So last week my kid was turning eight, and we decided to throw a proper bash at our place. Problem? I didn’t wanna cook for 25 screaming kids and hungry parents. Zero time, zero energy. That’s when I googled birthday party food catering near me. Easy, right? Ha!
The “Near Me” Nightmare
First thing I did was scroll through like 20 places on my phone. Big mistake. Half the sites didn’t load right, and the other half showed fancy wedding platters costing like $50 per head. For pizza and nuggets? No way.
Called up three spots with good reviews:
- Place #1: Super cheerful lady answered, said they could do kid boxes with sandwiches & juice. Awesome! Then she dropped the bomb: “Minimum order is 50 people.” My party ain’t that big!
- Place #2: Guy sounded half asleep. Menu was perfect – sliders, fruit skewers, cupcakes. Asked for a quote. Still waiting on that email.
- Place #3: Actually picked up fast! But when I said “next Saturday,” they went quiet. “Oh honey, we book 6 months out.” For chicken tenders?!
Found a Winner (Almost)
Was about to give up when I remembered Bella’s Bites – this little deli my neighbor used last summer. Rang them, no website, just a Facebook page with blurry cake pics. Owner answered herself: “Yeah, we do parties! Let me scribble this down.”
She suggested:
- Mini pizzas
- Veggie cups with ranch
- DIY taco bar setup
- Juice pouches (parents bring wine themselves, lol)
Total? Half what Place #1 charged.
Delivery Day Chaos
Saturday 11 AM, Bella rolls up in a beat-up van with two teens. They hauled out chafing dishes like ninjas. Looked legit! Until… no forks. Anywhere. Bella’s laughing: “Check the red tub!” Sure enough, plastic forks buried under ice packs. Kids started poking tacos with their fingers anyway. Whatever.
Final truth bomb? Order extra cupcakes. Parents stole like five when they thought I wasn’t looking. Bella’s saved my sanity though – even tossed in extra napkins when I spilled punch. Next birthday? Calling her first.