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About

The Barefoot Gourmet is a caterer specializing in multi-cultural wedding day cuisine in South Ryegate, Vermont. Owner and chef Ashleigh Putnam got her start in cooking at a young age in her grandmothers kitchen. She has developed a deep knowledge for a multitude of cooking styles throughout her lifetime. Because Ashleigh loves food and the idea of two couples coming together, there’s nothing she loves more than catering weddings with a variety of international cuisine. No matter what style or dishes you hope to serve your guests, The Barefoot Gourmet is prepared to serve the very best.

Cuisine

The caterer offers a variety of cuisine options. Committed to providing presentations that are just as flawless as the flavors within, the team at The Barefoot Gourmet garnishes dishes with edible flowers whenever possible. From buffet lines to plated meals, passed hors d’oeuvres and more, their serving styles can be altered to fit your needs. The Barefoot Gourmet’s cuisine styles include:

  • African
  • American
  • Asian
  • BBQ
  • Caribbean
  • Chinese
  • Indian
  • Mexican
  • Seafood
  • Southwestern
  • Spanish
  • Thai
  • And many more...



  • Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions

What is the average catering price per person for plated service?

$70

What is the average catering price per person for buffet service?

$65

What is the average catering price per person for hors d'oeuvres?

$30

Which of the following are included in the cost of your full service wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Cocktail Reception
Tastings

What catering services do you provide?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Tastings

What types of cuisine do you cater?

African
American
Asian
BBQ
Caribbean
Indian
Local
Mexican
Seafood
Spanish

What dietary needs can you accommodate?

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Nut Free
Vegan
Vegetarian

Reviews of The Barefoot Gourmet

A
Andrea Sent on 02/18/2019
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Cateror Ever! Such a Great Experience!

Simply so much more than a cateror. He was one of the best experiences of our wedding. Barry allowed us to sample a few options Devore selecting our menu. He told us stories of his cooking inspiration growing up in South Africa. He is so experienced that he didn’t really need any direction or set up, playing, etc. Simply the best!
S
Sheera Sent on 07/14/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Delicious & Fun

Holy guacamole! Actually, there was no guac at our wedding, but there were crazy explosions of flavor at all corners. When it first came to choosing a caterer for our wedding, I was somewhat indifferent. I assumed wedding food is more or less the same. With Barry’s cooking, I couldn’t be more wrong. I just wish he had a restaurant near me so I could enjoy his flavors on a regular basis. My mouth is still watering as I think of the potato fritters, lamb kabobs, jerk chicken, mac and cheese . . .
Sean
Sean Sent on 01/03/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Soooooooo delicious!!!!

Barry and his team were just amazing! Soooo worth it! My wife and I are still dreaming about the lamb kabobs, the scrambled eggs with caviar in an egg shell on a bed of salt, the amazing Persian love cake and everything in between!! He’s a really down to earth kind soul.
K
Kaitlyn Sent on 12/07/2017
5 out of 5 rating
From day 1 Barry Clarke was amazing to work with. He was very responsive to our initial email, and worked with us to find a delicious menu full of the bold flavors we love and fresh produce that he would be able to get locally sourced at the time of our wedding. He was also conscious to not overlook menu options for vegetarians and people with a less adventurous pallet. He invited us to his home to taste test the menu, and we were won over immediately. He is not only an amazing chef, but also personable, kind, and funny. His love and passion for what he does is palpable.

Up until and throughout the wedding Barry was very responsive to questions. He has obviously been to a lot of weddings and he had great suggestions and ideas throughout the whole process. His attention to detail the day of the wedding was unparalleled including beautiful presentation of food with edible flowers, ample staff passing hors d’ouvres to ensure guests had their full, and a fast moving buffet line. He was even thoughtful enough to make sure that hors d’ouvres were brought to the wedding party as we were taking pictures to ensure we didn’t miss out on the delicious food.

We still have not stopped receiving compliments on the delicious food and the great chef who seemed to go out of his way to ensure each guest enjoyed themselves. We can not thank Barry enough for adding his special touch to our wedding day and we would recommend him wholeheartedly to others!
C
Caitlin Sent on 08/25/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Barry Clarke of The Barefoot Gourmet is a great chef and a great caterer. To the former point:
1. Our guests complimented the food profusely, from the to-die-for chocolate chip cookies that we put in welcome bags to the dinner entrees. Definitely try his salmon.
2. Barry patronizes local farms for many of his ingredients, and his meals have a nice farm-to-table feel.

