West Virginia University B & E Magazine (January 2018)
Please click here for a recent profile of David Solesbee & Belle Fete Catering, in WVU’s School of Business & Economy Magazine!
Voyage LA / LA City Guide (April 2017)
Please click here for a recent profile of David Solesbee and Belle Fete Catering, in Voyage LA magazine!
Susan V., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Review on Yelp, March 2017)
David and his staff were amazing. They catered our launch cocktail party and the food was amazing. David made sure every detail was taken care of his suggestions for food were right on the spot! I would definitely use him again and recommend Belle Fete for your next event!!
Crystal B., St. Louis, MO (5-Star Review on Yelp, November 2017)
David catered 2 meals for us during Thanksgiving week when we came to Newport Beach. One was an appetizer dinner which was spectacular. Our group of 12 adults plus kids spent a wonderful evening outside while David produced about 8 different appetizers that he kept passing all evening. We had such a lovely evening and David became part of the family. On Thanksgiving day he produced a fabulous turkey buffet with all the trimmings. We ate so well that day and included David in our things that we were grateful for. He and I worked over email and phone calls and he was quick to answer any and all of my questions. He also made the arrangements for all of the rental equipment that we would need, since we were staying in a VRBO.
Crystal Beuerlein
St. Louis, MO
Sydney W., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (5-Star Review on Yelp, December 2017)
We hosted a holiday party earlier this month that was catered by David and his team. Several things made it an outstanding event. First, the food is outrageously delicious. Mini grilled cheese with tomato soup on a cool evening, pork sliders, shrimp crostini. And to top it off my girlfriend had the idea to greet each guest with David’s outstanding Chinese Chicken Salad served in Chinese take-out containers with chop sticks! The service was unobtrusive, lighthearted, and professional. Hats off to Eddie and especially bartender Tessa for doubling as a VJ and keeping the music going. All in all, a very successful evening. We now can cross our search for a caterer off our list for future events. It will be David and Belle Fete.
Lee J., Orange, CA (5-Star Review on Thumbtack, February 2017)
Chef David was an absolute delight to work with. He was very compassionate to my situation. I had just lost my wife to cancer and didn’t have an exact date for her funeral and following reception, which Chef David was catering. David worked with me and accommodate my every need to successfully pull off a difficult event.
Gretchen S., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Review on Thumbtack, May 2016)
The service was amazing. The servers were extremely friendly. The food was delicious.
Jo L., Palos Verdes Estates, CA (5-Star Review on Thumbtack, December 2015)
David catered a Newport boat parade party for us for fifty guests. This is the second time he has catered an event for us, and he got rave reviews from all our guests. He was extremely patient with setting up a menu because I kept changing my mind. He had great pre-set options to help make setting a menu easier. All the food was outstanding especially the delicious desserts which stood out from any desserts I have had before. Tasted like home cooking.
His staff is professional and personable. David handled all the food, took care of ordering the rentals, set up tables and cleaned up after the event. He even fixed a broken door lock.
I highly recommend Belle Fete Catering to everyone. I look forward to working with him again.
Margie S., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Reviews on Thumbtack & Yelp, November 2015)
We had David from Belle-Fete catering help us with a birthday party for 50 guests. David and his staff were so incredibly helpful and so friendly. The food was perfectly prepared and so delicious. The staff that ran the bar and worked as severs were very professional, friendly, and very experienced. I am so grateful to Belle Fete in going above and beyond and making the celebration so special and stress free. I will definitely be using them again for my next event!!!!
Alicia A., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 11/12/15)
Belle Fete catered a fundraiser for us and the food was delicious! The staff was very classy and professional. They took great care of guests and paid special attention to all the details. Easy-going and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend this caterer to others.
“Best of 2015” Award from Thumbtack
Mariah N., Newport Coast, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 5/22/15)
“Food and service was professional, flexible, prompt and delicious. They catered my wedding and nothing but good things to say from me and my wedding guests. Get the bite sized chicken and waffles. You’re welcome!”
Denise M., Corona del Mar, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 5/17/15)
“From start to finish, an amazing experience. Completely professional, talented in all aspects of event planning. Most importantly, DELICIOUS food. No need for me to ever find another caterer – I will use Belle Fete for all my events.”
