the inspiration...
It’s no secret that our Head Honcho, Donna Wadsworth, loves Love! It’s probably one of the main reasons why her custom-catered weddings are the stuff of legend in Vancouver. I think it’s fair to say that you can’t really be a great wedding caterer if you don’t have an abiding passion for Love in all...
Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or don’t know where the fifty-yard line is, the Super Bowl is a great excuse for friends and family to get together in the name of this grand sporting tradition. Just like team sports bring people together on the field, they’re also an opportunity for fans to gather together...
As Valentine’s Day is nearing, some people are looking forward to celebrating the day with their special someone, while others, (namely those of us whose Facebook status remains “single”), often attempt to downplay the day. When asked the question (usually by that annoying perennially perky coworker, “what are your plans for Valentine’s Day?” I’ve been...
“We didn’t meet until we were ready,” Carrie answers when asked how she and Augustine met. Like so many great couples, when it comes to marriage, you just know when the right one comes your way. To steal a line from the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally, you know when you’ve found the right...
It’s hard to believe that another year is about to come to an end! It’s somewhat of an understatement to say that 2018 was a busy year for us, but we wouldn’t want it any other way! We thrive off of the hustle and bustle, something that is a reality when you strive to be...
Whether you’re all about tripping the light fantastic until the wee hours of the morning or staying home and watching the iconic ball drop in Times Square, one of the best ways to ring in the New Year is with close friends and family and, of course, fabulous food! Before you engage in any of...
If you’ve been tasked with ordering your offices’ next breakfast seminar/meeting, we’ve got you! When you order with Savoury City, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your staff will be served the best quality breakfast possible! Organic, locally-sourced and seasonal produce and a wide variety of dietary options mean that even the...
Quality Never Goes Out of Style These days it seems that words such as “organic,” “locally-sourced,” and “handmade” areused ubiquitously by any number of businesses, ranging from Michelin star establishments to fast food restaurants. The result is that these terms are reduced to meaningless buzzwords--their efficacy and power greatly decreased.However, for Savoury City, these words...
MissO'Brien, my Kindergarten teacher, used to tell me to ‘use my noodle’ when I was trying to work out the alphabet. At the time, I didn’t understand this metaphor. I didn’t have a ‘noodle’ to use and wondered if I should ask my mom to let me bring one to school with me. Just how...
If you’re anything like us, your weekly schedule is packed! Living in the city means daily hustle and bustle and a somewhat topsy-turvy existence. Often exhilarating, sometimes exhausting, never dull! While it all may seem somewhat hectic, we still love to celebrate our friends and family and the important and momentous moments in our lives....
A great aspect of having a winter wedding is that it’s not peak season! This means significant savings when it comes to booking your venue, as well as your videographer, photographer, and DJ! You can use all your saved money to add extra touches to your big day (or use it for the honeymoon)! ...
Ok, at first blush, the words ‘corporate’ and ‘Christmas’ don’t necessarily freely associate. No, Charles Dickens did not write “A Corporate Christ-mas Carol,” although some employees may relate a little too intimately with the Scrooge character. And no, the line “visions of Christmas bonus-es danced in their heads” appears nowhere in the famous yuletide poem...
Love is a concept that eludes, or perhaps resists, a clear-cut definition. The evidence seems to lie in the ubiquitous usage of the word for all sorts of circumstances and contexts. We say, I love donuts, or I love my Mother or I love my fiancé, all in the same breath, and yet they have...
I know it seems like a million months away, but the truth is, if you’ve decided to host a Christmas dinner party this year, it’s a lot closer than you think! We don’t want to induce pre-holiday panic or anything, but one of the most important factors for throwing a successful holiday dinner party is...
They say it takes only seconds to make a first impression. While this may be somewhat discon-certing, it’s an aspect of human nature that holds true--and with good reason. Back when we were living in caves, our ancient ancestors had to make very quick judgements when venturing out to hunt and gather. Let’s face it,...
Love is a concept that eludes, or perhaps resists, a clear-cut definition. The evidence seems to lie in the ubiquitous usage of the word for all sorts of circumstances and contexts. We say, I love donuts, or I love my Mother or I love my fiancé, all in the same breath, and yet they have...
Ok, at first blush, the words ‘corporate’ and ‘Christmas’ don’t necessarily freely associate. No, Charles Dickens did not write “A Corporate Christ-mas Carol,” although some employees may relate a little too intimately with the Scrooge character. And no, the line “visions of Christmas bonus-es danced in their heads” appears nowhere in the famous yuletide poem...
