A backyard graduation celebration at a private Los Altos residence, made-to-order wood-fired pizzas cooked on site, and a plate of meatballs that stopped one Italian guest in his tracks.
Licensed & Insured · HACCP Certified · Health Permit #PT0488026 · Serving the Bay Area since 2012
When a longtime client’s daughter graduated in May 2026, they wanted to mark the moment the way the best celebrations happen: at home, in the backyard, with great food and no fuss. They had worked with Handheld before, and they came back for the same reason most repeat clients do. They wanted the experience to feel effortless for them and memorable for their guests.
The brief was relaxed but the bar was high. Bring the warmth and theater of a wood-fired pizzeria into a private Los Altos residence, build a generous grazing spread around it, run a full bar, and keep the whole thing feeling like a party rather than a production. Event Manager Lisa B. and Head Chef Ismael led the team on site.
A relaxed party is harder to cater than it looks. Made-to-order food in a private home means cooking in real time, working around the family’s space, and getting every detail right with guests just a few feet away. Three things defined this event.
Chef Ismael ran the ovens while Lisa B. coordinated the floor, the bar, and the flow of the party, supported by an event captain, a server, and a bartender.
Handheld brought its own pizza oven and, at the client’s request, also fired up the family’s built-in outdoor oven. Two ovens kept up with the party so guests never waited long for a fresh pie.
Pizzas were built and finished to order from a wide topping bar, vegan dough and sauce included, so every guest got exactly what they wanted, hot off the stone.
Beyond the ovens, the team laid out an abundant grazing table: a charcuterie platter, classic Caesar, caprese skewers, and Nonna’s Meatballs in a slow-cooked Sunday sauce. For dessert, fruit skewers and Handheld’s signature gelato flutes.
The client supplied the beer and wine; Handheld handled the rest, from setup and garnishes to a dedicated bartender keeping glasses full throughout the celebration.
A crowd-pleasing menu designed for a relaxed backyard party: made-to-order pizza at the center, a generous grazing spread, and a sweet finish that always steals the show.
The made-to-order pizzas were the heartbeat of the party, two ovens turning out fresh pies as fast as guests could ask for them. But the moment the team still talks about came from the grazing table. An Italian guest tried Nonna’s Meatballs, looked up, and said they tasted just like his grandmother’s. For a recipe handed down through Dan’s own family, there is no higher praise.
The gelato flutes brought the same reaction they always do, and the bar stayed busy without ever feeling rushed. From first pour to final pie, the team kept the energy of a backyard party while quietly running a full catering operation in the background, exactly how it should look.
“Those meatballs taste just like my grandmother’s.”— A guest at the celebration
A relaxed, joyful backyard celebration with food that gave guests something to talk about long after the last slice. The made-to-order pizzas and Nonna’s Meatballs were the stars, the gelato flutes were the sweet exclamation point, and the family got to enjoy their own party instead of running it.
It is the kind of event Handheld is built for: bringing real culinary craft, on-site cooking, and full-service hospitality into a private home. See our full credentials, HACCP certified, Hartford insured, and read about our New York Times feature for more on the Handheld story.
Every Handheld event is led by dedicated people. Here is the team that brought this Los Altos graduation party to life.
Photography by Ken Hamel Photo.
Graduation and private-party catering scales to your guest count and service style. Here is a starting-point range, per person, for the three ways we serve these events.
Starting ranges for food only, before taxes and fees. Made-to-order pizza, on-site chefs, and bar service are full-service add-ons. Every event is custom quoted.
From a backyard graduation with made-to-order pizza to a seated dinner for 500, we build around your venue, your guest list, and the moment you’re celebrating.
Handheld Catering and Events
Santa Clara: 1725 De La Cruz Blvd Suite 1, Santa Clara, CA 95050 · (408) 692-4782
San Jose: 99 S. Almaden Blvd. #659, San Jose, CA 95113 · (408) 465-0466