Stefanie F., Marina del Rey, CA (5-Star Yelp Review, posted 5/4/15)
“David and his wonderful staff (Elisabeth, Eddie and Millie) were absolutely amazing. We hired David at the last minute (and I mean last minute) for a fundraiser. David worked with us to create a perfect menu and quickly brought the entire thing together. Our event was originally for 70 people, and then an even more last minute decision was made to increase it to 90 people. David simply said, ‘no problem’. The food was INCREDIBLE and we had a delightful time. Thank you David, Elisabeth, Eddie and Millie for making our party fun and delicious.”
Jennifer S., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Yelp Review, posted 7/18/14)
“I began using Belle Fete for our smaller dinner parties over 5 years ago. David is always accommodating with any special menu requests or last minute changes. His creativity with food is displayed in the presentation of every course he prepares from appetizer to entree to desserts, it is always beautiful AND delicious. David is consistent with his approach of offering relevant and honest suggestions to enhance every party we have hosted, whether it was for 10 people or 90, he informs me when he thinks that I have ordered to little or too much and what wine/drinks to pair with each course. As I began to use David more and more for our personal social gatherings, I felt confident that he would be a great fit for our corporate events as well. David has put together over a handful of cocktail parties for us during the holiday/NB Christmas Boat Parade time and has always done an exceptional job with his menu offerings, staffing, and overall level of service. I really can’t say enough about the professionalism of this company, the quality of their food and the level of service that they provide. They are attentive, reliable, and consistent in each step of the planning process for any size event. I am always sure that our guests will have a memorable experience whenever we hire David and his team to cater our events!”
Richard B., San Juan Capistrano, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Reviews, posted Fall 2014)
“Excellent – 5 stars! Although our event is still a couple of weeks away, David has been great with his suggestions, staying within budget, and making himself accessible to us. If his culinary expertise is half as good as his customer service, and I truly believe it will surpass our expectations, our party will be a huge success! I will give a final review in October”.
(Thumbtack Review posted 9/21/14)
“Chef David was a pleasure work with. His food and his staff were exceptional. We chose Belle Fete Catering over three other very noted caterers primarily because of David’s willingness to work within our budget to provide a first class party for our family.”
(Follow-Up Thumbtack review, 10/5/14)
Mark K., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 5/3/15)
“David and his wonderful team created a delicious menu and helped establish an extraordinarily warm and welcoming environment for our guests. The food and desserts were a huge hit and the staff did a wonderful job of addressing my guests by name. He was also VERY responsive and easy to work with. Several guests wrote me today to rave about the food. We are definitely having him back.”
Julie Knap, Pacific Palisades, CA (5-Star Yelp Review, posted 9/26/14)
“We hired Belle Fete Catering for a 12-person dinner party to celebrate our daughter’s baptism. The meal was both delicious and beautiful in its presentation. The server was attentive, thoughtful and organized. What a treat the entire experience was. Having this amazing dinner at home made the already special day so intimate and complete. By the end of the night, you never would have known they were there. The kitchen was immaculate.”
Erin D., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 7/20/14)
“My family and I have been hiring David every year (for the past 8 years) to cater our special occasions. The food is fabulous, the service is fantastic, and the presentation is beautiful. I would highly recommend Belle Fête Catering! You will not be disappointed”
Pat & Cindi McGaughan, Aliso Viejo, CA
“David is obviously a very skilled chef, but I especially loved his great attitude and customer service skills. I was really impressed with his ability to guide us, by offering creative suggestions and feedback, while at the same time listening to what we wanted and accommodating accordingly. Two thumbs up!”
Amy D., Mission Viejo, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 12/22/14)
“The best! Great food and great guys! On time and clean-up was like they weren’t there at all. I’ll use them again!”
Cari A., Newport Beach, CA (5-Star Yelp Review, posted 8/1/14)
“David is an outstanding caterer. I have used him many times and his food and presentation are always rock solid. His attention to detail is to be commended and his chocolate chip cookies are out of this world!!! Prior to an event he always ask me about my budget, expectations, vision of the party, etc. and then pulls it off flawlessly within my parameters – quite an amazing feat!!! I would highly recommend David and Belle Fete Catering!”