I know it seems like a million months away, but the truth is, if you’ve decided to host a Christmas dinner party this year, it’s a lot closer than you think! We don’t want to induce pre-holiday panic or anything, but one of the most important factors for throwing a successful holiday dinner party is...
As I enter Savoury City Custom Catering, Donna Wadsworth (affectionately but accurately referred to as the Head Honcho), is nowhere to be seen. I can hear her disembodied voice in the hallway, suggesting that she is everywhere and nowhere at once. It’s an apt description, as being the owner of one of the best-loved custom...
Ying and Jeff had chemistry right from the start. Literally. Jeff completed his degree in Chemistry from UBC at the same time that Ying finished her science degree from the University of Waterloo. Subsequently, both ended up in the same cohort while earning a Bachelor of Education at UBC. The rest, as Ying says, “is...
We met at work,” Anna confesses. “Milo was the chef and I was hostessing at the same restaurant.” She laughs, “I actually asked him out because he’s pretty shy. I don’t think he would have ever done it!” Once Anna and Milo began dating, things progressed fairly quickly. Anna recounts, “after three months of dating,...
Twelve years ago, just before the ubiquity of online dating apps, the internet brought Allycia and Cyrus together. “We met way back in the Myspace days,” jokes Cyrus. “Then after meeting randomly here and there, it slowly developed into a serious relationship.” Amore in Amalfi Fast forward to Italy, 2016. There are few places in...
One of the best things about custom catering weddings is we get to experience a diversity of venues, themes, ideas, and trends! Every wedding we cater is unique and wonderful in its own way and reflects the personalities, interests, and characters the wedding couple. Indeed, no matter how many weddings we cater, it never gets...
At Savoury City, we’ve never veered from our original concept: “it’s the food, stupid.” What we mean by this is that the quality of the food is paramount. Locally-sourced, organic, farm-to-table, fresh and seasonal are not simply buzzwords to us, but an everyday reality and meaningful food philosophy. While we love being creative, updating our...
While weddings are, by nature, traditional affairs and much of the guest etiquette has not changed very much over the years, the advent of smartphone technology and social media; however, have complicated wedding dos and don’ts to some degree. So, while you may know the common social wedding rules, there are some grey areas that...
There used to be a section in GQ Magazine called “GQ Regrets,” where they would reprint one of their old articles from a previous decade and apologize for promoting what now was clearly a horrible fashion trend. I think the best one was their 1970’s feature on “men’s fur bathing suits.” The regrets section was...
As custom caterers, we’ve been witness to a plethora of “I Dos” and watched countless brides and grooms take that iconic walk down the aisle! Part of what we love about catering weddings is we get to see how each couple puts their signature on their special day. It’s truly amazing and inspiring to witness...
Country and barn weddings have risen in popularity over the past decade and we see no end to the trend, as more and more couples seem to be opting for “rustic and rural” over “delicate and ornate.” We totally understand why people love the concept. The mix of rural charm, outdoor beauty, and refined elegance...
There’s something uniquely magical about afternoon tea. Maybe it’s because its origins are rooted in British antiquity, which is at once singularly quirky, and fabulous. Lewis Carroll’s enduring Mad Hatter floats to mind--a very civilized ceremony occurring in the midst of chaos, absurdity, whimsey, and madness. But that’s, perhaps, the joy of afternoon tea. It...
Our breakfast catering menu options are made fresh in-house, and are always healthy, hearty and flavourful! We’ve got a wide variety of breakfast options that will satisfy your staff’s varied dietary realities. We’ve got elegantly simple continental breakfast menus of freshly baked muffins and scones and fresh seasonal fruit and coffee to fabulous and hearty...
Now that wedding season is in full swing, we thought we’d talk a little about wedding etiquette. Being in the custom catering business for as long as we have, we’ve seen the good, the bad and, yes, the ugly. There is a lot that goes into creating a wedding and knowing the “dos and don’ts”...
The actual origins of barbecue are shrouded in mystery, and a multiplicity of theories and myths abound as to which country or region was the true forebearer to what we now consider modern barbecue. My personal take on this is simple: Not long after the invention of fire came the happy discovery of barbecue. I’m...
One of the most indelible memories I have is dining al fresco at a farm in Gordes, France. It was one of those perfect summer evenings, the golden light casting a magical hue over the rural landscape. The rustic, antiquated, wooden long table was set with simple elegance: wildflowers, cloth serviettes, and jugs of Rose....
As custom wedding caterers, you know we were totally excited about the recent royal wedding! What was Meghan going to wear? Who will walk her down the aisle? And, most importantly, what did they EAT! ...
