Art of Eating Catering & Event Planning

Art of Eating Catering & Event Planning is an off-premise caterer and planning firm on Butter Lane in Bridgehampton. It is run by husband and wife Cheryl Stair and John Kowalenko, who have produced events for more than 30 years.

How they work

Each menu is written for the event around seasonal, organic ingredients from East End farmers, fishermen and foragers. The sample wedding menus name local sources such as Balsam Farms, Halsey Farm and Montauk tuna. Its sample menus are titled for Bridgehampton, Montauk and North Fork settings, and the FAQ describes wedding weekends with a welcome party and farewell brunch. The team offers full wedding planning, month-of planning and day-of coordination. It orders rentals and tents for you and staffs the day with captains, chefs, servers, bartenders and, if needed, valet parking. The company holds its own liquor license. Vegetarian options are standard at weddings, and Kosher-style menus or individual glatt Kosher meals are available.

Who it suits

Couples marrying at a private home, on a beach or at a vineyard who want food, rentals, tenting and planning handled by one local team, and who care where the food comes from. Couples who already have a planner are welcome too. It is less suited to couples who want a set per person price before the first call, since none is published.

Good to know

• A 20% administrative fee is charged on food, staff and beverage. It is not gratuity, and gratuity is not added to the bill.
• Tastings run year round in Bridgehampton for a per person fee, which is deducted from the total if you book.
• For beach weddings, the FAQ notes that mass gathering permits are generally needed.