Simply Bliss Catering

Chef Yulanda and her team catered an incredible event tonight at the Cameron Stafford House… all I can say is WOW! Everything was so well executed, food incredible, presented well and creative!
Thanks for a great event!

Chef has made the best food I ate in my life. They made so many vegetables taste amazing. They make bomb ass healthy food.

Chef Yulanda, Simply Bliss Catering and their food are simply as good as it gets, in my 20+ years experience as a professional event director. In preparation for a very important charitable event I was planning, I put out an RFP to a number of Bay Area caterers. Only two businesses were timely with their responses and Chef Yulanda was one of those. After I reviewing a number of bids and menu options from local caterers, we chose Simply Bliss. The reviews on Unilocal were helpful, as were other recommendations from people who’d worked with her in Oakland, and the phone and email conversations with Chef Yulanda were also persuasive. The sample menus were very enticing too!
Fast forward a few months… After a crazy wet afternoon of load-​in and set-​up, our fundraiser went off without a hitch and was a huge success. Many people told me during the event and since then that the food was fresh, delicious, the perfect choice for the occasion, and that Chef Yulanda’s staff was friendly and responsive. She and her team helped to make our event special and unique.
Chef Yulanda’s connections with the venue, a local lighting/​décor vendor and event supplies vendor were also very useful and all of high quality, with outstanding service.
The value of Simply Bliss Catering’s wonderful food was far beyond the price we paid (must note here that her original bid was significantly less than any of the others — another huge plus when needing to save $ on expenses in order to raise more money for our cause).
In summary, it was an outstanding pleasure to have the opportunity to Chef Yulanda. I highly recommend her services for your catering needs.

Chef Yulanda catered our staff’s holiday party. She arrived early to set-​up and was very organized. Her food was absolutely delicious and she provided plenty. Let me say the Chocolate Mousse was fabulous! Her menu selection accommodates everyone, including those who are vegan or gluten intolerant. Her table layout was beautiful and inviting. She was a joy to work and I would recommend Chef Yulanda. As you can see in prior posts, you will not be disappointed!

Simply Bliss was demoing at the last Unilocal event and I was very impressed with their miso sugar cookies. So creative and absolutely delightful! They may be a thing in Japan but were certainly new to me.
To successfully incorporate an umami flavor like miso into a sweet and chewy cookie takes some skill and I don’t doubt that the rest of this chef’s food is similarly excellent.

Hiring Chef Yulanda and the entire Simply Bliss Catering Crew to run our wedding (and yes, I do mean run) was one of the best decisions my partner and I have made. When we met with Yulanda for the first time we were both struck by her warmth, humor and talent. She is an incredible chef and her genuine love for food comes through when she shares the creating/​cooking of meals and serving of food, with others. She is joy to work with as she posses the rare combination of extreme confidence and total lack of ego. She asked us tons of questions, making suggestions, but never being overbearing or pushy. We were not boxed into a crazy, all inclusive package deal with her. She was flexible and even supportive of us lower costs where we could. We were able to provide our own alcohol and dessert and her crew served it for us. I felt so taken care of on the day of our wedding. Everyone on her crew that we interacted with was warm and human, laughing and interacting with our guests where appropriate. We could not have been happier with the service, food and genuine care Simply Bliss put into our wedding day. I cannot more highly recommend Simply Bliss!

Our wedding was last week, and our taste buds are still a flutter with the amazing food of Simply Bliss! Not that we had time to eat any food at our wedding, but Yulanda made us an adorable to go basket to take home so we could enjoy the food our guests were raving about. How thoughtful is that?
There was one menu item that I wanted more than anything at our wedding, a beet and goat cheese lollipop, and that is why we initially contacted Chef Yulanda. She featured them on her Facebook page. Well, that and we wanted to work with someone from our community, someone who prepares food with ingredients we would choose (fresh, local, organic, grass-​fed), and someone who could handle a bite– sized lunch for 110 people without access to a kitchen on site.
We had lots of constraints because of severe food allergies on my part, and some more common food restrictions on the part of some of our guests. Yulanda was amazing in composing a menu that made it safe for everyone to eat, while having options for our European family who would balk at a menu without meat or gluten. My allergies are life threatening, and I felt entirely safe in Yulanda’s hands, as well as her staff on the day of, who were very knowledgeable about the ingredients in the food.
Our tasting was a wonderful experience. We were surprised to find that Yulanda was even able to make an ingredient we both hate — endives — taste delicious! Yulanda was amazing to work with: she perfectly blends professionalism, warmth, effective communication, and culinary skill. It’s rare to find a talented chef who also has outstanding people skills. Yulanda embodies both of those qualities and more.
On the day of our event, Yulanda and her staff arrived early and set up before our guests arrived half an hour early (gah!). They were all extremely professional and kind to our guests. The passing of food and setup of our three buffet tables were perfectly timed and everyone raved about the food. I even received an email about how delicious the vegan tacos were. From a carnivore.
Did I mention that my food allergies are really hard to cook around? I’m talking no onions or garlic among gobs of other things. Yulanda managed the extraordinary feat of making the entire menu safe for me without the guests noticing these major ingredients weren’t in the picture.
Last but not least, Yulanda and her staff were clearly both excellent at their jobs and had fun doing it. Many of our guests commented on how both professional and fun they were. We can’t recommend Yulanda and Simply Bliss enough! Oh, and she also recommended the best DJ!