Swedish artist, Christian Marclay, once said, “art is all in the details.” We couldn't agree more! We believe that attention to detail separates the good from the great--it separates shoes from Manolo Blahniks, designers from Karl Lagerfeld, cars from Bentleys, singers from Aretha Franklin and dancers from Fred Astaire. It’s the near-obsessive adherence to the...
While Savoury City has become renowned for its custom catered weddings over the years, many people don’t realize that they’ve been quietly transforming the corporate custom catering world one business at a time. While catering weddings is largely different than corporate affairs, many of the core principles that Savoury City adheres to when catering special...
This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Savoury City’s Head Honcho, Donna Wadsworth, to chat about wedding trends. Having custom-catered weddings for decades, there are few people more qualified to talk with authority on the subject! Over the years, Donna has seen it all--the good, the bad and, yes, even the ugly!...
A New Office Culture Sometime in the late 90’s, with the rise of Silicon Valley, corporate culture began to change. Gone were the grey, dull, regimented office spaces, devoid of character, imagination--the kind made famous in movies such as 9 to 5 (still love the theme song!) or lampooned in the cult film, Office Space...
For us, it’s always been about quality, flavour, and creativity! Right now we’ve created a gorgeous Deconstructed Nicoise Tuna Salad--beautifully seared fresh tuna, grilled asparagus, greens, free-range hard boiled eggs, roasted beets, steamed green beans, olives and a really flavourful vinaigrette. I love this concept for corporate meetings because it’s healthy and easy to eat and...
It’s an open secret that the way to sustain any successful business is through hard work, passion, and an abiding love for what you do. When you ask most high achievers, or anyone who is great at what they do what their secret is, most will invariably tell you that they never feel like they’ve...
Being in the catering industry as long as we have, we’ve catered all types of weddings! Big, small, rustic, modern, rural, urban, expensive, economic, and everything in between! ...
Stop and Smell the Macaroons How often are we reminded to stop and smell the roses--to take a moment to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and the little daily miracles that make life so worthwhile. Sometimes we get so busy catering events, that we very rarely get to take a moment and appreciate all the amazing...
In response to what he thought about vegetarianism, the iconic playwright, George Bernard Shaw, once claimed, “the thought of two thousand people crunching celery at the same time horrified me.” The image is, indeed, disconcerting! However, the reality is that perceptions and misconceptions about what it means to be a vegetarian have changed radically over...
Tears of Joy We may be veterans in the custom catering biz; we may have catered hundreds of weddings over the years; we may have held countless wedding tastings, but the truth is it never gets old! Just look over at our Head Honcho, Donna Wadsworth, during the vows if you don’t believe us! You’ll see...
We at Savoury City love a good party. The more creative the better! We were thinking recently about our love of a good theme party and how it's a great way to break free from the expected, the norm and (God-forbid), the mundane! There is, perhaps, no better reason or opportunity (not that you really...
We know that the title of this blog may be misleading. While some of us may be dreading the big 5-0, most of us embrace the milestone. I mean, let's face it, these days 50 is the new 30! You're far from cruise wear and taking up lawn bowling! So why are we "groaning?" Let...
We've been watching the Winter Olympics with our friends over the last few days, and it got us to thinking about the evolution of hosting sporting event home parties. From the Super Bowl to the Stanley Cup, we've come a long way from the faux-wood paneling in the basement "rumpus room," trading up for sleek,...
Millenials Changing the Food Game When I was a teen, I used to buy three chocolate bars for a dollar at the local 7-eleven on my way home every day (and I wondered why the acne?!). Now teens are making smarter choices and cutting out processed, high-fructose snacks. Those millennials are changing the food game...
Celebrate with style! By 70 you've lived a life! You've had a career, raised your kids, survived at least 1 marriage and gained a lot of wisdom and experience along the way! You've earned the right to celebrate your big day in style! And, let's face it, at 40, you've barely just begun! ...
A few years ago, many of my Asian friends started inviting me to Red Egg and Ginger Parties, alternatively called 100 Day Celebrations. To be honest, I had no idea what that meant or what they were all about. When I asked my friend, Connie, who invited me to hers, she explained that, tra-ditionally, the...
Your first day of school. Your first kiss. Your first car. There are only a finite number of firsts in one's life--which is precisely what makes them so monumental. Therefore, it would be an under-statement to claim that a baby's first birthday is a special occasion for all parents. It goes without saying that honouring...
You’ve got a major event to plan and the big question is invariably where in the city to hold it. There are so many different venues, each with their own unique vibe, atmosphere, ambiance and, yes, challenges....
