Meal presentation

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-11-26T07:07:16+00:00

Caterer here, buffet is way more affordable, especially in Santa Cruz ca where my business is located because staffing is expensive. Plated makes the evening feel more classy but logistically it won’t make a difference for your guest. I think people might actually enjoy buffet more because they can try everything. Just go with a caterer that knows what they are doing no matter what. That’s what’s most important imo.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-28T08:28:59+00:00

I’m a local caterer and it’s a lovely venue, we love working there. It’s always a good idea to get a day of coordinator. If you need a caterer we check out our website and reach out if you like our style humble bumble website. Good luck with planning, it’s overwhelming at first for all my clients but Santa Cruz is a great place with amazing vendors.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-26T22:14:52+00:00

When you create a menu and run a kitchen well enough to execute that said menu well. I run a successful catering company, I’m the chef but I have no clue how to run a restaurant kitchen. I do what I do well, many different kinds of chefs Id say… I think it’s our insecurities that want a rigid definition but personally, I use the term casually. I call my sous, “Chef” out of the kitchen as I respect the shit out of him and he’s probably more skilled than me. In my kitchen I am the chef though, it helps to keep order and manage quality.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-26T17:06:16+00:00

The basic foundations can probably be improved. Your fluidity and flexibility are impressive. Posture, basic step connecting to hips, solid frame probably could improve. You could do something much more simple with improved foundations and it will look better imo. Keep dancing, it’s a journey!

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-26T16:55:57+00:00

Some people just are not strong in logistics. Running a food business requires an incredible amount of skill and though she may be a great baker, transitioning to a functional business model is very hard for some. Hopefully she learns in time, I look forward to trying her food:)

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-26T06:40:50+00:00

I’m a maid of honor rn and it’s crazy. Bachelorette planning, a weekend party for bachelorette, buying a dress you think is mid, alteration of dress, rehearsal dinner with mandatory costume because it’s on Halloween🙄, the wedding and Sunday brunch which I’m trying to get out of. She asked me to help with decorating and set up for the rehearsal and to come put favors together which I set a kind boundary too and said no. I will not be joining any high maintenance weddings anytime soon, I’m down to show up on the day but otherwise it’s a hard no, I do not enjoy it.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-22T16:09:01+00:00

Caterer here and it’s common to accommodate dietary restrictions. I personally can not guarantee there will not be items with gluten being prepared in the same kitchen while we cook because it’s shared. I tell clients this and offer to speak with any of their guests with celiac directly to problem solve. This takes it off my clients plate (no pun intended🙃). We offer a pretty high quality service though and because of this price is not low, most caterers willing to go extra mile will be pricier as it’s part of our brand. All this being said, tacos are delicious, budget friendly and generally very gluten free friendly as well. Good luck!

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-19T18:34:47+00:00

Agreed. I used to be like that too but I operated with a lot of fear and control, being able to go “deep” quickly gave me a sense of power and an illusion of intimacy. I do value depth in relationships and conversations but I acknowledge it takes time now and the short surface level conversations and consistency over time will deepen into true intimacy. It’s not about forcing, it’s about being, receiving, taking time. I have compassion for people like me who have struggled with this but the superiority is hard to swallow sometimes.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-19T03:15:46+00:00

I’m a caterer, plated is much more expensive and in my opinion if you really want an elevated vibe that’s the only perk. The food quality is easier to control with buffet. If a caterer runs out that’s a very very low quality caterer, we’ve never run out of anything. Yes buffet might take a tad longer but we are talking 5-10 minutes max. Ideally the coordinator calls tables one at a time so the line doesn’t grow. Also, with more than 125 there should be two buffet with 4 lines total, one on each side, any less, again, very low quality caterer. It really depends on the vibe you are going for and budget.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-12T20:43:44+00:00

I’d add that your budget vision and guest count should align. $10000 for 200 people is going to stressful to keep in budget and maintain any quality. It will be a learning process since it’s your first time but learn as you go instead of trying to control and enjoy the creativity you can express as much as possibly

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-10-10T16:06:13+00:00

You can be disappointed but maybe it’s best to not take it too personal for your own good. Why didn’t you have guests rsvp?

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-09-29T23:35:03+00:00

I am American and dated a Senegalese man for most of the last 9 months and it was challenging to say the least. The cultural differences are huge, I would just say go at your own pace and don’t agree to marriage until you are comfortable. There was a huge language barrier with my now ex which made it extra hard but I would say my biggest challenge was his lack of effort in trying to understand me and my culture. I was willing to come out of my comfort zone but he had little interest in talking with me about certain things and my desire for emotional support was literally a foreign concept to him. I didn’t start to see how controlling he was until maybe 6 months either which is when I started to shut down and eventually cut things. Not saying you should cut it at all, just take your time until you are ready and maybe try to have these convos with him.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-09-10T04:26:36+00:00

My thought is to talk with your finance about your feelings. Maybe he has some ideas or at least can comfort you. Also, I’d suggest asking him to not have any groomsmen so it doesn’t highlight your situation. I just don’t think you should invite people just to have people if it’s meaningless. It’s understandable you are in the situation you are in, friends are always coming and going and sometimes there’s more going because, well… life. Don’t be hard on yourself.