My non-​profit employer threw a retirement party at a nearby law firm and needed a caterer who could put together an event with vegetarian hors d’oeuvres for 70 people. Yulanda came highly recommended by the law firm, for good reason. Simply Bliss serves delicious food and goes above and beyond in every way.
Yulanda came up with a wide range and variety of creative vegetarian options, providing us with three menus from which we pick and chose the final menu. The food itself was delicious– we received many compliments. The mushroom and leek empanadas and potato samosas were standouts and the desserts were phenomenal, too.
I can’t speak highly enough of Yulanda’s flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond. Yulanda met with us, on short notice, at the venue for a half hour meeting the day before the event, simply to walk through the process and make sure we knew that all our bases were covered. She was also incredibly accommodating. We had a number of requests for the menu and made last minute changes to the number of people we expected; Yulanda made all adjustments accordingly. When asked, during the event, if the staff (who were excellent) could stay later than previously expected, the Simply Bliss team responded with the utmost flexibility.
I can’t recommend Simply Bliss highly enough. Given the opportunity to have Yulanda cater a future event, I would choose Simply Bliss in an instant.

Chef Yulanda catered our wedding in April 2013 and to this day our family and friends still talk about how amazing the food and service were. She and her team have left lasting positive impressions and have given us fond food memories to last a lifetime! She and her staff were courteous, friendly, professional and efficient. Chef Yulanda helped us to meet the diverse food preferences, cultural tastes, and dietary restrictions of our friends and family. Above all, her food was wonderfully pleasing and delightful!

Wow, dining with Chef Yulanda at the helm is an experience. We have worked with her for more than three years. She has catered everything from 5 day retreats, to a 7 course dinner for investors and an annual gala for over 100. It is the best catered food experience I’ve had in my life.
Easy to work with, impeccable quality and a seasoned team makes Simply Bliss incredible. Chef Yulanda used to work with Wolfgang Puck and the creativity in her food shows every bit of it. She has constantly been one of the highest ranked elements of all of our events and her ability to manage a growing list of dietary needs is unparalleled. I’ve seen her give tips to parents of newly developed allergies to gluten, make special requests simple and encourage people to try new things because they taste so good.
Her team manages everything from set up to clean up – and we’ve never even had a late meal. If I could give 100 stars I would. As we expand our work we’ve been clear that means taking Chef Yulanda with us wherever we go. Believe the hype, she is exceptional.

Having Yulanda and her crew cater our birthday/​anniversary party last weekend was «simply bliss!» The food was incredible, as was the service. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the event, and couldn’t stop raving about everything. My husband and I (and the rest of our family) were able to enjoy the event and spend time with friends and family, knowing that everything was being attended to by Yulanda and her team. When the evening was over, the kitchen was immaculate, the garden was cleaned up, and there wasn’t any work left for me to do! Just wonderful! Thank you, Yulanda — we’ll definitely recommend you to friends and family looking for an excellent caterer, and I’m sure we’ll be calling you again in the future!

Yulanda catered our wedding last month and she was amazing to work with, from beginning to end. We had some pretty specific requirements — all vegetarian, and mostly gluten free b/​c of family with celiac. She put together the most amazing menu, including apps, main meal (friend are *still* talking about the forbidden rice dish), and a dessert bar. The food is to die for. Really and truly. Full of flavor, so fresh. She has a separate gluten free kitchen she works in for the gluten free food, so it couldn’t have been a better fit.
PLUS — Yulanda is warm, friendly, flexible, creative and is all about making sure people are happy. It was so refreshing to have a real connection with her and to feel like she was as excited about the event as we were. Her staff were fabulous and very professional. She went above and beyond with everything and there was not a single thing I needed to think about on the day of, knowing all was taken care of.
Thank you, Yulanda (and staff at Simply Bliss) for helping create such a memorable event for us and our friends.

Chef Yulanda catered a birthday party for us in our Oakland home. Her work was exceptional! She met with us and made suggestions for both the menu and for the décor and table settings. She and her staff arrived early and within 2 hours transformed the house into a beautiful intimate restaurant. They were quick, quiet and respectful of our home.
The food was superlative. Appetizer service began exactly at the time we planned. As more guests arrived, the passed appetizers never ran out and were delicious. Dinner surpassed all of our expectations. Each course was well thought out and accompanied by sauces and seasonings that complimented each dish perfectly.
Chef Yulanda and her staff are the nicest most gracious people. We felt they really cared for the success of the event and each guest remarked on how polished and professional the entire event was. They kept glasses filled, whisked away dirty dishes quietly and unobtrusively, and replenished coffee, water, bread etc. They cleaned up the kitchen so thoroughly and left so quietly, they never interfered with the flow of the evening.
Chef Yulanda’s Simply Bliss Catering is fantastic.

