Planning an event in La Jolla and trying to figure out the food situation?
You’ve probably weighed the private chef route but more and more hosts in San Diego are choosing charcuterie catering instead.
Here’s an honest breakdown of both options.
Call us at (619) 244-8851 or Book an Appointment here to get your custom quote.
The private chef experience
A private chef comes to your home or venue, cooks on-site, and serves a full meal. It’s personal, impressive, and works beautifully for sit-down dinners of 4–14 people.
The downsides? Cost is significant expect $$+ per person depending on the chef and menu. You’ll need full kitchen access, a solid timeline, and guests willing to sit down together for a formal meal. For cocktail parties, outdoor events, or anything social and flowing, the rigid format can actually work against you.
The charcuterie catering experience
Charcuterie catering is social by design. Guests move around, graze at their own pace, and naturally gather around a beautiful spread. There’s no seating chart, no wait between courses, and no kitchen required.
For La Jolla events specifically cliffside parties, backyard ocean-view gatherings, resort venue cocktail hours charcuterie just fits the vibe. The food becomes part of the setting, not an interruption to it.
What you get with Le Petite Plates:
- Fully styled boards or grazing tables, delivered and set up by our team
- Artisan ingredients curated for your guest count and dietary needs
- A visual centerpiece that doubles as decor
- Significantly lower per-person cost than private chef service
Call us at (619) 244-8851 or Book an Appointment here to get your custom quote.
Which one should you choose?
| Private Chef | Charcuterie Catering | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Intimate sit-down dinners | Parties, cocktail hours, showers, weddings |
| Typical cost | $$+ per person | Starting at $$ per person |
| Kitchen required | Yes | No |
| Social flexibility | Low | High |
| Visual impact | Low | Very high |
| Setup included | Varies | Always |
Bottom line: If you want a flowing, visual, social event that works for La Jolla’s outdoor and venue settings charcuterie catering wins. Save the private chef for your next intimate dinner party.
See what we can build for your La Jolla event.
Browse our services or contact us directly for a custom quote. You can also check out our event gallery to get inspired.
Call us at (619) 244-8851 or Book an Appointment here to get your custom quote.
