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vendor reviews: catering
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Select Service specializes in custom menus,
exotic canapés and customizable
packages
Kelvin Lewin of Select Service Caterers will be the first to tell you that at a wedding, things can change in a heartbeat. "Caterers have to think of everything. We make lists and check them many times. All eventualities are covered and nothing is forgotten," she told The Ring. Along with her team, Kelvin has built a company that is known for being able to turn a barn into a ballroom and a wedding date into a fairytale.
Their high-end service, customized packages and menus and exotic canapés, are just a few of the things that have brought notoriety to Select Service. They offer full service catering that includes planning from beginning to end and has no hidden costs. "With Select Service, you're a guest at your own event. Couples who come to us are really concerned with the details, the attention paid to their food, and the service. Essentially, people call us when everything must be perfect."
Personally speaking... Kelvin came into the catering business with her chef training education from George Brown College, her red seal certification (interprovincial trade certificate), the National Sanitation program certification, and a long list of other impressive associations and certifications. She has lived in and experienced the cultures of England, India, The Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, The Philippines, France and Canada. "I try to 'bring the world' into Select Service each day - in our approach to service and to food."
Select Service is a member of the Canadian Restaurant and Food Association, International Caterers Association, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Better Business Bureau and the KW Chamber of Commerce.
Building a team and a reputation Kelvin has years of expertise at executing high-style, high-end special events - including catering annual conferences in Las Vegas. Kelvin admits to putting extensive hours into her career and day-to-day work, but she doesn't look like she minds. "I have a flexible schedule. I'm willing to put in the hours to make this service a true success."
As she's built her business clientele, she's also built her staff. Currently Select Service has three full time staff, and thirty to forty part time staff, including Smart-Serve trained servers. Kelvin explains, "We are very selective when it comes to hiring servers. They are ambassadors of our brand, of our reputation."
Select Service recently hired Victoria as a bride and groom's personal contact throughout the planning stages of your wedding, and someone who will help you out the day-of, as well. "Victoria completed the Wedding Planner Institute of Canada certification in the summer of 2006 and has attended two Catersource conferences with me and is presently doing her co-op portion of the Hospitality Management diploma course at Conestoga College with us." Hiring Victoria gives Select Service's couples peace of mind knowing that there is a staff member dedicated to each wedding they cater.
Over the years, Select Service has maintained a pristine reputation and have distinguished themselves in three ways: quality service, their canapé menu, and their customizable, full-service packages. That said, Kelvin is always trying new things, new ideas and new recipes to stay current with modern weddings and a constantly changing clientele. Their menus are constantly evolving.
For the kind of wedding day that you've been dreaming of your entire life, Kelvin can do everything from customize your menu to organize the entire event's décor, atmosphere, music, and service providers. They have a certified wedding planner on staff that will provide additional services, if you are interested. They can help you with the rehearsal and the day of, or help with planning throughout the entire process. The services they provide depend entirely on what you need.
If you want to transform a barn into a ballroom, they can do it. In fact, Select Service encourages you to choose a venue for your wedding that is just for you, that means something to you. "Whether it is a hall, a country barn, an open field, an urban gallery or your parents' backyard... We have been there and can bring you our expertise." Select Service says that they will work with you to develop the atmosphere you want to experience, with the menu and service to match.
Fresh & 'green'... Select Service buys fresh, in-season food locally as much as they can, and use sustainable disposable materials, such as bamboo trays, whenever possible. "Buying locally provides us with better quality and control," Kelvin told us. Also whenever possible, they make choices to reduce their carbon footprint.
Select Service arrives at your location well ahead of schedule, with refrigerated vans, barbeques, glassware, china, décor, linens, and everything else you need to create an elegant wedding space where there wasn't one before. Your décor and table settings will be arranged to match the customized look that you and Select Service created before your wedding. "... And all of this in a barn you spent your summer holidays exploring."
Select Service builds up a field kitchen so that they can take care of getting the meal to you at its peak of perfection - not transported hot or reheated. This involves portable convection ovens, portable gas units, hot holding boxes, chaffing dishes as well as all the bus bins, tools, pots, pans and utensils. They create working counters out of standard rental tables by using leg extensions, hang lighting and will even bring drinking water if it is needed on site. Kelvin explains, "My kitchen staff is well drilled in set up and we create a kitchen out of empty space within an hour of arriving at the site. It still even impresses me. Even more impressive is the clean up - the kitchen disappears as it came including the garbage."
Kelvin has great stories of some of their most memorable weddings... a recent tent party of 150 people was a huge success and ran from 12 noon all the way until 2 am! Another favourite was a Hawaiian themed wedding where everything from the décor to the food was part of the mood, complete with palm trees and tiki torches!
Kelvin is at most of the events that they cater, as well as at least one supervisor for the staff to ensure everything runs smoothly.
At a wedding catered by Select Service, the bride and groom will have no details to attend to, no follow-ups to worry about, no stress to take on... "Our couples are pampered guests at their own event. We are there to do the work, the planning, and the execution." The bride and groom need only to attend.
Providing the bride and groom - the guests of honour - the opportunity to enjoy their day with family and friends is something that Kelvin prides herself on. The extra details and planning that they concern themselves with translate into a successful party to all the guests, "At a Select Service event there are always extra table cloths, there is always more than enough food - each bite of which is prepared on-site with entirely fresh ingredients, and the mother of the bride is happy."
Advantages of a package all for you Kelvin is most often called upon by couples planning larger budget events, however their packages and pricing accommodate a variety of budgets and styles of weddings. While in their capable hands, you have the option of a full plated dinner, a cocktail reception, a buffet-style dinner, and even a themed buffet. Menu items range from traditional to ethnic and exotic. Because this is a full service catering company, attention to taste, service, and presentation are their top priorities.
Because menus are
designed individually, pricing depends on what type of party you'd like to have
for your guests. Kelvin says that
an average bride spends
A sweet finale Select Service can also provide you with a stunning chocolate fountain to both wow and feed your guests. Their 'cascading chocolate dream' comes in two different sizes and three different flavours - dark, milk and white chocolate. Cookies, fruit, coconut macaroons, cinnamon tuille... just some of the favourites for dipping. Fine Belgium chocolate is used and the dipping treats are all made by Select Service. The large fountain is available for $350, and the smaller fountain rents for $100. This price includes the fountain, set-up, clean-up and an attendant. Your chocolate is charged by consumption and is typically about $60 for 100 guests based on a two hour run. $1.50 per person covers the dipping items.
detailsdetailsdetails • Select Service recommends booking one year ahead for summer events, or less time for off-season weddings. • To book Select Service, there is a $500 booking deposit which is non-refundable. • 50% of your balance (estimated total bill) is due 10 days before the event, along with confirmed guest numbers. • The remainder is invoiced on the Monday after the wedding.
• If you plan to serve alcohol at your reception, Select Service will supply all the service staff for the amount of guests as well as the bar tender. You are responsible to purchase your own alcohol, but Select Service can arrange to pick it up at the LCBO on your behalf for a small service charge.
For more from Select Service Caterers of Fine Foods Inc.... Select Service is located at 109 Park Street in Kitchener. You can contact Kelvin Lewin and her staff by phone at 519-745-4597 or by email at selectservice.ca@selectservice.ca. Check out them out online at www.selectservice.ca for more information.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of Select Service Caterers of Fine Food Inc. |
Catering to your peace of
mind
Setting the stage...
Allowing
yourself to enjoy
$50 per person for everything from set-up and all food
and drink 
•
Gratuities are not
automatically added, you are free to add on your own gratuity amount.