Delicious Birthday Catering in Melbourne for Any Event

Yes. Phil Azzi, Executive Chef and Owner of Catering By Chefs, personally handles every catering enquiry, designs every menu and oversees every event. When you call or submit an enquiry – you are speaking directly with the chef who will be catering your event. This personal approach is something Phil has maintained since founding the business in 1995, and it is consistently the detail clients mention in their reviews. Phil will also follow up with you after your event to check how everything went. To speak with Phil directly, call 0407 633 322, Monday to Friday between 9 am and 7 pm.

At Catering By Chefs, hot and cold canapes are always served together as an integrated cocktail catering service. Cold canapes are prepared and walked out first while the chef prepares the hot selections. Both are then circulated by our uniformed wait staff throughout the event. This format gives your guests genuine variety from the first platter to the last and ensures the food keeps pace with the energy of the room. Our cold canape and hot canape menus each have their own selections across classic, gourmet and vegetarian options, all with gluten-friendly alternatives available.

Yes. A significant number of our events are catered at private homes, backyards, gardens and outdoor spaces across Melbourne. Phil and his team are experienced at working within home kitchens and outdoor spaces with the same level of professionalism and discretion as any formal venue. Over the years, we have also catered at Melbourne function venues including Alora Macedon, Fuel and Co and White Stones, as well as corporate offices, rooftop spaces and just about anywhere else across Greater Melbourne and Regional Victoria.

Since 1995, we have catered for a wide range of events across Melbourne and Regional Victoria. Our catering services cover weddings, corporate functions and end-of-year events, birthday parties and milestone celebrations, engagement parties, private home events, funerals and wakes, school events, sporting club functions, grazing table events and Christmas parties. If you are planning any type of event catering in Melbourne – Phil is happy to discuss whether we are the right fit and what the best menu format would be for your occasion.

Yes. We accommodate all dietary requirements across our menus, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-friendly and dairy-free. Please note we use the term gluten-friendly rather than gluten-free, as our kitchen handles common allergens. Guests with severe allergies or coeliac disease should discuss their requirements directly with Phil at the time of booking so we can plan accordingly. Dietary requirements are accommodated across our full range of catering services in Melbourne, from finger food and canapes through to plated meals and buffet catering.

As a general guide for party catering in Melbourne, allow 8 to 10 pieces per person for a cocktail event of two to two and a half hours. For a longer event of three or more hours or one that runs over dinner time, 10 to 12 pieces per person keeps guests genuinely satisfied. At Christmas functions and milestone birthday events, it is always better to err on the generous side. Phil will recommend the right quantities for your specific event format, duration and guest group when you enquire.

The earlier the better, particularly for events in December, across school holiday periods and on weekends. Phil’s calendar fills quickly during peak months, and popular Saturday dates can book out months in advance. For weddings and large events catering Melbourne, we recommend enquiring at least three to six months ahead. For corporate events and private parties, six to eight weeks is a reasonable minimum. That said, if your event is coming up soon, call Phil directly, and he will let you know what is available.

Catering costs in Melbourne vary depending on the menu style, number of guests, service format and the day of the week. At Catering By Chefs, our cocktail and finger food packages start from $35 per person plus GST for a 6 to 8 item selection, through to $60 per person plus GST for a 10 to 12 item premium selection. A minimum of 30 guests applies. All prices are a general guide only and may vary depending on your event date, location and distance. Sunday and public holiday events may incur additional costs. Call Phil on 0407 633 322 for a personalised quote based on your specific event.