Frequently Asked Questions

DO YOU HAVE MINIMUMS?

Minimums vary depending on time of year and choice of service. Please contact us for more detailed information.

HOW FAR WILL YOU TRAVEL?

Due to the nature of food service, we travel within a 60-mile radius from our Kirkland location to ensure the freshness and quality of our product. We do not travel anywhere requiring ferry access.
Visit our venues page for an amazing list of places we cater to frequently.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK YOU TO CATER MY EVENT?

Always call to see if we are available! We take on more than one event per day, but book on a first-come-first-serve basis, so although there may be lots of interest for the same day, you may still have an opportunity to snag that date. For corporate and social events, please let us know at least three (3) weeks in advance. For weddings, six (6) months’ notice is preferred; however, it’s possible for dates to be booked up even 6 months out. The further ahead you secure our services, the more time you will have to work hand-in-hand with your Wedding and Event Specialist to coordinate your event accordingly.

HOW DO I RESERVE AND PAY FOR YOUR SERVICES?

To reserve your event date, we require a non-refundable 25% deposit of the estimated total along with a signed catering agreement. Sixty (60) days before your event date is when 50% of the total is due, which is also non-refundable. If you are booking our services within two weeks or less of the event date, we require a 50% non-refundable deposit as well as a signed catering agreement. For weddings, the remaining balance is due two (2) weeks before the wedding date along with final details, guest count, and any other pertinent specifics. For all other events, the balance along with the final head count and final details will be due 7 business days out from your event date. Special arrangements may be made for corporate businesses needing differing payment schedules.

DO YOU PROVIDE WEDDING CAKES/CUTTING?

While TBC does not provide traditional wedding cakes, we do provide complimentary cake cutting! We work with many wonderful bakers whom we would love to recommend. If you’re interested in something different, we have an extensive list of delicious bites and treats for a fun dessert station in lieu of the traditional wedding cake! See our Dessert Menu here.

WHAT ABOUT LOCAL/ORGANIC/SEASONAL MENUS?

For over 45 years, Twelve Baskets Catering has been a supporter of locally sourced and organic foods. We always offer local and seasonal produce, meats, and seafood when available!

DO YOU OFFER PRIVATE TASTINGS?

Private Tastings are available for up to four (4) people by appointment only, which you can coordinate with your Wedding and Event Specialist. Please allow 2-3 weeks’ notice. Tasting fees may apply for your event. For more information, please see our Tasting Policy.

We also participate in Open Houses and Wedding Shows/Tours throughout the year, so see our blog or Facebook page.

DO YOU HAVE MENUS FOR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?

Yes! If you are vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, Kosher, have a food allergy, or anticipate any guests with severe food allergies or dietary concerns to be at your event, please let your Wedding and Event Specialist know so that we can work with you to create the perfect menu. Please note that Twelve Baskets Catering does not claim that our food is free from allergic contaminants in our kitchen. Our culinary team does cook with wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, and nuts, but do try their best to avoid cross-contamination when notified of allergies ahead of time.

CAN I HIRE OUTSIDE/ADDITIONAL FOOD VENDORS?

We are open to working with additional food vendors or food trucks at events but ask that their product is placed on a separate table and labeled with the vendor’s information. We require using an insured and licensed store, restaurant, or food vendor for all perishable items such as cakes, desserts, and wedding favors.

WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOL?

If you wish to serve alcohol at your catered event, the State of Washington requires a licensed bartender for any public venue, whom we are happy to provide. Our bartenders are friendly, professional, and the best asset to your event!

When it comes to purchasing alcohol, Twelve Baskets Catering has several options available to you -choose one of our fabulous drink packages or provide your own! Some venues in the area require the use of their own alcohol packages and bartending services, so be sure to consult with your venue when you book.

Twelve Baskets Catering is licensed, and all our bartenders and mixologists have their personal MAST permits. Although we may be selling or serving the alcohol, your venue may still require you to purchase a Banquet Permit.

ARE YOU INSURED?

Twelve Baskets Catering business is insured and our employees are covered by the State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries. If you need this information, please call our office.

