Silicon Valley was once called the “Valley of Heart’s Delight,” a landscape of cherry orchards, apricot groves, and berry farms that stretched from San Jose to Palo Alto. The tech boom transformed the land, but the agricultural roots of this region run deep. At Handheld Catering, we believe those roots are worth honoring, and right now, at the turn of spring into summer, California’s organic farms are at their most extraordinary.
Every year, we build our seasonal menus from the ground up, starting not with recipes but with relationships. Eight regional farms, from Santa Barbara County to Contra Costa, supply the ingredients that define what we serve. As spring gives way to summer, that sourcing story only gets richer. The result is a menu that tastes like this moment actually tastes: bright, fresh, and unmistakably of this place.
The Farms Behind the Food
Most catering menus list ingredients. Ours lists farms. Here’s who grows what we serve this season:
- Babe Farms (Santa Barbara County): Specialty miniatures: Baby Beets, Baby French Carrots, Baby Fennel. The French Breakfast Radish that brightens our salads comes directly from Babe’s Lompoc fields.
- Coke Farms (San Benito County): Organic Baby Artichokes, Spring Onions, and Organic Meyer Lemons that zest our chicken and salmon dishes. Meyer lemons are sweeter and less acidic than standard lemons, lending a floral finish.
- County Line Harvest (Riverside County): High-quality organic greens, including the Speckled Romaine that forms the base of our Green Goddess Salad.
- Durst Organic Growers (Yolo County): Organic Green and Purple Asparagus. Durst supplies the asparagus for our sides, including the Grilled Asparagus on our Light & Bright Menu.
- Comanche Creek Farms (Butte County): Organic English Peas, Snap Peas, and Green Garlic. Their green garlic is the foundation of our house-made chimichurri, served with both the Grilled Tri-Tip and Flank Steak on our dual entree menus.
- Dirty Girl Produce (Santa Cruz County): Famous for Organic Strawberries and vibrant Mixed Chicories.
- Frog Hollow Farms (Contra Costa County): Certified organic fruit and specialty preserves. One of the Bay Area’s most respected names in artisan fruit production.
- Balakian Farms (Fresno County): A cornerstone of our Central Valley organic sourcing and a staple of the local harvest.
Two Ways to Experience the Season
Our Spring into Summer Buffet Specials are designed to fit events of every size and budget, from intimate corporate lunches to large-scale outdoor celebrations. We offer two buffet package tiers, both built around the same farm-sourced seasonal ingredients. Please note: these prices apply to buffet service. Family Style, plated, and other service formats are available at different price points. Contact us for a custom quote.
Buffet Single Entree Specials: From $28/person
Our entry-level seasonal packages offer exceptional value without compromising on quality. Choose from two menus:
- Rustic Garden Menu ($28 pp): Spring Bloom Salad, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, Herb Focaccia, and Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken. Clean, simple, and deeply seasonal.
- Light & Bright Menu ($28 pp): Spring Bloom Salad, Herbed Couscous with artichokes and seasonal vegetables, Grilled Asparagus (Durst Organic), and Citrus Grilled Chicken. A lighter option with bold, fresh flavors.
Buffet Dual Entree Specials: $42/person
Our premium seasonal packages let your guests choose from two entrees, with a selection of salads and sides. Choose from two menus:
- Blossom Bistro Menu ($42 pp): Choose 1 salad, 2 sides, and 2 entrees. Highlights include Artichoke Braised Chicken Thighs, Grilled Flank Steak with Comanche Creek green garlic chimichurri, Garlic Lemon Salmon with red pepper coulis, and Eggplant Involtini.
- Spring in the Valley Menu ($42 pp): Choose 1 salad, 2 sides, and 2 entrees. Highlights include Seared Lemon Rosemary Chicken, Grilled Tri-Tip with Comanche Creek green garlic chimichurri, Cedar Plank Salmon with lemon vinaigrette, and Stuffed Savoy Cabbage.
Why Farm Relationships Produce Better Events
There’s a reason we don’t just say “locally sourced” and call it a day. Actual farm relationships, built over years, not transactions, mean we know when Comanche Creek’s English Peas are hitting peak sugar content. We know when Coke Farms’ Meyer Lemons are at their most fragrant. We know which weeks the asparagus from Durst Organic Growers will have the best texture and color.
That knowledge translates directly to your guests’ experience. When food is built around what’s genuinely at its best, the difference is immediate and unmistakable. Your guests notice. They ask questions. They remember the meal.
Planning Your Event
Our Spring into Summer Buffet Specials are available now, with buffet single entree packages starting at $28/person and buffet dual entree packages at $42/person (before taxes and fees). Family Style, plated, and other service formats are available. Contact us for a custom quote. Whether you’re planning a corporate team lunch, a milestone celebration, an outdoor wedding reception, or a fundraising dinner, our seasonal menus are designed to make the moment the centerpiece of your event.
Contact us to discuss your event date, guest count, and menu preferences. We serve the greater Bay Area, including San Jose, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View. Reach us at info@handheldcatering.com or (408) 692-4782.
New for Summer 2026
Summer Buffet Menus, Straight From the Farm
Our two new summer packages are farm-to-fork in the truest sense: every dish traces back to a grower we know by name, from Full Belly Farm corn to Knoll Farms apricots. It is the difference between a spread that tastes like the season and one that tastes like the store. Both are dual-entree at a flat $42 per person.
See the Summer Buffet MenusCalifornia Fresh $42 / person
Raw, sun-ripened local produce with bright citrus reductions and garden herbs.
The California Cookout $42 / person
Grill-forward dishes built on peak-season vegetables and stone fruit from our partner farms.
