Catering in the Castelli Romani

Organising an event in the Castelli Romani

The Castelli Romani, the hill towns south-east of Rome, are the most popular out-of-town area for weddings and parties: Frascati, Grottaferrata, Marino, Ariccia, Albano, Genzano, Rocca di Papa, Velletri and Monte Porzio Catone are a short distance from Rome, and many guests can travel there and back in a day. Here you will find historic villas, farmhouses among the vineyards, estates with gardens and terraces overlooking the countryside and the lakes of Albano and Nemi.

Two kinds of caterer work in the area. Those based in the Castelli, who know the roads and venues of the area well. And those based in Rome that serve the Castelli as a regular area. The list includes both: each caterer's listing shows where it is based and which areas it says it serves.

Venues, kitchens and logistics

Many villas and estates in the Castelli have an exclusive caterer or a list of approved caterers. Before falling for a menu, ask the venue what rules it applies. The differences are explained in the guide on exclusive or open venues.

If the venue has no tie-in, check whether there is a back-up kitchen or whether the caterer must set up a field kitchen. Access counts too: some towns have historic centres with narrow streets and restricted traffic zones, and the vans need to be able to unload near the kitchen. Ask the caterer whether it has already worked at that villa or in that town.

The hills change the climate. In spring and autumn, evenings in the Castelli can be cooler than in the city, and in summer the evening breeze arrives early. An outdoor dinner always needs a covered plan B: a gazebo, a marquee or an indoor room. Read the guide on catering for outdoor events before settling on the format.

Wine and local produce

The Castelli are wine country, and many couples choose a winery or a farmhouse among the vines. The menu remains your choice: you can ask for a classic reception, fish, a buffet or themed food stations. If you are interested, you can ask the caterer for local wines or produce as an option, without them becoming a requirement. The guide on Lazio wines for events helps you plan the pairing.

Guests and the day's timings

For guests coming from Rome the journey is short, but on a Saturday afternoon outbound traffic can make it longer. Give an arrival time with some margin and tell the caterer the real start time of the drinks reception. If the party ends late, think about a shuttle back: anyone drinking wine should not be driving on hill roads.

What to ask the caterer

• Travel: is it included in the per-person price or a separate item? From what distance is it charged?
• Transport costs: vans, equipment, hire and collection at the end of the event.
• Staff: the team's hours, and any meals and accommodation if the event ends late.
• On-site kitchen: is there a kitchen at the venue or is a field kitchen needed? Who brings power, water and gas?
• Permits: who checks the music times, use of spaces and access to restricted traffic zones?
• Site visit: does the caterer visit the venue before giving the final quote?

Have everything written in the quote, item by item. That way you can compare a caterer based in Frascati and one based in Rome on the same terms.

Once you have the date, guests and venue, request up to 3 quotes in a single request.