Kim von Tempsky, VP of Marketing, Lahaina Galleries (Newport Beach)
“I love David Solesbee and his entire staff at Belle Fete. His food, service, and presentation are all superior to any of the many caterers I have used over the years. After many great experiences working with this company, I could hardly ever consider working with anyone else.”
Meg B., Irvine, CA
“David is a very talented chef and a consummate professional. He was recommended to me by a friend, and if anything she under-sold him. His staff was fantastic, among the best I have encountered. His table settings and presentation are first-class, as well. Highly recommend!”
Mary Kilfoy, Costa Mesa, CA
“I have never had a better Chinese Chicken Salad in my life! I have loved everything I have tasted, and I also love David. No one holds a candle, he sets the bar.”
Ashley S., Orange, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 1/12/15)
“My organization hired David to cater our holiday fundraiser that coincided with the Newport Beach Boat Parade. He created a menu that was appropriate for an audience ranging from children to CEOs and that could be served buffet style. Everyone raved about the food! One guest had several food allergies, David was very conscientious spent 15 minutes explaining how the food was prepared and what she could consume – certainly above and beyond! We ordered food for 75 people and he brought enough for 85, which was greatly appreciated. I look forward to working with David again, I will certainly recommend him to family and friends!”
Justin S., Oceanside, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 12/10/14)
“David and his staff were outstanding. Unrivaled attention to detail, great service, excellent food. I’ve already had numerous requests from friends and colleagues!!!”
Aneesa H., Newport Coast, CA (5-Star Reviews, Thumbtack & Yelp, December 2014)
“From the initial proposal to the follow up day after the event, David has been the easiest and most pleasant professional we have worked with in a while. We had a party with platter served appetizers. All of the food was amazing, but special mention to the chicken & waffle bites and blackberry cobbler spoons. They were out of this world!! Not only were my guests wowed by the food, but they truly loved Eddie (the server) as well. David’s goal was for my boyfriend and I to feel like guests at our own party and that we did! I highly recommend David and would give him 10 stars if I could!”
Kris S., Irvine, CA
“I really appreciated David’s fabulous customer service and creative ideas. We wanted something extra-special for my husband’s birthday celebration, and David gave us just that. He suggested heavy hors d’oeuvres instead of a traditional buffet or plated dinner. This was so much fun and different, our guests loved that we mixed it up a little bit. Every menu item was delicious and unique. Great memories. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!”
Geraldine D., Yorba Linda, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 8/4/14)
“When we were having a 30 person party at our home I contacted several OC catering companies who seemed good but weren’t as flexible as I wanted regarding staffing requirements. We found David through Thumbtack after an internet search. I checked him out as thoroughly as possible and after a few conversations decided to hire him. He was fantastic and we were so glad we did. David’s food was beautiful and delicious and fun! He arrived so thoroughly prepared I literally did nothing which has never happened before. Everyone was very impressed with David himself as well as the quality and presentation of his food. He went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. I found several guests in my kitchen at one point asking him for a recipe 🙂 He also brought a bartender, Elisabeth, who managed a very busy spot with great skill and humor. She was a definite asset that night. We were very happy with David in every way. He left my kitchen shining at the end of the night and left us with all the leftovers. Thank you David – your food, your professionalism, your attention to detail and your incredible customer service, were a huge part of the reason our party was a great success and we feel lucky to have found you!”
Matthew T., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 7/15/14)
“We had a very condensed time frame to plan everything (more or less two weeks). David worked with us to plan a menu within our budget. His menus selections are quite versatile and can appeal to many different palates (including our vegetarian and gluten-free friends). We had our choice from a number of different global culinary traditions, as well as seasonal and thematic offerings. Despite the variety of choices, David’s recommendations and guidance kept our menu focused and cohesive–our food was able to capture that perfect summer feel. As we left our wedding photo shoot to meet our guests at the reception, we were a little nervous about all the loose ends we had left. Little did we know, David and his team had already gone out of their way to tie these up before any guests had arrived (i.e., moving the chairs, lighting the candles in the pool, prepping our cake, making an ice run, etc.). When we finally arrived, our guests were very complimentary about the hors d’oeuvres, as well as the service. The buffet was absolutely delicious, and not just because we hadn’t eaten all day–we’ve been having leftovers for two days now and it’s just damn good food. Throughout the reception, David and his team washed and kept everything tidy as they went along, and by the time our guests left the place was spotless. All in all, David deserves 10 stars!”
