San Jose Catering - Corporate Events, Galas & Private Celebrations
Licensed & Insured · HACCP Certified · Health Permit #PT0488026 · CA Green Business · SV Chamber Member · View Credentials →
Handheld Catering has been serving San Jose’s corporate and nonprofit communities since 2012. From executive multi-day conferences in downtown San Jose to 230-guest fundraising galas at History Park, we bring full-service catering to any venue, including locations with no existing kitchen infrastructure. Our San Jose team operates from 99 S. Almaden Blvd., backed by a pop-up field kitchen capability that lets us cook on-site anywhere in the South Bay.
What We Do in San Jose
We offer full-service catering across San Jose for corporate events, private celebrations, weddings, and daily office meals. Every event is led by a dedicated planner and backed by our mobile kitchen capability.
Our San Jose Service Tiers
Handheld Express
Online ordering, drop-off lunch delivery via DoorDash. The fastest way to feed your San Jose office.
Drop-Off Catering
Delivered by our driver with full set-up. Disposable equipment included — perfect for meetings and team lunches.
Drop-Off with Set Up & Pick Up
Full delivery, set-up, and pick-up using Handheld's own catering equipment. Ideal for corporate lunches and client events.
Special Events
Staff on site, professional equipment, and rentals for galas, fundraisers, weddings, and milestone celebrations. From 20 to 500+ guests.
Full-Service Events
Our most comprehensive tier — complex, multi-day events with pop-up field kitchens, full crew, and executive-level service.
Wedding Catering
Chef-driven menus, on-site kitchen setup, and white-glove service for ceremonies and receptions across San Jose and Silicon Valley.
Real San Jose Events
We don’t just serve San Jose — we’ve built pop-up kitchens in downtown parking lots, plated 230 dinners in 20 minutes at History Park, and turned corporate campuses into full-scale tailgate venues. Here are two recent events that show how we operate.
Executive Conference — Downtown San Jose
When a client needed to host C-level executives at a multi-day industry conference in a downtown San Jose parking lot, Handheld Catering built a fully functional pop-up field kitchen from scratch on-site.
Our Event Planner, Anna P., and Production Manager, Lisa B., coordinated logistics through 2:00 AM email updates and 5:00 AM coffee brews. The team navigated downtown street closures during load-in, pivoted when temperatures climbed unexpectedly, and maintained five-star service throughout.
The menu featured Mille-Feuille Potato with Caviar, Tri-Tip Sliders with caramelized onions, Blue Dungeness Crab Cakes, and our signature Orange Cardamom S’mores — all prepared and plated in a pop-up kitchen with no permanent utilities.
Legacies Under the Lights — History Park, San Jose
For History San Jose’s Valley of Heart’s Delight annual fundraiser, our Event Planner Anna P. worked with the client to transition from a buffet to a family-style dinner, a format that turned the meal into a communal experience for 230 guests.
Head Chef Ismael delivered a Mediterranean-inspired menu: Grilled Tri-Tip with sun-dried tomato relish, Chicken Piccata in lemon-caper sauce, and Eggplant Rollatini (Vegan/GF) with fresh micro-greens. Dessert featured Basque Cheesecake Bars, Mini Berry Hand Pies, and Raw Vegan-GF Tiramisu Cups.
Production Manager Lisa B. modified platter arrangements on-site to fit varying table sizes, while the kitchen team ran a synchronized plating line to hit the 20-minute service window. Equipment was provided by Danny Thomas Rentals, a longtime Handheld partner.
“We had a twenty-minute window to get two hundred and thirty people fed and cleared before that auction started. If there are servers wandering the floor while the bidding is happening, we’ve failed the mission.”
— Dan Figone, Owner & Executive Chef
Our San Jose Team
Every Handheld event is led by a dedicated team. These are the people behind our San Jose operations:
Dan Figone
Owner & Executive Chef
Founded Handheld Catering in 2012. Dan oversees menu development and personally leads high-profile events. Featured in The New York Times for his approach to Silicon Valley catering.