So you've just binge-watched the latest season of "The Crown" and now you absolutely need your next event to be a plated affair! A Buffet-style dinner just won't cut it anymore! I mean, would Princess Margaret have to stand up and wait in line to get her food! God Forbid! ...
The truth is that people may forget what you said, or what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel, and a custom catered meal will defiantly help in making that lasting positive impression. ...
These days just having the family over for dinner can be a logistical quandary. It seems that everyone has very different dietary specifications, which very seldom seem to overlap! My sister is a vegetarian, but still eats chicken; my mother is on the “no carb” diet, and is currently swearing off bread and pasta; my...
As many of you already know, Savoury City Head Honcho, Donna Wadsworth, has been in the catering biz for a very long time! Her Executive Chef, Mathew Koyanagi, has also prepared, cooked and baked meals in some very diverse places! In truth, between the two of them, they can cater virtually any venue! From back...
As veterans in the business, we’ve catered more weddings than we can remember! Well, that’s not entirely true. We do remember each and every wedding we cater. We remember because, throughout the process, we get to know the bride and groom and their families, and for that spot of time, we feel like a part...
Whether plated, buffet or family-style, Savoury City is famous for its creative, mouth-watering, and gorgeous cuisine. And while we know that the word Savoury figures prominently in your name, we don’t want to overlook our sweet side! What meal would be complete without it?...
Recently I was re-watching the classic film An American in Paris. I love that iconic opening scene when the great Gene Kelly wakes up in his tiny Parissien walk-up. His homunculus one-room flat creatively serves as bedroom, kitchen, dining room and washroom! While this is a comic exaggeration of life in Paris for the 1940’s...
As veterans in the catering industry, we’ve seen it all–and we mean everything. Because of our extensive experience, we’ve learned how to prepare for almost any contingency, twist and turn, and glitch (and they always occur)! However, as careful as we are with making sure we’ve got you covered on our end, we can’t always...
The term “Family Style” has crept into our collective culinary lexicon of late. For some, the term may recall chaotic family dinners, stressed out mom’s trying to get everything on the table, the faint smell of something burning—everyone grabbing at the same time, fighting off your siblings, cousins (and that one rotund uncle), for...
In her novel, The Elegance of a Hedgehog, French Novelist and philosopher, Muriel Barbery muses, “When tea becomes ritual, it takes its place at the heart of our ability to see greatness in small things.” We like that sentiment, as it reflects our catering philosophy. Indeed, we take great pains to ensure that every event...
At Savoury City, You Get to be the Chef! So whether your staff is Paleo, Lacto, Vegetarian, Vegan, or some combination of these, the Buddha Bowl option has you covered! With the Buddha Bowl, your staff gets to be the chefs and Vancouver Caterer Savoury City provides the best, most delectable ingredients for them to...
Our Grazing Stations are perfect for those events where a plated sit down affair seems too formal. Grazing Stations definitely engender a more social experience and encourage mingling, something that a more structured set up may not allow for as organically....
We know that early morning meetings can be a bit of a slog. They can be hard to get excited about, to say the least. The staff walking, zombie-like, into the office, is a scene that can often be mistaken for an episode of The Walking Dead! But have no fear, we have the magic elixir...
Be an Office Hero - Not all heroes wear capes. Some just order the best party platters in the city! Our custom platters will save any office meeting from the dreaded lunch break ennui, and turn it into a fun and festive event! Your boss and colleagues will thank you for rescuing them from lunchtime...
Savoury City to the Rescue! That’s where we come in to save the day! Let us create an unforgettable culinary experience, customized for you and your friends, in the comfort of your own home! We’ll create a bespoke menu in consultation with you that works with your flavour palate, diet and those of your guests. Why...
Vineyards and weddings seem to complement each other like Ernie and Bert, Sonny and Cher, Kim and Kanye, Rum and Coke, and, of course, wine and cheese. There are the obvious reasons, of course: the fairy tale scenery, the natural wild-beauty surrounding manicured rows of grapevines and the overall romantically vernal mise-en-scene. However, there is...
As catering veterans, we’ve done our fair share of barn weddings. They’re lovely, gorgeous and magical, and we eagerly embrace the challenge that each new location presents. We take pride in the fact that we can set up a kitchen anywhere! We know how to ensure that your canapés and dishes are perfectly cooked and...
It’s an unfortunate fact that many of us grew up with less than stellar lunchtime experiences. Some of us were not blessed with moms or dads who would pack the perfect meal, forcing us to warily open our Pandora’s-lunch-boxes, never knowing what unfortunate culinary crime we’d witness: soggy tuna sandwiches on Wonder Bread, expired granola...