Heather R., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 7/7/14)
“I hired Belle Fete to cater my mother’s 50th birthday. Everything was fantastic! David was able to help me stay within my budget without skimping on quality, class, or taste. He and Elisabeth (server) were very professional and personable, going above and beyond to not only provide perfect food and service, but also helping me prepare the party space when they had some down time (which I am very grateful for). I will definitely be working with them again!”
Luky P., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Yelp Review, posted 8/22/11)
“I’ve never posted for Yelp before, but David Solesbee, Executive Chef for Belle Fete Catering was soooooooooo amazing, I had to post! We had our wedding in August at the Marvimon. Our caterer, David, was hands down the best ever!!! The food was wonderful and our guests loved it! They continue to boast about the food till this day. I must also add that my favorite (if I had to pick) would be the blackberry cobbler. David actually had the blackberries shipped from his parent’s farm in Virginia. How amazing is that!? I still dream of the cobbler today. His service staff was very professional and so helpful. David was hands on and helped us with a budget that fit all our needs. Thank you David for making our wedding so memorable! Any event would be lucky to have you!”
Lucy H., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 3/20/15)
“David and his team were terrific. He catered hors d’oeuvres for 50 pax and provided the servers for our business reception. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. His team were professional and friendly and I received compliments from my guests on both the food and the friendly service. He was responsive and flexible in working out our menu and leading up to the event too. I would definitely recommend David and I will be using his services again.”
Jill Skinner, Event Manager, Edge Systems, LLC (Long Beach, CA)
“Edge Systems, LLC has used Belle Fete Catering for several corporate events and couldn’t have been happier. Everything from the food to the service was absolutely delicious and amazing! Our CEO especially loved the Chinese Chicken Salad, but it is hard to pick a favorite when it’s all so yummy!!! David and his staff’s attention to detail is wonderful as well as the creativity in food design. We will continue to use David and Belle Fete for all of our corporate catering events.”
Lisa Doherty, Manager, Personal Insurance Division – Wood, Gutmann & Bogart Insurance (Irvine, CA)
“Because David came highly recommended, we recently hired Belle Fete Catering for a very special event. It was important that everything would go smoothly and please our guests, which included some of our best clients. We were certainly not let down, in fact I received only rave reviews about the fabulous menu and outstanding service from both clients and co-workers alike. We will definitely be calling him again soon.”
Mia Tavonatti, Artist, Santa Ana, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 5/22/14)
“I’ve hired Belle Fete many times over the years for various events, all with different budgets and needs. The food quality is always exceptional and highly creative. As an artist, I especially appreciate David’s talent. It is one of the reasons that sets him apart from so many other chefs. I prefer to work with people who provide unexpected and unique solutions, who think ‘outside the box’. I have referred Belle Fete many times and will continue to do so.”
Callie Wray, Sales & Marketing Manager, Lahaina Galleries (Newport Beach, CA)
“For the past 4 years, we have exclusively used Belle Fete Catering for all gallery events. Our final guest list is always a moving target until shortly before the event, and David is always very flexible and accommodating. Our client expectations are high, and Belle Fete never disappoints. In fact, many of my clients now hire Belle Fete for their own private events. I am always impressed with the quality of the food and the amazing service.”
Annalyn Godwin, Legal Recruiting Coordinator, Gibson Dunn (Irvine, CA)
“David is a genius! He can handle it all: from creating a tantalizing menu, to handling the wait staff and bartenders to preparing the dishes on site! We have used Belle Fete Catering for many of our law firm parties and each presentation is a masterpiece. The partners all rave about him, as well. Our Los Angeles office is now using him as well, and they all say the same.”
Ellen & Steve S., Los Angeles, CA (5-Star Thumbtack Review, posted 7/11/14)
“From the moment David arrives at my house, I can relax and enjoy and leave everything in his capable hands. David and his crew have catered 3 events for me, each time things ran smoothly, the food was EXCELLENT, and my guests were impressed. From start to finish, David is hands down the best caterer I’ve ever used.”