As a caterer, I have even more good things to say:
1. Barry is a straight shooter. He accommodated my desires for the event (it was important to me to have a plated dinner, and for the salad course to be served after the first toast), but wasn't a yes-man (kindly correcting some less-good ideas I had). That inspired a lot of confidence.
2. He has great contacts in the area, from the town clerk to a terrific cheese person, as well as a bakery that provided the perfect dessert when I decided I didn't want a traditional cake.
3. He treated the set-up of a field kitchen with seriousness and military precision. He was clear about his needs and visited our site to make sure he knew what to expect.
4. Finally, he was very responsive by email at every step in the process. This was really helpful at the last minute when we were trying to nail down the timing of the reception with the DJ.

I would also recommend Barry's wife Sarah as a coordinator. She was an enormous help; totally competent yet easygoing. What a couple!!
A
Aly Sent on 01/16/2017
5 out of 5 rating
I cannot thank Barry and his Barefoot Gourmet team enough for keeping all of our guests happily fed throughout our wedding; we received so many compliments on the food! Not only was everything delicious, but it was beautiful as well (edible flowers in the salad!). The entire staff was so friendly and they went out of their way to find us throughout the cocktail hour to make sure we were able to grab a few bites to eat while we were busy with our guests. Barry's expertise made the planning process a breeze and I loved having the opportunity to visit him in Vermont for a tasting. He was prompt to respond to any questions, happy to accommodate any requests, and had wonderful ideas to make our meal unique and complete. You will not be dissapointed by Barefoot Gourmet! Thank you for making our wedding a delicious event to remember!
U
User2636970 Sent on 06/06/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Barry and his team catered two dinners for our wedding weekend. He was a pleasure to work with -- he is warm, kind, incredibly professional, and his food is delicious. Wedding food can sometimes be anemic and flavorless -- not so with Barry. He did a great job selecting menu items that guests loved while working within our budget. Hire him!
Dee Dee
Dee D. Sent on 06/13/2015
5 out of 5 rating
Barry was absolutely fabulous - I couldn't recommend him and the Barefoot Gourmet more highly. He provided delicious food but within our a small budget (we had 150 guests and it came out to $29 per head), the food has a family-style feel (even in our buffet), and you get both some standards and some super unique and interesting food (everything from dishes like African vegetable stew over polenta (incredible), melt-in-your-mouth butter potatoes, decadent (but vegan!) chickpea fritters, etc). Barry will work with you to customize your menu exactly as you want it - his flavors and style are evident, but he is more than willing to alter dishes and try alternatives. And he's just wonderful to work with - he and his staff are so friendly, efficient, and helpful. Barry made a point himself of making sure that I and my husband got food throughout the night, which was so wonderful. He even brought trays of appetizers over to where the families were taking photos during the cocktail hour, to make sure that we got to try everything! If you're getting married anywhere near Hanover, NH, go with Barefoot Gourmet!
E
Eliza Sent on 07/04/2012
5 out of 5 rating
We hired the Barefoot Gourmet, Barry, to cater our 125 person wedding. We picked him, of course, because of his delicious food, but also because of his passionate and creative perspective on food, meals, and eating. Every dish he prepared for us had a beautiful story. As food lovers ourselves, he was the perfect choice. Everyone raved about the food and the service was prompt and attentive. He understood the confines of our budget and worked with us throughout the planning process. Try his polenta dish with feta and tomatoes for a vegetarian option-- even my carnivorous relatives were gushing about it!
B
Margaret Sent on 10/08/2011
4.9 out of 5 rating
We wanted a caterer for our reception that would make interesting, beautiful food that wasn't your typical fare. Barry did a superb job of helping us design a colorful, delicious menu that met the dietary needs of our guests and matched the tone of the reception perfectly. Everything was artfully arranged and delicious. Barry prepared passed and plated hors d'oeuvres, and entrees and sides straight from the grill. Despite the fact that a number of guests were staying at the reception venue and milling around the kitchen and bar while Barry prepared, he managed to time everything perfectly and stay jovial and relaxed throughout. Many people remarked that they'd never had such good food at a wedding!
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The Barefoot Gourmet frequently asked questions

At The Barefoot Gourmet, the cost of the full wedding catering service includes:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Cocktail Reception
  • Tastings
The Barefoot Gourmet offers the following catering services for weddings:
  • Buffet
  • Cocktail Reception
  • Hors d'oeuvres
  • Plated
  • Server(s)
  • Tastings
At The Barefoot Gourmet, you can find the following types of cuisine:
  • African
  • American
  • Asian
  • BBQ
  • Caribbean
  • Indian
  • Local
  • Mexican
  • Seafood
  • Spanish
At The Barefoot Gourmet, the following dietary needs can be accomodated:
  • Gluten Free
  • Lactose Free
  • Nut Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
The Barefoot Gourmet is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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