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Denise Vivaldo

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How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business by Denise Vivaldo (2005-12-01) Paperback

by Denise Vivaldo (Author)

4.1 63 ratings

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From pricing your services to honing your food presentation skills, this comprehensive guide provides a wealth of information about building a home-based catering business.

Publisher

Globe Pequot Press; 5th edition (2005-12-01)
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B019TLU9Z6

Customer Reviews:
4.1 63 ratings

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About the author

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Denise Vivaldo

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A classically trained chef, Denise founded Food Fanatics in 1988, a catering, recipe-development, and food-styling firm based in Los Angeles, California. In 2012 Denise rebranded her company as the Denise Vivaldo Group.

As a consultant, food stylist, and culinary producer with over 30 years experience, Denise has helped with numerous television productions, infomercials, food manufacturers, grocery stores chains, restaurants, publishers, authors and celebrities with their projects and products.

Denise is a popular contributing blogger to the Huffington Post as well as her own blog, Denise Vivaldo Blogs. She also teaches food styling, catering and cooking classes and workshops in a multitude of locations across the country and internationally. She has been a featured guest expert on many television shows.

Denise is the author of eight books:

The Food Styling Handbook, winner of numerous awards and considered to be the food styling bible. New edition Spring 2017!

How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, which has sold more than 150,000 copies and is in its 6th edition.

How to Start a Home-Based Personal Chef Business, now in it’s 2nd edition.

The Entertaining Encyclopedia, and its companion book Perfect Table Settings.

Do It For Less! Parties, and Do It For Less! Weddings, entertaining books with quantity recipes.

The Top 100 Napkin Folds.

Visit Denise's websites for more information:

www.DeniseVivaldo.com Culinary consulting services

www.DeniseVivaldoGroup.com Food styling, recipe testing, cookbook consulting, and more!

www.CulinaryEntrepreneurship.com Food styling classes

www.DeniseVivaldoBlogs.com Denise's culinary blog

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

63 global ratings

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Stella Carrier

Catering Career Tips

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2015

Verified Purchase

How To Start A Home Based Catering Business by Denise Vivaldo contains both some information form the author’s background in her journey towards opening her own catering business as well as advice and tips. For instance, Vivaldo shares opportunities for food catering (such as hotels, country clubs, yachts, restaurants, charter yachts, airlines etc).. She also shared some of the lessons she learned from her first catering experience- apparently one of her waitresses left with one of the most attractive male guests, she unexpectedly spent more than she initially collected, and had to at first do the dishes alone. She also touches on territory on areas such as Sales and Marketing when it comes to operating a catering business (starts on page 109). She also gives some food recipes such as Lemony Rice Pilaf (page 204) and Chocolate Walnut Biscotti (page 205).

2 people found this helpful

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Cosmas Bisticas

Vey Basic

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2005

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This book, contrary to popular opinion, in my opinion is just ok. Very basic information on each chapter without expanding in any detail on the intricacies of this particular business.

The marketing chapter in particular which was the main reson for me buying the book gave me a couple of ideas but overall didn't read any different than any small buisiness marketing guide. Dated information written in a fairly bland language without any hint of enthousiasm.

I suppose that if you are on a budget with no experience at all, this is an ok referece source but you will want to upgrade to something more comprehensive and in depth such as the professional caterers handbook by Laura Arduser and Robert Brown

The most unfortunate thing about this book is it's author. Following my above review I received the following email from the author who obviously has a much higher opinion of her work than I do. Personally I found her message to be quite sarcastic, as I have not indicated that I have personally published anything. :

Dear Cosmos,
I just read your review of my catering book on Amazon. You are right, your review was out of the norm.
I've sold 140,000 copies and recieve emails daily from around the country, from students, schools, professionals etc. thanking me.
If, you'd like a complimentary copy of the new 5th edition, and try to read it again, I'd be happy to send
you one in the fall. Much new information in the marketing chapter.
Please make sure to send me information on any of the books you've published,
I 'd love to read what you know, I'm sure if would fill volumes.
Denise Vivaldo

67 people found this helpful

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S_Gall

best buy so far

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010

Verified Purchase

this book tells you most everything you'll need to know in plain simple english. It's a good read too, I couldn't put it down. I read the whole book in 2 days, and I still go back to reference it. Great to have by your side if your just starting out, and even gives great ideas and tips that even pros could use. It came in perfect condition and I got it pretty quickly. Made me excited to try more books on the subject.

2 people found this helpful

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B

HOME BASE BUSINESS

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012

Verified Purchase

THIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE I JUST WISHED IT WAS LONGER, I AM PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE AND PRODUCT. THANKS

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is a must read for anyone contemplating opening a home based business. It is very well written with suggestions and references. I enjoy it so much, I plan to purchase additional copies for others I know who are seeking to become entrepreneurs. I must keep my copy, which I purchased used but is in excellent condition, for myself.

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2011

Verified Purchase

I have skimmed through most the book and have read probably a third of it in depth so far, and am very impressed by how much the author has taught me already. I am in my third year of culinary school at the moment and would like to open a catering business after graduation. This book will definitely be a huge help.

Helpful

BigglesMom

Some good information, but outdated.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2013

Verified Purchase

Good, solid information but seriously outdated, especially the chapters concerning publicity and networking. When this book was written, they never heard of the internet and social media, apparently. Also, it is titled "How to Start a Home Catering Business" but it really focuses on large volume and not at all on the Home aspect. Disappointed in both regards.

One person found this helpful

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Angela

I have enjoyed reading this book

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2015

Verified Purchase

I have enjoyed reading this book. She offers some great advice for a catering startup. As a side note she is not telling you to cater out of your home kitchen as some other comments say, rather she is telling you to use your home as your office/base.

2 people found this helpful

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