Frequently Asked Questions

Full-service catering means Deborah Miller Catering & Events handles every aspect of the culinary experience. This includes menu design, hot and cold food preparation on-site, professional service staff, rentals, bar service, and on-site coordination. Our goal is to ensure your event runs seamlessly so you can focus on your guests.

At Deborah Miller Catering & Events we set food and beverage minimums to maintain consistent quality, proper staffing levels, and a seamless service experience for every event. Full-service events that include staffing begin at $3,000 and drop-off service begins at $1,500.

Yes, Deborah Miller Catering & Events holds a New York State liquor license and provides bar service; for each event we apply for the temporary day of caterer’s liquor permit required by New York State. Our customizable bar catering includes beer, wine, and spirits, with a full beverage program curated to feature locally sourced and regional selections. Bar service is tailored to each event and designed to complement the menu, with an emphasis on thoughtful sourcing and specialty cocktails to create a cohesive, high-quality guest experience.

Yes. As a full-service caterer, we coordinate all necessary staffing and rentals, including chefs, servers, bartenders, tables, chairs, linens, glassware, and specialty equipment. We also work closely with venues and vendors to streamline logistics and reduce stress for our clients.

Deobrah Miller Catering & Events is not a certified kosher caterer. However, we can accommodate kosher-style menus. Additionally, we can arrange a small percentage of fully kosher meals with our kosher certified vendor when requested.

A COI is a Certificate of Insurance. Most venues and building management companies require a COI to confirm that we carry active insurance and are authorized to operate in their space. We regularly provide COIs for events and handle this process directly once venue details are confirmed.

Deborah Miller Catering & Events produces events across a wide range of venues throughout New York City, including white-box and industrial spaces, historic venues and cultural institutions, office buildings and common areas, private homes and apartments, as well as rooftops and outdoor locations. Our team is experienced in adapting to different layouts, access requirements, and on-site limitations to ensure smooth execution at every venue. Explore some of our favorite venues!

For drop-off (delivery) we suggest at least 5 business days’ notice. For full-service events we suggest 3-4 weeks of planning. If we need to apply for a liquor permit, New York State requires a minimum of 15 business days. For shorter timelines, we may be able to assist, so please still reach out!  For complex or large events, we recommend booking earlier to secure preferred dates, rentals, and staffing.

Our menus are seasonally driven, globally inspired, and tailored to your event type and guest needs. We prioritize local farms and artisanal purveyors, and design balanced menus that translate to plated dinners, stations, passed hors d’oeuvres or drop-off packages. If you have a theme, regional preference, or ingredient you love, we’ll build it into the menu. Explore Sample Menus.

Absolutely! We regularly accommodate gluten-free, dairy‑free, vegan and vegetarian diets as well as common allergies (nuts, shellfish, etc.). Dietary needs are integrated into our menu planning so every guest can enjoy the food safely. Please flag all allergies and special diets when you book, and we’ll build clear guest labeling.

Yes. Deborah Miller Catering & Events regularly supports large-scale, high-profile events and productions across New York City, including fashion, media, and corporate activations. Our team is experienced in managing tight timelines, complex logistics, and high guest volumes while maintaining quality and service.

Deborah Miller Catering & Events provides catering services throughout New York City and the surrounding tri-state area, with the ability to travel for select destination events. We regularly cater in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, Long Island, The Hudson Valley, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut.

/We offer delivery through our drop-off catering service. Our team offers to bring the food to your location, set it up for service, and then depart so you’re ready to host. Items arrive in sustainable, compostable packaging and are designed to be fully guest-ready upon arrival. For those who’d rather style things themselves, we can deliver to the door and let you take the lead on designing and setting up your own buffet.
We do not offer pick-up from our commissary kitchen.

Yes. Sustainability is a core part of how we operate. We use compostable paper goods and sustainable packaging whenever possible, and our culinary team practices root-to-stem cooking, using every part of an ingredient to reduce food waste. These practices are integrated into both full-service and drop-off events. About us!

Yes. We can coordinate décor and florals for your event and work with some of the top vendors in New York City. Whether you want full event design or just finishing touches, we’ll align flowers, linens, rentals and styling to the menu and overall event rhythm. Coordinating décor through your caterer reduces miscommunication and keeps production timelines tight.

Deborah Miller is the founder and creative force behind Deborah Miller Catering & Events. A lifelong New Yorker and entrepreneur, she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and opened Deb’s, a beloved café in lower Manhattan that helped pioneer the city’s early farm-to-table movement. As its reputation grew, so did demand, transforming that tiny neighborhood storefront into the full-service boutique catering and events company she leads today! Deborah remains deeply involved in every aspect of the business and still calls downtown New York home, and on occasion, she enjoys stopping by events herself to connect with clients and guests. Meet more of the team!