On Safari Foods: 10 Questions with Teresa Carew

Caterers - Teresa Carew

Business: On Safari Foods
Location: Seattle, Washington WA
Experience: 29 Years
Profile: On Safari Foods
Website: www.onsafarifoods.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

Hi there,

I am Teresa Carew, founder and owner of On Safari Foods. My passion for wedding catering evolved over time, when the young people whose bar and bat mitzvah's we catered, were getting married. It was so exciting to celebrate with the families and to be a part of yet another major life event along the way.

Over the years, On Safari Foods has grown immensely, but we always strive to make every single event of ours memorable and mouthwatering. I believe we offer a unique opportunity for couples to craft a fully customized experience with our team of event planners. Thanks to our focus on global cuisines we are able to cater to almost all of our clients' menu wishes. Chances are, if you can dream it, we can make it happen. At On Safari we are here to help you channel your personality into your menu so that the food at your wedding is authentically delicious, and authentically you.

2. How many weddings have you done in the past?

There are too many weddings to mention, but suffice it to say that we have done all kinds of weddings in all kinds of venues, and under many different circumstances. The only common thread is that the experience we provide is authentic, and comes from the heart and soul. Our food speaks to that authenticity.

3. Do you charge a bulk fee or cost per person? What are your rates like?

We charge a price per head. Everything is broken down, so that the couple can see exactly where their money is going. The event is divided up into food, staffing, rental, decor, and beverage costs.

For the quality food that we provide (pasture raised proteins, everything made from scratch, local produce wherever possible), we are quite affordable. We do anything from informal backyard weddings with appetizers, to plated dinners with multiple courses. Because nearly every aspect of your event is customizable, it is hard for us to provide a generalized figure. You can always reach out to our team for a custom quote via our website: www.onsafarifoods.com, email: inquiries@onsafarifoods.com, or phone 206.932.9497.

4. Do you have a static menu, or can you do a custom menu? And can you take care of various allergy/dietary requests?

We have wedding menus on our web site at www.onsafarifoods.com, but our huge strength is in custom catering. With chefs who have honed their skills making from scratch food from all over the world and locally, we can cater to most clients.

A major advantage of cooking from scratch, is that we can control the ingredients, therefore cooking gluten, dairy free, and vegan food, or taking into account any other allergies is quite easy for us to do.

5. What are your most popular dishes?

There are so many popular dishes, and they all depend on who our audience is.

During the summer, salmon and beautiful fresh, bountiful salads made from local produce are very popular. An all-time favorite throughout the year is our house smoked pasture raised Prime Rib of Beef, served with a fresh horseradish cream, and our very own jus.

Our most popular dishes? So tough, but here are some of them:
Our phenomenal Mexican food, South African specialties, and authentic Italian dishes definitely top the list. In addition, a few of our most requested dishes include tequila lime marinated grilled flank steak with a cherry tomato relish, Berber spice rubbed chicken, butternut squash cannelloni, wild salmon with some delicious sauces, eggplant parmigiana, Huli Huli chicken; the list goes on.

6. Do you provide linens, table settings, and accessories? If you don’t provide linens, table settings, etc., will you handle coordinating the rental?

We contract with various rental companies around town to handle linens, table setting, and accessories. Ours is a one stop shop. We will organize your wedding from start to finish.

7. Will food be made on-site or brought in?

Ah.... that is a good question. It all depends: some venues have no kitchen or running water, and we have to make a plan to deliver food at its freshest. If we are asked to serve fish, we like to cook it on site, since it is very delicate. We own ovens that we transport to make this happen. Same with appetizers: some travel well pre-made, and others need to be taken care of on site. We plan our food preparation and production based on the facilities that we work with.

8. Are tastings available and what is involved?

Yes, we offer tastings for up to four guests. The tasting cost $200 and if you decide to use us for your wedding, we will comp the tasting.

9. Who else is in your team and how many people on your staff will be at the wedding?

Pre-covid, we had 5 sales and event planning staff, an events department, and delivery department. We continue to have a team of dedicated and long-term chefs, sales, and serving staff.

We typically have a manager at most events, and we hand-pick our onsite staff for every event to make sure it is successful. The number of staff members depends completely on the size and scope of the event.

10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?

Pre-covid, you could cancel your wedding 60 days out and get a full refund on your deposit. Now, during these Covid times, we are far more lenient, since we all know and understand what we are dealing with. Rental companies have different guidelines and depending on the cancellation date, you may be responsible for restocking or cancellation fees.