Your Questions, Answered

Getting Started

  • Rising Kitchens caters throughout Morris, Essex, Union, Bergen, Sussex, and Somerset counties in New Jersey — including Morristown, Morris Plains, Madison, Chatham, Florham Park, Summit, Maplewood, South Orange, Livingston, Millburn, Short Hills, Mendham, Chester, and Englewood.

    1. Tell us about your event — date, headcount, location, and any dietary needs.

    2. We match you with the right chef(s) — you can choose from standardized menus or request a custom menu and quote.

    3. You confirm your order and lock in your date.

    4. All communication and invoicing runs through Rising Kitchens, so even though you can access up to ten chefs and food entrepreneurs, you’re only navigating one vendor and one point of contact.

    5. Your chef(s) prepare everything fresh, and we deliver or set up.

    6. You enjoy the event — we handle the rest.

  • Complete this form: www.risingkitchens.com/customer-inquiry-form, or send any questions to info@risingkitchens.com.

Menu & Chefs

  • Rising Kitchens offers drop-off catering, full-service catering with setup, corporate catering, private event catering, nonprofit/fundraiser catering, personal chef sessions, and custom cooking classes — all prepared by local NJ chefs.

  • Current specialties include Indian-Fusion, Farm-to-Table, Soul Food, Caribbean-Inspired, Gourmet Desserts, Party Favors, and Hearty Appetizer Spreads/Charcuterie experiences — with new chefs and cuisines added regularly as our community grows. To see the chefs currently in our Rising Kitchens cohort, visit our website.

  • Yes. Our curated bundles let you mix and match dishes from different Rising Kitchens chefs in a single order — so your guests can enjoy multiple cuisines from one vendor, one invoice, one delivery.

  • Each of our chefs goes through an extensive interview where we try their food and get a sense of their professional style. To be part of Rising Kitchens, every chef must also maintain insurance, a food safety certification, and a registered business.

  • Yes! We regularly accommodate gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, nut-free, and kosher-style requests. Many of our chefs also cook with clean, locally-sourced ingredients as a standard practice, not just for special requests.

  • Yes! You can browse menus for:

    1. BBQ & Onsite Grilling 2. Cocktail Receptions & Passed Apps 3. Private Plated Dinners 4. Corporate Lunch & Drop-Off 5. Brunch & Breakfast 6. Grazing Spreads & Charcuterie 7. Holiday & Seasonal Gatherings 8. Weddings, Birthdays & Milestone Celebrations 9. Large-Scale Receptions & Fundraisers (100+ Guests) 10. Desserts, Pastries & Sweet Treats

    Tell us what you’re planning, and we’ll send you menus tailored to your event.

Events We Cater

  • Yes. We cater in-home events of all sizes — birthdays, holiday dinners, dinner parties, showers, and family celebrations — with either drop-off or full-service options.

  • Yes. We regularly cater office lunches, business meetings, client events, and company celebrations. For ideas, check out our blog post on unique corporate catering ideas in Northern NJ.

  • Yes. Rising Kitchens caters nonprofit events and fundraisers, and as a mission-driven business ourselves, we especially love partnering with organizations doing good work in the community.

Booking Details

  • Most orders need 1–2 weeks’ notice. Larger events — over roughly 50 guests, or orders involving multiple chefs — are best booked 2+ weeks out.Most orders need 1–2 weeks’ notice. Larger events — over roughly 50 guests, or orders involving multiple chefs — are best booked 2+ weeks out.

  • Minimum orders vary by chef and event type. Our full-scale caterers have a minimum of $350 per event.

  • Orders booked more than 4 weeks in advance require a 50% deposit; orders booked less than 4 weeks in advance are invoiced in full. Orders canceled within 5 days of the event are non-refundable, since by that point our chefs have already purchased ingredients.

  • Yes. Every Rising Kitchen is a registered business that maintains all required insurance, food licenses, and safety certifications.

  • Pricing depends on headcount, menu, and service style. Orders range from as low as $50 for gourmet cereal treats or chocolates up to $150/head for extensive five-course meals prepared onsite by one of our personal chefs. Reach out for a custom quote. You’ll know your total cost before booking.

Our Mission and Impact

  • Hiring a Rising Kitchen directly supports a local NJ food entrepreneur — helping them grow their business, reach new customers, and build sustainable income. It’s catering that tastes great and does good, connecting you with exceptional local chefs while opening doors for culinary talent across New Jersey. To learn more, read testimonials and media features here.

  • Rising Kitchens isn’t a traditional caterer, a grocery-store platter counter, or a restaurant’s catering arm — it’s a curated network of independent local chefs and food entrepreneurs, and that shapes the whole experience. Most talented home-based and emerging chefs don’t have a storefront or a marketing team, so they’re hard to find on your own; Rising Kitchens brings them together in one place, giving you early access to culinary talent before it’s widely known. And since one vendor connects you to many chefs, you still get one invoice and one point of contact — just with far more variety. Because nothing is made in bulk for a warehouse menu, the food is personal: smaller batches, real ingredients, chefs who care about every order.

    You’re likely a great fit for Rising Kitchens if you want food with more personality than a standard catering menu, love discovering local talent, and like knowing your catering dollars help build someone’s small business. Curious if that’s you? Read more here.