Anna P.
Event Planner & Coordinator
Manages client relationships and event logistics from first inquiry through final cleanup. Anna coordinated the transition to family-style service at History Park and managed 2:00 AM logistics for the Downtown San Jose executive conference.
Lisa B.
Production Manager
Runs on-site operations — kitchen setup, platter arrangements, service timing, and crew coordination. Lisa ensures every event runs on schedule, even in venues with no existing infrastructure.
Chef Ismael
Head Chef
Leads the kitchen team, from menu execution to the synchronized plating lines that serve hundreds of guests within tight delivery windows. HACCP Food Safety certified.
Pricing
Every event is different, but here are typical starting ranges for San Jose catering:
| Service | Starting Range |
|---|---|
| Boxed Lunch | $16–$26 per person |
| Corporate Lunch | $25–$75 per person |
| Full-Service Event Catering | $75–$200+ per person |
| Executive & Premium Events | $100–$300+ per person |
Final pricing depends on guest count, menu selections, venue logistics, and service style. Get a custom quote for your San Jose event.
San Jose FAQs
Real answers to the questions people are asking about catering in San Jose.
Boxed lunches start from $16–$26 per person. Corporate lunch catering ranges from $25–$75 per person. Full-service event catering runs $75–$200+ per person, depending on menu complexity, guest count, and service style. Executive and premium events (such as IPO celebrations or multi-day conferences) start from $100–$300+ per person. Contact us for a custom quote.
Our San Jose office is at 99 S. Almaden Blvd. #659. For events, we specialize in building fully functional pop-up field kitchens on-site — we've set up kitchens in downtown San Jose parking lots, at History Park, and at corporate campuses across Silicon Valley. This means we can cater at virtually any venue, even those with no existing kitchen infrastructure.
Recent San Jose events include a multi-day executive conference in downtown San Jose (50–60 VIPs with a pop-up field kitchen built on-site) and the annual Legacies Under the Lights fundraising gala at History Park (230 guests, family-style). We've also catered at Silicon Valley corporate campuses, private estates, and event spaces throughout the South Bay.
Yes. We've served 230 guests family-style at History Park with a 20-minute delivery window, and catered for 200 employees at a Silicon Valley corporate tailgate. Our pop-up kitchen capability and experienced production team allow us to scale from intimate 20-person dinners to large events of 500+ guests.
Every menu is fully customizable. Our recent San Jose events have featured vegan and gluten-free options, including Eggplant Rollatini (Vegan/GF) with fresh micro-greens, Raw Vegan-GF Tiramisu Cups, and plant-based sliders. We accommodate all dietary needs — just let us know when you request a quote.
Yes. Handheld Catering holds Santa Clara County Health Permit #PT0488026, Food Safety HACCP Certification, Hartford Business Insurance (including $1M/$2M general liability, $4M umbrella, and liquor liability), and California Green Business Certification — the first caterer in Silicon Valley to earn this designation. We are also a member of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce. View our full credentials at handheldcatering.com/credentials/.
Get a Quote for Your San Jose Event
Handheld Catering and Events
99 S. Almaden Blvd. #659, San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 465-0466 • info@handheldcatering.com
GET A QUOTE Handheld Catering and Events is a local Bay Area Catering company that uses fresh locally grown produce and meat whenever possible for all their events. Servicing the Bay Area; Handheld Catering and Events can cater your next event in style.
Contact
- Handheld Catering and Events
- info@handheldcatering.com
- Santa Clara
- 1725 De La Cruz Blvd #1 Santa Clara CA 95050
- (408) 692-4782
- San Jose
- 99 S. Almaden Blvd. #659 San Jose, CA 95113
- (408) 465-0466
Licensed & Insured • Food Safety HACCP Certified • Health Permit #PT0488026 • CA Green Business Certified • SV Chamber of Commerce Member
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