OVERVIEW
Small wedding specialist. Melbourne-based culinary whizz Elia Donati specialises in fresh, vibrant food that lends itself perfectly to celebrating. Elia will design your wedding menu with your input. Whether you're envisioning a meat-heavy feast or creative plant-based fare, Elia and his team of professional chefs will deliver an unforgettable dining experience every time.
Elia brings an impressive backing of knowledge and accolades, his experience extends to virtually every kind of cuisine imaginable. Elia's sincere passion for food shines through in his work as a private chef and special occasion caterer. Elia also brings a special interest in barbeque cooking techniques, having competed in some of the main BBQ competitions in Melbourne.
As a special event caterer, Elia Donati can bring much more than an incredible dining experience to your wedding day. Elia can also organise a romantic acoustic guitarist and a photographer to capture the festivities (and the food!). Each wedding catered by Elia Donati is a tailored occasion approached with utmost diligence and a can-do attitude. Start designing your dream wedding culinary experience with Elia today.
"We attended an engagement dinner catered by Elia. The food was delicious, the cocktails were absolutely delightful, the staff were friendly and helpful, and we appreciated the care and attention paid to the dietary requirements. Would recommend in a heartbeat. Thank you for a wonderful night, Elia Donati!" - Amy M
What you'll love about working with Elia Donati for your Melbourne wedding:
Highlights of working with Elia Donati for your Melbourne wedding:
"What a fantastic experience with Elia Donati. From the moment Elia walked in the door, his professionalism and charisma shone through to what was set to be an amazing evening of Japanese cuisine - he put together a menu that catered for all my guests, and the food was incredible. If you want a professional, hard-working and quality chef to cook for your next function, I highly recommend Elia’s services and food. He left our kitchen immaculate, with nothing left to do but eat and enjoy. Thanks, Elia, we will be using you again soon!" - Carlo C.
About
Hi! I'm Italian but have been living in Australia since 2013. My parents taught me that food is precious and must respect ingredients; most importantly, food brings people together. When I understood that, I realised it was what I wanted to do for a living. Melbourne has given me a chance to learn from great chefs and butchers, and now I get to use my skills at your wedding. I will ensure your wedding will be the best because if I were you, I would want my wedding to be the best.
Mr Elia Donati
Director
Wedding Brochure
Elia Donati Brochure
View all of our features and complete package inclusions in our PDF wedding brochure.
View BrochureEasy Weddings Special Offer
Get a free belly dance show when you book our "make it special" package
Imagine the excitement when a belly dancer appears after indulging in delicious desserts and drinks, surprising everyone with an elegant and captivating performance. This delightful addition will surely create a memorable and enjoyable experience for all. Just envision how incredible it would be!
Call us for more info 0424957326.
Enquire to claim offer Enquire to claim offerPackages
This package is designed for a group of 10 to 40 people.
We will provide individually plated meals consisting of 2 or 3 courses, which will be alternated.
You can visit eliadonati.com to view our menu options, or if you have your own menu in mind, let us know, and we'll inform you if we can accommodate it.
Please note that for this package, the venue must have a kitchen that we can utilise.
Please refer to our brochure or contact us at 0424957326 for additional information.
This package is designed for a group of 10 to 40 people.
We will provide 2 or 6 standing canapes prior to sitting at the table for the formal lunch or dinner.
We will then provide individually plated meals consisting of 2 or 3 courses, which will be alternated.
You can visit eliadonati.com to view our menu options, or if you have your own menu in mind, let us know, and we'll inform you if we can accommodate it.
Please note that for this package, the venue must have a kitchen that we can utilise.
Please refer to our brochure or contact us at 0424957326 for additional information.
This package is specifically designed for groups ranging from 10 to 40 individuals.
We offer two options: a grazing table with a variety of meats, cheeses, artisanal rolls, wraps, fruits, crackers, sashimi, oysters, vegetables, and hand-made dips, or a buffet featuring meats, salads, artisanal bread, roasted sides, pasta, seafood, and a selection of cooked dishes, all displayed and kept warm for your convenience.
To explore our menu options, please visit eliadonati.com. If you have a custom menu in mind, kindly let us know, and we'll confirm if it can be accommodated.
