Three unique options for catering and rehearsal

Sabrina Grimaldi

When planning a wedding, there are a million and one details to ponder over. There are decorations, music and songs to symbolize each moment; the venue, the dress, the suit, hair and makeup and so many little touches that add together to create one big day.

Outofalloftheselittledetails, thereisonethingthatcanmakea weddingsomethingtoreallyremember Whilethelovingcouple might recall every last moment oftheirbigday–mostguestsare reallyexcitedandwillforeverremember the food, as long as it’s done well On the hunt for the perfect catering and rehearsal dinneroptionsinFlagstaff?Here are three award-winning spots that can make a wedding day really special.

Say Olive You with Fat Olives

Pizza may not sound like the most traditional choice for a wedding,buttheteamatFatOliveslikestopushthoseboundaries. Weddings are very different thantheyoncewereexpectedto be, and many modern couples are striving to create a day that feels uniquely them, meaning pizza might fill the bill.

Travis Dodson,Fat Olive’s directorofcateringsaidthatwhile pizza might sound like a strange choice for a high-class or even black-tie event, he assures you to think outside the box. Literally

“Pretty often, a lot of people will think about pizza and think it’snotfancyatall,”Dodsonsaid “They are thinking it will be a pizzaparty,andthey’reimaginingpizzaboxeseverywhere Immediately,whenweshowup,we havethatcrowdwhowasdoubting it coming up and asking to take pictures with the oven. It startsassoonasweshowupand we set up a full back-of-house kitchen and connect with the guests It’s a higher level of servicethatwearebringing.It’snot justpizzainboxes,we’recooking them fresh; we’re throwing the dough in front of them.”

Beyond the unique kind of food, General Manager Kaiti DuPuy said,Fat Olives is unique initsdeliveryofthefoodaswell. Unlike many other options that prepfoodahead,alloftheirfood is made on site. They do this by bringing their 4,000-pound, wood-firepizzaovenouttopeople’s weddings.

“Fat Olives is one of the few caterers in Arizona that cooks 100% of your food on site with our mobile, wood-fire ovens,” DuPuy said. “With a lot of caterers you’ll find that it is cooked a few hours beforehand and brought to your venue, but with Fat Olives, we’re cooking everything on site. It’s a super interactive event, so you’re able to watch our crew cook and interact with the people who are preparing your food.”

Beyond its catering options, Fat Olives also offers couples a private rehearsal dinner space. In their historical private chef’s room, set apart from the rest of the restaurant, wedding parties can come together to celebrate. This space,which holds up to 25 people,hasalotofcharacterand can be decorated by the couple and their family’s as wanted. DuPuysaidthis,alongwiththeir catering options, is a way that a couple can integrate their own unique spin on their big day

“I think we’re seeing more and more people step away from baby’s breath and Mason jars,which is great if that’s what you’rewanting,butwe’reseeing so many fun and unique themes that people are moving forward with.Peoplearereallyabletoput yourpersonalanduniquespinon it,andIthinkFatOlivesisagreat way to do that.”

Fat Olives offers catering and rehearsaldinneroptionstocouples and are currently booking for 2023 and beyond. To learn moreaboutFatOlives,headover to fatolivesflagstaff com

Salsa Brava is Nacho Average Option

If the happy couple would like to incorporate their love of Mexican food or even their cul- tural background into their big day, Flagstaff’s Salsa Brava has some great options. Between their several catering and rehearsal dinner options,they can definitelyhelpaddsomespiceto your big day

SalsaBravaisafamily-owned restaurantthathasbeeninFlagstaff for 35 years According to general manager Ashlea Lindemuth, the Salsa Brava team loves working with couples to create the perfect wedding day or rehearsal dinner. Their team workshardtoupkeepthehighest level of hospitality possible.

“We provide ourselves in quality customer service,” Lindemuth said. “We go above and beyond to ensure that pretty much all of the guest’s requests are met or exceeded. We are a family-owned restaurant that has been here in Flagstaff for 35 years, and we also have a lot of catering experience under our belts.”

SalsaBravahasmanycatering packages available, offering tacos,fajitas,enchiladasandmore. Out of everything they offer, catering director Sara Gonzalez said they are proud of the way they have always been able to work with the couple to create a perfect spread for them. Out of all their past clients and 35 years of experience, Gonzalez said they have never failed to create a perfect day.

“If they chose Salsa Brave to do their event, it would not go wrong,”Gonzalezsaid “Itwould be completely, over-the-top satisfiedwiththelevelofservice we provide We take huge pride in our service, and we want to cater to that specific client every time It’s never the same, no matterwhattheeventis.Whatever it may be, we cater to that client so they feel over the top, 100 percent taken care of.”

Alongwith their catering options,Salsa Brava can host up to 30 guests in their restaurant for a rehearsal dinner. No matter what the couple wants,Gonzalez said their team is happy to help and make it happen. After the COVID pandemic halted everything for a few years, they areexcitedtojumpbackintothe wedding world.

“We’re really excited to be back in the catering business after a couple of down seasons with COVID and everything,” Gonzalez said. “We’re back in business,andwe’rereadytogo.”

Salsa Brava offers catering and rehearsal dinner options to couples and are currently booking for 2023 and beyond TolearnmoreaboutSalsaBrava, headovertosalsabravaflagstaff. com.

Go Classic and Classy with Josephine’s

Classic does not equal boring, andthatringsespeciallytruefor Josephine’s Modern American Bistro. Chef and owner Tony Cosentino and the Josephine’s teamhaveofferedclassy,classic fare since 2002.

While they don’t offer catering options for weddings, Josephine’s is the best rehearsal dinner spot for couples with a largeguestcount.Manyrestaurants in Flagstaff can only hold around 25 to 30 guests, but Jo- sephine’s is equipped for even more With their large outdoor patio, couples can have a rehearsal dinner in style, Chef andownerTonyCosentinosaid

“We do quite a few rehearsal dinners,” Cosentino said. “I think we’re a pretty good spot for it. We have a homey feel. We have a large patio,and we’re capable of doing some of the larger parties. It’s our niche to do larger family get-together parties.”

Josephine’s is a highly regarded and well-known Flagstaff restaurant, for Cosentino, this means he interacts with customers on the daily He said thesweetestmomentsofhisjob are being a part of a customer’s big day

“We get people coming in to propose at the restaurant or cominginfortheiranniversary,” Cosentino said. “It’s a part of thebusinessthatmakesyoufeel goodtohavepeoplecomeinand say that they just got proposed tooveratatable.It’safeel-good part to hear these stories For us working here, it feels good that you’re there for that time of their lives and that you are a part of that big moment.”

Josephine’s Modern American Bistro offers rehearsal dinner options to couples and are currently booking for 2023 and beyond. To learn more about Josephine’s, head over to josephinesrestaurant com

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• PREP-KITCHEN (FULL REFRIGERATOR, SINK, MICROWAVE)

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• COAT ROOM

• 20 TABLES, 120 CHAIRS

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• 2 BATHROOMS

• SPEAKERS THROUGHOUT WITH EASY BLUETOOTH CONNECT (GREAT SOUND)

• PROJECTOR ($50 ADDITIONAL CHARGE)

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