Heartbreaking
I hired Chef Mario and his team to cater my intimate wedding Friday June 11th. Correspondence before hand was great he answered all of my questions in a timely manner. Day of the wedding he was the only vendor that was punctual which I appreciated. My only issue is when it came time for him to pack up. I was under the impression and the understanding via the contract that I signed, which was the very last section I initialed that I could keep the food I paid $1,600(rounded more like $1,580 ish) and if I keep the food he wouldn’t be held liable for anything that happened to myself or my guests if we consumed spoiled food and all that legal stuff. So I initialed thinking that my initials translated that I WANT MY FOOD LEFT BEHIND!! I didn’t know that I had to verbally tell him in the middle of my wedding that I wanted to keep the food that I paid for and because I didn’t do that the food was packed up and taken away, thrown away according to him, and only the fruit was left behind. Myself, my husband, and my guests stayed at the loft until midnight continuing to drink and dance with no food.
My guests started to question how much I paid for the food and when I told them every single one of them were shocked that the food was not left behind for us to continue to enjoy. We had a buffet style dinner and I wanted it that way so my guests could indulge as much as they wanted. I also had a nacho bar that I wanted to be utilized through out the night. Chef Mario and his team left really early I want to say about 8PM, guests arrived at 5/5:30PM, ceremony was 6:15 and dinner was shortly after, which that’s fine but leave my food. He told me that because a couple had to leave early to get back to their children that is the reason why they started to pack up and leave which that’s fine LEAVE MY FOOD THOUGH! The fact that he thinks it’s ok to pack up all that food while guests were still there baffles me.
I spoke with all of my guests and we only were able to enjoy one plate during the initial dinner.. Unacceptable! Great food but unacceptable that we all only got one plate from a buffet setting. Chef Mario tried to say people came back for seconds and to-go plates. Not true, our friend was the only one who came up to get extra ribs for my husband but Chef Mario and his team was long gone before anyone could think of seconds. The groom and I along with our family are from Chicago where we’ve had events catered and our food was always left behind. When I brought the matter to Chef Mario and that I would like a partial refund I was threatened with the talk of lawyers. I haven’t been married a full week and I’m deeply hurt and saddened that there was a misunderstanding and that we weren’t able to come to a resolution because I wanted to use his services for my baby shower as I just found out yesterday that I’m pregnant.
His food and chef experience is not the issue which is what he tried to say that’s what I was complaining about. No Chef Mario, the issue is that you and your staff never asked myself or the groom what we wanted to do with the food we paid so much money for before you took it away. Even though my husband and I were so into our out of town guests from 3 different states it never occurred to Chef Mario or his team , hmm maybe I should double check what they want done with this food that they paid so much money for. To all of his future new clients be sure to make it very clear if you want your food left behind at least 3X while they are in your presence because if not then you will be made to look like the villain and threatened with lawyer talk. Thank you Chef Mario for the food and service but most of all the lesson.