It is important to note that the chosen venue must have a functional kitchen that we can utilise for this package.
For further details, please consult our brochure or reach out to us at 0424957326.
Videos
Location
Service Area Melbourne, Mornington and Yarra Valley
FAQ
We can travel up tp 150 Km from Melbourne.
Fees may apply for travel.
We can cater for groups between 10 and 40 people.
We prioritize sourcing food from local markets to ensure freshness and support the community. The cost of the food, as well as the necessary staff and head chef, is included in our services. Additionally, transportation within a 30km radius is covered. We take care of cleaning the kitchen or the space used to serve the food, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards. Furthermore, we make sure to accommodate any food allergies and dietary requirements to cater to everyone's needs.
We can cater for the vast majority of cuisines, please visit eliadonati.com and navigate to the top bar, then select menus.
You can simply email or call us and we'll make sure to take care of you.
Elia Donati
From childhood curiosity to a lifetime devotion.
My passion, curiosity and interest in cooking goes all the way back to my childhood when I was a 5-year-old with my Nonna and Mamma. I was always curious to see what was happening in the kitchen. Cooking has always been at the centre of my attention. There is something about it that I love and I guess it is also that food is a way to show your love to other people.
As a 22-year-old, in 2013 I moved to Melbourne to extend my culinary experience over the ocean and by doing so, I also learnt English. In the past few years I have worked/studied as a Chef in Melbourne, successfully obtaining a Diploma in Hospitality Management and experiencing and working in different kitchens from all cultural backgrounds, from Asian to Italian, Spanish to Australian and Latin American.
Last but not least, I dedicated half a year as a butcher learning all the cuts and barbecue techniques, also seeing them in action by taking part in some of the main BBQ competitions in Melbourne.
For me, becoming a private chef was inevitable. Cooking is 'at the heart of Italian Culture'. A way to show love to other people. I love food because it brings people together, stimulates your senses and promotes bonding time.
This is exactly what I intend to provide to my customers.
I learned to cook at home! It is where it all began.
My curiosity, my love for food and cooking for people is second to none.
Visit @eliadonati on Instagram for more
Yes, you can look for Elia Donati on google maps or copy and paste this link to your web browser https://goo.gl/maps/atYDuRLSdVrMku9b6
We offer:
Please, follow the links below:
Website: https://www.eliadonati.com
Google reviews: https://goo.gl/maps/tjcuKHGeKaUFUk4z7
Video of our personal chef experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iX5Amhh-t0&t=8s
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliadonati
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliadonati
November 2023
November 2023
November 2023
November 2023
June 2023
Expert Advice
As a wedding professional, Elia Donati offers expert advice to help couples plan their perfect day. Ask a question or read their expert advice.
Get Expert AdviceDo you charge more for catering on a New Year's Eve wedding?
Would we be looking at surcharges or a different price list for catering if our wedding was on nye?
What do we need to have organised before we book a caterer?
Elia Donati
Food wise, you may need to organise the venue and have a good idea on your budget and the type of service you want. Then with the caterer you can go through all is needed and make sure for your most important day you have everything planned and sorted.
Alternatively, this list may sometimes apply:
- venue
- food type
- service type
- what is needed toset up the room or the tables
- equipment that may be needed for the menu you choose
- number of guests
- dietary requirements
If you want more info, visit https://www.eliadonati.com/info/how-it-works
Signature cocktail ideas to serve our guests during cocktail hour
We love the idea of serving a signature cocktail to our guests as they arrive at our reception. Have you got some interesting ideas as well as the crowd favourites?
Elia Donati
Our signiature cocktails are for sure the Tequila Negroni which is great and intense variation to the classic Negroni or Campari Spritz, bubbly, cold, sweet, fresh, there is everything you need in it!
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Elia Donati
Elia Donati
Hi, thank you for your question.
We do have to charge more and the reasons are mainly because it's a time of the year in which produce costs more, but also because staff members prefer not to work and enjoy the party unless they are paid well. There is more but these are the main factors.
So generally speaking, unlsess it's a small and new caterer who wants to advertise, probably everyone would charge extra for it.
However, it sounds like a really fun plan, we hope you find a way to make it happen! Don't hesitate to contact us if you have further questions. eliadonati.com