A Relaxed Summer Birthday Party for Guests in SW London

2 days ago

2 min read

Luis wanted a relaxed, informal event for 40/50 guests. We decided to do a buffet display on his kitchen island — plenty of delicious food for guests to help themselves to, without the evening feeling too formal or structured. The menu was designed around easy-to-eat Italian favourites, with a mixture of vegetarian dishes, meat, seafood, pizza and something sweet to finish.

The Buffet

The menu included:

60 Vegetarian Arancini di Riso with spicy tomato dip
60 Mini Caprese Skewers with baby mozzarella, cherry tomato and basil
60 Arancini di Riso with Ragù
60 Seasonal Vegetable Frittata Cubes
40 Beef Meatball Skewers with spicy tomato dip
40 King Prawn & Mozzarella Skewers with cherry tomato and Italian herbs
60 Burrata Bruschetta finished with balsamic

Alongside the smaller bites, we provided:

3 large Antipasto Platters
3 large Vegetarian Antipasto Platters
Focaccia Bread with sea salt & rosemary and tomato & onion
Gluten-Free Rustic Focaccia

Fresh Pizza Later in the Evening

As the party continued, the pizzas were delivered separately later in the evening so they arrived fresh, lovely and warm.

Luis chose:

3 trays of Margherita Pizza al Taglio
3 trays of Pepperoni Pizza al Taglio

Each tray was cut into 24 slices, making the pizza perfect for guests to share as the evening continued.

Something Sweet

To finish, we created a selection of individual desserts:

60 Mini Tiramisù
30 Mini Lemon & Pistachio Cheesecakes
30 Mini Brownies with strawberry and Nutella

Drinks & Service

Luis provided all the drinks himself, while our waiter looked after the drinks service, making and serving cocktails throughout the party.

We also provided an additional helper later in the evening, allowing Luis and his guests to simply relax and enjoy themselves.

Waiter service
Additional helper
Delivery & collection

Food: £2,115.50 Staffing: £415 Delivery & collection: £50

Total catering cost: £2,580.50

Approximately £50 per guest

What Luis Said

★★★★★

“Pappa Ciccia Catering made my 40th birthday celebration absolutely perfect. From the moment I got in touch, Shelly was incredibly helpful, guiding me through the menu and giving expert advice on the best food options for my guests. Her support made the planning effortless. On the day, Davide was simply exceptional — professional, friendly, attentive, and an absolute joy to have at the party. A true 10 out of 10. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and the service was flawless. I couldn’t have asked for a better catering team. Highly recommended.”

Luis — 40th Birthday Celebration, London