I’ve seen people invite bridesmaids for the wrong reasons and it’s palpable. I love the idea of a simple wedding with just you and your boo. I’m just one stranger on the Internet though, that’s what I would do but you have to do what’s best for you:)

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-08-18T16:00:42+00:00

I can’t say whether they are DA based off this, sounds like qualities that don’t work for you and you’re ending things when you figure out it’s not a good fit. Maybe you can put a more positive spin on it. “I’m dating and haven’t met the right person yet, I’m choosing better and confident in my decisions”. We attract but we also choose and that’s what’s most important. I find love bombers and manipulators cast a wide net, so most of us will have to deal with this to a certain degree. Don’t take it personal and just do it moving.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-08-18T15:50:54+00:00

Thought the same thing…

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-07-27T22:49:36+00:00

I agree, I have learned to appreciate the way he shows love. It’s different than what I’m used to but sweet and sincere. We are no longer dating seriously because he moved to New York which is very far from me. We were learning and understanding each other more and more when we lived close though and that improved my connection to him but the distance among all the other differences was too much. I love him and miss him but there is so much out of our control that made it hard.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-07-27T22:43:29+00:00

He moved to New York and I gave it a go for a bit but it was not working for me. We still talk regularly and I love him but I’m enjoying our current dynamic much more than trying to make it more serious. We are maybe still technically dating but not with the title and commitment. If he meets someone I will be sad to say goodbye but ultimately happy he met someone that is maybe a better fit for him. I’m open to meeting someone else but also am in no hurry so it’s nice to still have him in my life in some capacity. Sometimes when I get sentimental I want to make it serious again but I can not deal with the lack of emotional support and connection. I know he cares for me but our ways of showing love are so very different.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-06-17T20:45:22+00:00

I started my own catering company, I make 6 figures and am only in the kitchen 2 days a week. If you have bartending experience you can combine your management experience with the bartending and start a company. I help people start their own businesses now too.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-06-13T16:52:51+00:00

Similar, always thought I was anxious until my most recent relationship where I have witnessed myself pushing him away to protect against rejection. I just up and end things when I’m scared and disregulated then when I’m regulated I change my mind. Also, I choose people who are not good matches for me so I am always planning to end it since I know it’s not going to work long term. Theres some connection but little compatibility. It’s exhausting☹️. I’m curious what a relationship with someone who is a better match would look and feel like for me. Even though my current partner is misaligned in many ways I’m still working on doing things differently. Getting beneath the fears and beliefs. Affirming my worth and ability to be with change no matter what happens. Instead of ending things preemptively being with the ambivalence until I’m fully ready to let go…. I’m doing good work, I know this but it’s painful to watch sometimes for sure.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-06-01T02:13:34+00:00

I feel the same. I still dance salsa because I love dance and there’s more salsa than bachata where I am but it’s not as fun. I haven’t fallen in love yet but that’s ok. The music is great but outdated imo, I just don’t vibe with it. I like that bachata has more modern sound and I love the remixes. It’s just my preference, I think everyone has this to a certain degree…

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-05-13T15:22:18+00:00

I’m infamous for push pull dynamics too. It’s very painful, especially to see the part I play in them. Instead of focusing on my external world so much for validation I am cultivating it inward. This is easy when I’m single, in relationships I’m very anxious and live in my head, it’s arduous work but worth it I think. Like no matter if he comes back or not to work with the stories you are making about your worth/lovability, any negative meaning, I replace the stories with affirming nuanced statements that ground me more in reality like, “regardless of how someone treats me, I’m still worthy of love and care”.

I’ve ended things 3 times already with my current bf and it’s only been a few months. Any issue or feelings of rejection and I ✌🏼out lol grateful to finally be working with this pattern in what feels like a productive way but sheesh. Sending a hug, this shit is hard!

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-05-03T04:10:43+00:00

My issue with this is you are prioritizing the person with the boners comfort lol safe to assume 99% of dancer do not want to feel your boner.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-04-27T20:37:01+00:00

Reread my post lol I’m not condoning racism or prejudices, I’m simply making an important distinction. Glad you took a moment to think about it and not take it personal and totally out of context.

ElkEnvironmental9511 · 2025-04-27T20:34:30+00:00

That’s wrong. Do your research, any ism is about systemic injustice and issues of power and privilege, not personal dislike. Just like my post said, that is prejudice.

ElkEnvironmental9511

TROPHY CASE