About Santa Catering Company - The most referred caterer in Arizona

Located in Tempe, Arizona, Santa Barbara Catering Company (SBCC) is the preferred caterer for the Phoenix area’s most exclusive events, offering the creative custom menus, top-notch service and immaculately designed details that make any event — small or large, casual or elegant — an unforgettable occasion. For over 15 years, we’ve led the event and catering industry with fresh ideas, innovative design and contemporary style that ensure each guest experience is distinctive and memorable.

Santa Barbara Catering Company brings the kitchen to your event, using fresh, seasonal ingredients to prepare the high-end dishes served in the Valley’s best restaurants. Company owner and CEO Patricia Christofolo, who sits on the board of the International Caterers Association, partners with sister company The Farm at South Mountain to bring locally sourced and sustainable ingredients to every table. When it comes to environmentally sound policies, exceptional food and pitch-perfect events, SBCC has an unmatched track record of success and client satisfaction.

Our mission is to create unforgettable events by exceeding your expectations with innovative cuisine, exceptional service and creative presentation. We will accomplish this successfully by consistently…

  • Emphasizing quality above convenience in our service and food preparation.
  • Generating positive energy and respect with our clients and employees.
  • Exhibiting an enthusiasm to customize our services to our clients’ needs.
  • Increasing our efforts to be community-minded and environmentally aware.
  • Maintaining a fundamentally sound business dedicated to growth and financial stability.

More about us...


Bios

Pat Christofolo

Owner and CEO Patricia Christofolo is well known in the community as a business owner in Tempe for over 25 years. Pat opened the first of many successful businesses in the food industry in 1981. Ultimately, she founded Santa Barbara Catering Company in 1992 and took over the food service operations at The Farm at South Mountain in 1995. Pat is consistently broadening her knowledge of food trends and techniques. Her creativity, dedication to excellence, and commitment to quality has propelled her firm into a leader in off-premise catering as well as operator of three very unique and charming restaurants at The Farm at South Mountain.

480-921-3150
patc (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Alexander Heijligers

Executive Chef Alexander Heijligers comes from the Netherlands, and he has been with Santa Barbara Catering for five years. At Holland America Cruise Lines, Lex worked as chef and kitchen manager. Lex is accustomed to preparing food for thousands of people each day. He is very efficient and organized and this is reflected in the kitchen and in event execution.

480-471-5232
lexh (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Lisa Tarsitano

Controller & HR Director, Lisa Tarsitano has sixteen years of retail banking experience. She maintains all financial records for both Santa Barbara Catering and sister company The Farm at South Mountain. She works closely with our accountant to ensure files are accurate and efficient. Lisa ensures all payroll records are within compliance of all federal and state regulations.

480-471-5229
lisat (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Sales Team

Lauren Guthrie

Director of Sales and Event Production Lauren Guthrie joined the Santa Barbara Catering team as an Event Planner in 2003. Lauren graduated from the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business where she majored in Marketing and Management. She honed her event coordination skills while working in the development and marketing departments for several local non-profit agencies. Lauren's attention to detail guarantees a flawless event that creates an unforgettable experience for Santa Barbara Catering clients.

480-471-5225
laureng (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Melissan Falcone

Executive Event Manager Melissan Falcone graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Communication and Religious Studies. Melissan has several years of event planning experience ranging from catering, to restaurant event planning, and banquet facility rental, giving her a wide range of expertise and understanding. Melissan is energetic and helpful in generating innovative ideas to make every type of event unique and successful.

480-471-5228
melissanf (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Carolyn Nguyen

Junior Event Manager Carolyn Nguyen joined Santa Barbara Catering in 2007. Her interest in event planning grew from a promotions internship at a radio station and an editorial internship at a magazine. A graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Mass Communications, Carolyn’s skills in project planning and management combined with her creativity and originality for themed events and floral arrangements makes her a valuable asset to the Santa Barbara team.

480-471-5224
carolynn (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Nicole Osborne

Sales Assistant Nicole Osborne started her career in hospitality at a very young age working for a catering company in Newport, Rhode Island as banquet waitstaff and the office assistant. It was there that she learned the day to day runnings of a very successful catering company. Nicole then earned her degrees in education and business , but then returned to the hospitality industry and began working for several local catering companies. In 2008, Nicole joined the team at Santa Barbara Catering Company as a server. She is thrilled to now be a part of the sales team at Santa Barbara as a Sales Assistant. In addition to her work, Nicole spends much of her free time working at Banner Children’s Hospital Supporting their charity functions.

nicoleo (at) santabarbaracatering.com

Nikki DeHerrera

Event Planner Nikki DeHerrera began her career in 2005 as a Special Events Coordinator in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing design and marketing for high-end clients and local charities. She has now directed her career towards her long-lasting passion by teaming up with Santa Barbara Catering and The Farm at South Mountain. With her ability to take ideas and turn them into dreams, the events she plans are nothing less than magical, luminous and forever memorable.

nikkid (at) santabarbaracatering.com



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