Summer Buffet Menus
Farm-fresh catering for Bay Area summer events. Two new seasonal packages, sourced from the same California farms we know by name.
Get a Summer Quote Order Handheld ExpressPhotography by Ken Hamel Photo
Summer, Straight From the Farm
When summer hits its peak, so do our partner farms. Our two new summer buffet packages are built straight from what Northern California is picking right now: vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet corn, stone fruit, berries, and crisp summer greens. The result is a spread that tastes like the season instead of the supermarket, polished enough for a corporate lunch and relaxed enough for a backyard celebration.
Both packages are $42 per person (regularly up to $55+), dual-entree, and available now for corporate, wedding, and private events across the Bay Area.
Want something simpler? Our new single-entree Summer Specials start at $26 per person, coming soon to Handheld Express.
California Fresh
A celebration of the vibrant, clean flavors of a Northern California summer. Raw, hydrating, sun-ripened ingredients from trusted local growers, with bright citrus reductions and aromatic garden herbs that keep the menu light and sophisticated.
California Fresh
$42 / personCalifornia Fresh Cuisine, Dual Entree Special. Regularly up to $55+ per person.
Special package pricing. Sorry, no substitutions.
- Roasted Corn & Cucumber Salad
Green leaf lettuce, roasted corn, tomato, zucchini, red onion, bell pepper, with agave vinaigrette on the side. - Shaved Vegetable Summer Salad
Shredded cabbage, cucumber, cherry tomato, green onion, fresh mint, cilantro and Thai basil, lime citrus dressing, almonds on the side. - Watermelon Feta Salad
Sweet watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley and mint, with feta, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine vinegar on the side.
- Roasted Rosemary Zucchini & Pine Nuts
Summer zucchini with lemon zest, crumbled feta, olive oil, and toasted pine nuts. - Seasonal Roasted Vegetables
Oven-roasted market vegetables with garden herbs, garlic, and shallot oil. - Roasted New Potatoes
Tender new potatoes roasted with shallots and fresh rosemary.
- Grilled Tri-Tip with savory sundried tomato relish.
- Rosemary Garlic Grilled Chicken with a bright lemon caper jus.
- Garlic Lemon Salmon with red pepper coulis and fresh lemon.
- Herb Seared Salmon topped with green chimichurri.
- Piri Piri Shrimp Skewers with a zesty lemon basil sauce.
- Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with stir-fry lentils, basmati rice, and summer vegetables.
- Barley Primavera Risotto with market vegetables, asiago, and fresh herbs.
- Homestyle Key Lime Bar
- Homestyle Lemon-Blueberry Bars
- Vegan Gluten-Free Mini Fruit Tart
The California Cookout
The fiery spirit and robust charred textures of a Northern California backyard cookout, elevated. Expert flame-grilling, savory signature glazes, and sun-ripened valley stone fruit for a high-end experience that stays relaxed and approachable.
The California Cookout
$42 / personDual Entree Seasonal Grilled Special. Regularly up to $55+ per person.
Special package pricing. Sorry, no substitutions.
- Grilled Stone Fruit Salad
Bibb lettuce and mixed greens, grilled stone fruit, toasted lemon, with candied walnuts, feta, and honey champagne vinaigrette on the side. - Spinach & Frisee Salad
Baby spinach and frisee, red onion, dried cranberries, summer strawberries, with toasted walnuts, goat cheese, and white balsamic vinaigrette on the side.
- Chipotle Red Potato Salad
Cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions in a house vegan chipotle ranch. - Macaroni Salad
Colorful bell peppers, tomatoes, and a creamy basil dressing. - Achiote & Lime Grilled Corn OFF the Cob
Sweet corn with achiote and sweet cream butter, lime zest, juice, and cilantro. - Grilled Vegetable Platter
Peak-season summer vegetables with a light balsamic drizzle. - Oven Baked Steak Fries
Thick-cut baked potato fries dusted with smoky paprika.
- BBQ Spice Grilled Tri-Tip with vegan, gluten-free BBQ sauce.
- Arrachera Skirt Steak with green chimichurri.
- Honey BBQ Glazed Chicken Breast
- BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs in signature barbecue sauce.
- Huli Huli Chicken with charred pineapple.
- Firecracker Grilled Salmon with apricot-chili glaze and pineapple salsa.
- Stuffed Peppers with quinoa and seasonal vegetables in a light tomato coulis.
- Vegan Pesto Tofu with fresh-basil vegan pesto and braised zucchini.
- Homestyle S'mores Blondies
- Watermelon Wedges
Summer Single-Entree Specials
Two brand-new summer specials for teams that want the season on a plate without the dual-entree spread. Each is a complete single-entree buffet: one entree, a seasonal salad, and two garden-fresh sides, built on the same farm produce as our full packages.
Flavors of Summer
$26 / personSingle-Entree Summer Buffet Special.
- Honey BBQ Glazed Chicken Breast
- Roasted Corn & Cucumber Salad
- Seasonal Roasted Vegetables
- Chipotle Red Potato Salad
Special package pricing. No substitutions. Prices are before taxes and fees.
Golden Hour Grill
$28 / personSingle-Entree Summer Buffet Special.
- BBQ Spice Grilled Tri-Tip
- Grilled Stone Fruit Salad
- Grilled Vegetable Platter
- Roasted New Potatoes
Special package pricing. No substitutions. Prices are before taxes and fees.
Both specials are coming soon to Handheld Express for fast online ordering. Want them for an upcoming event now? Ask us for a quote.
Built on Real Farm Relationships
We do not just say "locally sourced." Every dish above traces back to a grower we know by name and a harvest calendar we follow. That is the difference between a summer spread that tastes like the season and one that tastes like the store.
Why Book Summer With Handheld
Prices shown are for buffet service. Family Style, plated, and other service formats are available at different price points. Contact us for a custom quote.
Summer Catering FAQ
Each $42 per person package is dual-entree: one salad of your choice, two sides, and two entrees, all built around peak summer produce from our partner farms. Desserts are available for an additional charge. Pricing is for buffet service; other formats are quoted separately.
Yes. Our two new single-entree Summer Specials, Flavors of Summer at $26 per person and Golden Hour Grill at $28 per person, each include one entree, a seasonal salad, and two sides. They are special package pricing with no substitutions, prices before taxes and fees, and are coming soon to Handheld Express for fast online ordering.
Summer is our busiest season, so we recommend reserving as early as you can. Reach out with your date and headcount and we will confirm availability and lock in your menu.
Yes. Both packages are designed for warm-weather dining and work beautifully for corporate lunches, conferences, weddings, and backyard celebrations across Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area.
Absolutely. Both menus include gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free options, marked on every dish. Let us know your guests' needs and we will guide your selections.
We serve San Jose, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and the greater Bay Area. Contact us to confirm coverage for your venue.
The full summer packages are $42 per person for buffet service (regularly up to $55+), and the single-entree Summer Specials start at $26 per person. Family Style, plated, and other formats are available at different price points. Contact us for a custom quote tailored to your event.
Bring Summer to Your Next Event
Handheld Catering & Events
1725 De La Cruz Blvd #1, Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 692-4782 | info@handheldcatering.com
Get a Summer QuoteHandheld 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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