I was very impressed with Chef Yulanda and her team — very professional and personable, not to mention the food is spectacular. I own The Chocolate Curtain and had the opportunity to work with her at an event recently. She went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed to run my operation smoothly. She wanted to ensure the client was very satisfied with not only her services, but the entire event and everything that went into it. Working in the kitchen with Simply Bliss, I can tell you they use the freshest ingredients. They provided exceptional service and gave the guests a wonderful culinary experience. I highly recommend Simply Bliss.

Wow! I knew Yulanda could throw down, but when she catered my birthday dinner party, I saw another level of her professionalism. She gave great options within my budget, and she suggested having an attendant to set up and – more important – clean up. A godsend. The food was outstanding, the attendant was such a perfect compliment to the evening, and I had leftovers for days! Who can beat that? Let me find another event for Yulanda to cater – I’ll be back!

I just attended an intimate ceremony for some friends and the attention, thoughtfulness, and loving touch that Simply Bliss bestowed on the evening was truly special. And then the food… the most scrumptious food catered to the crowd – vegan, gluten-​free, chicken curry, dal, wild black rice risotto, and greens with coconut… it was outstanding! I watched Yulanda and her sous chef seamlessly feed the crowd and all along, were picking up plates here and there to make the ambiance carefree and sensual. Hands down, the best catering I’ve had in the Bay Area. I would recommend them for any event.

Yulanda is a true professional. She patiently listened to our concerns about our wedding menu, accommodated us with several tastings during the planning process, and worked within our budget. The majority of our wedding guests were from the east coast (meat and potato type of folk!). Even though Yulanda is known for her vegetarian dishes, she created a classy and flavorful menu, including bite sized BLTs, tenderloin (which was to die for), garlic mashed potatoes, grilled corn salad, and many other great dishes. She also made amazing desserts; mini cupcakes, bite sized sweet potato pies, and bets of all… bacon caramel popcorn, which everybody loved because it was unique and delicious.
We will be using Simply Bliss again for our upcoming, in home cooking lesson (fried chicken), and for our holiday party.
We love you, Yulanda! Thanks for making everyone at our wedding happy!

chef yulanda’s food is exquisitely tasty, using fresh and simple ingredients and i can say that i ate until my plate was dry. her food was given to us for a five-​day long retreat in oakland. our cohort knew when food time was on it’s way because we could hear chef prepping, cooking and making us a memorable meal. the smells from the kitchen alone were distracting! she provided breakfast, lunch, dinner with accompanying desserts that were just as scrumptious.
some of my favorites were yulanda’s pot pies— both the chicken and the vegetarian with delicious mushrooms. the gravy was thick, flavorful and loaded with vegetables that weren’t overcooked but still slightly crisp. the crust which is the real business, was rich and still managed lightness in the buttery texture. desserts that i loved were the lemon bars which were a perfect union of tart and sweet without being overwhelming. each meal comes with side dishes like roasted vegetables and a salad. the most notable was a simple arugula and roasted beet salad with pecans and goat cheese. don’t let me get started on breakfast foods, like her salmon cakes. i’m salivating, so let’s stop. just to say, perfect texture. well spiced, i could many many of them.
over all, yulanda was a pleasure to support. her understanding of food is a holistic and accessible one. her demeanor is respectful and of sound integrity, which is evident in the food you eat. if you want some contemporary technique with down-​home flair at your next event, simply bliss is the obvious bay area choice. i give props and love to the chef, looking forward for another plateful of her work, commitment and savvy!

I’m planning a wedding and we’ve decided to go with Chef Yulanda and Simply Bliss Catering. We were referred to her and after speaking with her on the phone today I am totally excited. Her approach to food is different from the other caterers we’ve met and talked to. The array of food they can do and even the way she talks about handling the event impressed us. We can’t wait for our tasting. She was so flexible and willing to work with our ideas. I feel like I can trust this very important experience, event, day with her.
Not to mention her prices are incredible. I’m saying all this and haven’t tasted a morsel. So I’ll be back after the tasting and ultimately the wedding to update and share how it was. But for now I’m super excited.
Oh did I mention we liked her so much we are changing our venue to ensure we have one she can work?

Chef Yulanda was a joy to work with to provide all the food for a dinner party at my home.
First, the food itself was delicious. Who would have thought an entire healthy, gluten-​free menu would be such a crowd pleaser? The food rocked. Her quantities were also just right.
But, what set Chef Yulanda apart from the rest was in a calm manner, she put together a pan-​Asian menu exactly to my liking, on very very short notice, with grace and humor. She’s unflappable, professional, organized and worked with my budget completely. I’m also won over by her service orientation, donating her time and skills to organizations close to her heart.
If you’re seeking elegant, catered, very yummy food, and a calm experience so you can enjoy your event and guests, I wouldn’t hesitate to call Chef Yulanda.