The holidays bring more than good cheer and toys from Santa. They also usher in the season of parties, whether it’s family in town, a company luncheon or friends getting together to watch a game or tailgate.
Catering can take some of the stress out of organizing a shindig. But anyone who’s had experience with it knows it can come with its own headaches: Pricey quotes; confusing invoices; surprising add-ons.
But affordable, easy-to-use catering services are out there.
“People think catering – that’s going to be way out of our budget, so we’re going to have to do a potluck,” said Jennilyn Costantini, 29, catering director for SomeBurros.
Not necessarily, she added: They have options starting as low as $3.90 per person. “We try to do it so we have a price point for everybody,” she said.
They offer everything from take-out party trays to full-service catering with linens, table decorations, glassware, silverware and servers. Self-service catering includes delivery, set-up, cleanup, chafing dishes and disposable plates, napkins and tableware.
The catering business grew in the past few years after the restaurant had already built its name and reputation. Costantini’s parents George and Mary Vasquez started SomeBurros on Mill Avenue and Baseline Road in 1986. Now, they along with Costantini and her siblings Tim and Amy Vasquez run the popular four-restaurant chain, which also has a location in Chandler and two in Gilbert. Costantini, her husband Anthony, and brother Tim all attended Corona del Sol.
After graduating from college in 2002, Costantini managed the Stapley Road store for five years before turning her focus to catering. At other restaurants, managers might also handle catering orders, but her full-time responsibility is helping people who are planning events. This ensures things will go smoothly.
“The biggest compliment we get is that it’s very stress-free,” she said.
Julie Pellant of Chandler hired SomeBurros to cater her daughter’s wedding in November of 2007, and said they were very professional.
“I knew I didn’t have to worry about the food, the set-up, the presentation,” she said. “People were coming up to me and saying how good everything looks.”
But was did it taste good?
“I have a Hispanic background,” Pellant said, “and a number of my relatives said the food was so authentic.” The price was within budget, too, she added.
“Just because it’s Mexican food doesn’t mean it can’t be a formal event,” Costantini said.
To help promote the catering arm of the business, SomeBurros this year is bringing back a contest that it held once before, in 2007, giving away full-service catering for 50 people. They expect about 4,000 entries. Forms are available at the restaurants, and the drawing is Dec. 24.
Costantini said while the usual catering order is for about 100 to 150, they can handle thousands. And they can set up almost anywhere, because they don’t need a kitchen or electricity – the food is prepared at one of the restaurants, and they use small self-contained cans of methanol to heat the chafing dishes.
Some of the most popular items are the green chili beef burros, cheese enchiladas and pollo fundido, marinated chicken in a deep-fried tortilla topped with spicy cream cheese, cheddar and green onions. The margarita fountain is also a crowd-pleaser; they set it up and the customer adds the liquor.
Some of the other events Costantini has catered include engagement parties, block parties, family reunions, fundraisers, office breakfasts and lunches, and banquets for Corona del Sol’s baseball and volleyball teams.
SomeBurros
Where: 101 E. Baseline Road, Tempe (locations also in Chandler and Gilbert).
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Catering by appointment; please provide at least a 24-hour notice.
Information: Tempe restaurant, 480-839-TACO (8226); catering inquiries, 480-201-TACO (8226); online at www.someburros.com.