It only takes one guest to ruin a bride’s perfect vision of her wedding. For anyone who is a wedding guest veteran, you know exactly who I’m talking about. That one guest who decides cargo shorts are the best choice for the day, texts during the vows, and single handedly depletes the best canapes! In...
Trekkies in Powder Blue Tuxes What do powder-blue tuxedos, puffy-sleeved bridesmaid dresses, and Star Trek themed weddings have in common? Someone thought they were great ideas. Seriously. And just think, those very same people are going to offer you advice about your upcoming wedding! ...
Organization, precision, teamwork and vision. These are a few of the nouns that are required to transform a venue like downtown’s,The Permanent, into a 1970’s disco wedding wonderland. Moving Parts There are a myriad moving parts that must be perfectly coordinated, which is why it’s best to leave it up to the professionals--especially when you’re...
Life’s An Existential Banquet The other evening, I was rewatching the great Rosalind Russell in the classic 1958 version of Auntie Mame (I’m mildly obsessed with the film). Her oft-repeated motto in the film is “life's a banquet, and some poor bastards are starving to death.” That’s a doozy of a line! In fact, it’s...
Just like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two weddings are exactly the same. That’s because no two couples are the same. However, wedding guests often approach us saying that they love our food and would like something similar for their own upcoming wedding. We love those moments because, to us, referrals are the highest form of...
Life is good to those who live it, and those who live well, eat well. Indeed, food is such an integral part of our lives–it’s at the centre of our most important moments. From first dates to weddings and anniversaries, good food is the common denominator. It’s no wonder, then, that artists and authors...
Executive Chef, Mathew Koyanagi, is one of the major driving forces behind Savoury City’s unique and inventive internationally-inspired culinary creations. Born in Vietnam and adopted by a Scottish mother and Japanese father, he’s a walking culinary United Nations. Mathew explains that being raised in a culturally diverse family exposed him to eclectic cuisine styles, and...
As veterans in the catering industry, we have come to know some very profound truths—one of them being that catering is so much more than a business. It’s about helping people realize their dreams. Whether it be a wedding or a fundraising dinner, it’s about listening, visioning and building trust with our clients—many whom we...
No doubt, we love to travel the world in search of culinary inspiration. Indeed, our recent Italian food tour was a great success, and we’ll be infusing our gastronomic findings into our catering creations for sure! However, we never lose sight of the fact that there is a bounty of incredible produce right here...
To be clear, our culinary tour of Italy was the proverbial trip of a lifetime. From Florence to Venice to Positano and everywhere in between, we had the tremendous fortune of dining at some of the best establishments the country has to offer....
Celebrate the Sacred and the Silly When people think of catering, they often only think of weddings and corporate events. However, the truth is that Savoury City can do so much more! Yes, we love helping create the perfect wedding day or corporate event, but our very talented kitchen staff and event planners love to use their...
Our visit to Florence’s Trattoria Sostanza started somewhat inauspiciously with a search for the restaurant itself, as street numbers here are not in the order we are accustomed to. Sostanza is 25/R? Okay. We finally arrive at exactly 8:50pm, but the restaurant is closed, sealed up, the ‘garage’ door pulled down. Could this really be it?...
Donna Wadsworth, head honcho at Savoury City, has some ideas on the subject. Having spent over 20 years in the custom catering industry, she certainly knows a thing or two about creating magical and lasting memories: “When I think of my most memorable meals, they are not the most expensive ones. The food has to take...
A Culinary Autobiography Chef Mathew Koyangi is a storyteller. Herbs and spices form his grammatical structure and his cooking completes the complex sentences of his personal narrative. To taste Chef Mathew’s creations is to know his history--like reading tea leaves, much can be revealed by the careful study of his dishes. Even sampling his devilled quail’s...
Their Gatsby-inspired tasting evening, held in their splendidly decorated “Back-Alley Tasting Room” was the quintessential example of their acumen for atavism, and their ability to create the perfect “spot of time” for their guests. As we entered via the back alley door (reminiscent of the old prohibition-era speakeasies), we were warmly greeted by Donna, our...
She breezes into her gorgeous Tuscan Tasting Room with the air of someone who is in her element. She exudes energy–lots of energy. As we begin to chat over hand-made, freshly baked cinnamon rolls and coffee, it’s evident that great food is ever-present and that she knows the right dish for every occasion–even a one...
One of the greatest thrills of a true gastronome is finding the culinary diamond in the rough–the hidden gem ensconced in some unlikely locale. Perhaps finding beauty in unexpected places reminds us that the extraordinary often resides within the ordinary, the magical within the mundane. Indeed, this is the sense you get walking through Savoury...