WHAT ABOUT RENTALS?

Twelve Baskets Catering has a limited supply of our own rentals such as white china plates, flatware, glassware, linens, etc. These items are available on a first-come, first-served, basis. Once our inventory has been assigned and is no longer available, or if other specific rentals are required, we work with local third-party rental companies such as Cort Party Rentals to make sure all your event needs are met. The more advanced notice, the better you’ll have in securing all of your equipment needs.

We also have some wonderful specialty items available to rent including, gold mercury glass candle votives, vintage mismatched china plates, cake stands, charger plates, a bar cart, easels, etc. Speak with one of our Twelve Baskets Catering Wedding and Event Specialists for more information!

For a list of some amazing event professionals to help with your event, check out our vendors page!

 

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER AND WHAT IS THE COST DIFFERENCE?

$ Pick Up: low stress, just swing by our location in Kirkland and pick up your order! Our chef will help put everything in your vehicle for transport and provide instructions on how to set up the food when it’s ready to be served.

$$ Delivery: the food and/or beverages will be delivered to your home, venue, or office and set it up ready to be served on compostable/bamboo platters and disposable chafing dishes. Delivery staff will set up and leave upon guest arrival. None of the equipment will need to be returned to us!

$$$+ Full Service: this option allows our team to handle all aspects of the event from food preparation, setup of tables and chairs for guest seating, displaying the food on a buffet, build-up of the beverage station and bar, as well as replenishing the food & beverages throughout the event, clearing plates & glassware, organizing rental equipment in the back and then full clean up at the end of the event.

We have various styles of food and beverage service options, which will also determine the price levels. See the differences below:

$ Buffet: guests will walk up to a table where they are able to pick up their plate and decide what items they would like best.

$$ Food Stations: multiple tables are set around the event space with various food selections for guests to choose from.

$$$ Family-Style service: guests are seated at their tables and our staff will bring platters of food to each table and the guests will serve themselves and pass the platters around the table.

$$$$ Plated Meals: guests are seated at their tables and our staff will bring individual plates of food for each guest based on a pre-determined menu choice.

Other services such as tray-passed appetizers only or bartending services along with a drop-off service are available. Reach out to our event team to learn more about the approximate starting points for the service you are most interested in.

CAN I CANCEL MY EVENT?

For cancellation up to ten (10) days before the event date, any deposit made or required payments due are non-refundable (see payment schedule of due dates above). Nine (9) days or less from the contracted event date, we reserve the right to charge the entire estimated total balance of your event. If you choose to cancel your event within the nine-day period, you are welcome to pick up your food on your event date served on disposable platters or you can choose to have us donate it to local homeless shelters.

All cancellations require verbal confirmation (not a voicemail) as well as a written notice. Please verify in your written notice, via email or mail, the Twelve Baskets Catering representative’s first and last name with whom you spoke regarding your cancellation. If you need to cancel within 3 business days prior to your event and you are unable to reach us at 425-576-1000 please call our emergency line at 206-399-6618.

WHAT ARE THE TAXES AND FEES?

Washington State sales tax is applied to every event, and the tax rate varies depending on where your event takes place. A Production Fee is also included in your event total which covers the cost of selling, scheduling, organizing, and coordinating catering-related aspects of your event. It also covers general administrative and overhead costs involved in processing your event needs to ensure everything is executed seamlessly. Please note that the Production Fee is not a gratuity to the service staff who work at your event.

In general, automatic gratuity is not included in our catering proposals, unless requested (besides a few specific circumstances, in which you will be notified). We do pay our staff a comparable industry standard hourly wage for their work. If you would like to tip the service staff, you may do so upon signing of your catering agreement, at the event, or afterward at your sole discretion. If you do choose to include a gratuity in advance, please indicate the dollar amount or percentage of subtotal with your Twelve Baskets Catering Wedding and Event Specialist.

WHAT ABOUT LEFTOVERS?

Twelve Baskets Catering provides to-go containers for our clients to take home any leftovers from their event. However, if you do not wish to keep any leftovers, we donate to the local homeless shelters.