About Us

Smashing Expectations

At Smashing Dishes, great food is just the start. As a full-service catering company, we go way beyond the menu to create one-of-a-kind event experiences. We’ve been smashing events since 2009, proudly serving San Jose and the entire Bay Area. No matter what kind of event you’re planning, we’re ready to shatter your event expectations.

Why Smashing Dishes?

There are many factors that you consider when hiring a caterer. Of course, you want great food and service! But just as important is finding the right partner who will truly support your vision and values. At Smashing Dishes, we deliberately set out to be the company that you feel good about working with. Our three pillars of service are:

Service Integrity

Our leadership team and core staff are in alignment with doing the right thing on behalf of our clients, even when nobody is watching.
We Want You to Be Successful

We strive to understand your challenges and pain points so we can offer solutions to help you achieve your goals.
Our Culture

We created a great place to work by treating our employees fairly, offering opportunities for growth and taking their feedback seriously.

people sitting at round tables set up in outside patio

Meet Your Team

Amazing events are only possible with an amazing team. Our dedicated, professional staff make everything we do possible.

Tony

Founder and Executive Chef

Aside from fatherhood, leading Smashing Dishes and Tony Caters is truly the greatest adventure of my life. Hospitality and event catering are my true passion. No day is the same as the one before, and successfully navigating the unexpected for our clients gives me a thrill and a sense of honor.

I’m a rare third-generation Silicon Valley native, born and raised right here in San Jose in my mom’s incredible and abundant home kitchen. I graduated from Santa Clara University and pursued my first career in technology public relations before jumping ship in 2005 for culinary school and entrepreneurship. My diverse experiences and background have uniquely prepared me to help our clients achieve their goals and become stars in the eyes of their guests, as I love to say.

I’ve literally never seen my son (then 5 years old) beam so greatly from ear to ear than when I answered his question, “Daddy, are you the boss of your work?” One day, he’ll understand the stress and controlled chaos…maybe because he’ll be in charge.

SUPERPOWER:

Calm in the chaos. Everyone says I seem cool as a cucumber at our events, but we all know the truth.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY:

Producing our first multi-thousand guest event. Wild! Large events are like helming a cruise ship vs. driving a speedboat, and I’ll meet you on the Lido deck for a mai tai.
Linda

General Manager

I’m a Bay Area native with a passion for fostering company culture and helping others hone their potential. What I enjoy most about my position is being able to enact real change within our organization. By integrating Tony’s vision and assisting my colleagues, together we clear roadblocks to progress while tapping into our considerable skill and strengths.

I take pride in knowing we collectively stand by our company values. We’re passionate about what we do, remain flexible, and act with integrity at all times. Inspiring trust within the industry and our clients, we build confidence with our high efficiency and have the courage to be honest.

SUPERPOWER: Reading the room.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY: The day Tony had us taste his from-scratch, dairy-free, gluten-free cashew cream sauce. It was absolutely AH-MAZING; he smashed that!
Tani

Sales Manager

Generations of my family have been in hospitality, ingraining it into my core. My maternal great-grandparents were Japanese immigrants who owned a restaurant in the 1950s and 1960s. My paternal grandparents also operated a cafe in Santa Clara through the 2000s.

In the catering industry, I get to be “a piece of the puzzle” and help guests feel good in their milestone celebrations. It started with one of my first college courses: Create a Meaningful Life. This class inspired me to search for a career where I get both intrinsic satisfaction from the work and foster lasting client relationships.

When I am not helping clients develop perfect events, you can find me re-reading Harry Potter or adventuring with my husband and our pup, Eko!

SUPERPOWER: My superpower is my ability to relate to and communicate with our clients. I enjoy hearing our clients get excited about the type of event they’re envisioning, and I want to help them bring that vision into reality.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY: My favorite company memory is getting to attend Catersource 2023 with a few members of the Tony Caters team. Catersource is an annual convention for the catering, events, and planning industries, and it was a bucket list experience for me. Now I am hoping that I can make it to other industry-related conventions, like the National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) convention!
Vanessa

Operations Manager

I grew up as a restaurant kid, hopping from one family restaurant to another before my mom started her own in 1988. I would always be at the restaurant on the weekends and during school breaks, playing with my sister on the patio or watching movies in the small play area my mom made for us. The summer I turned 13, I got my first genuine working experience. I was put in the dish pit to help the dishwasher. When I asked my mom why she put me to work there, she explained to me that it was important to learn every position in the restaurant so I would have respect for all the positions and see how they all support the restaurant to run smoothly. I definitely got my passion for the culinary industry from my family, but it wasn’t till after I moved back from NYC that I realized it was a career I wanted to pursue. My adventure with the Tony Caters/Smashing Dishes family started in 2022. It has truly been a great learning experience, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

SUPERPOWER:

Patience. I have the ability to wait without becoming annoyed, upset, or frustrated.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY:

It was my second event working for the company, and I was scheduled to be an expo cook for a station we call Fire & Ice. I remember being so nervous to do this station because I was in charge of the fire part of it. The event starts, and I have a group of about 15 people in front of me watching my every move. Then the flame comes up high, and they start to clap. I was so relieved and proud of myself. Since then, it has been one of my favorite stations that we offer.
Joshua

Sales Executive

As a 20-year veteran of the special events industry, I’ve amassed quite a few experiences. My personal favorite has to be the time I was working on a pet charity gala, and a rescue pup decided to relieve itself on my shoe. But that’s just one example of the unpredictable nature of my work.

Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in planning and executing events for renowned organizations such as Rolex, Boeing, Bloomingdales, Google, Chevrolet, State Farm, TikTok, and Microsoft.

My journey includes managing a catering company, event planning for a SaaS company, and being a creative director and catering director. In these roles, I honed my skills in consultative sales and event planning. I’ve learned the ropes of handling events of every size.

SUPERPOWER:

I am often the quietest person in the room. It’s a deliberate choice rooted in my genuine enjoyment of listening and observing. This inclination, coupled with my patience, becomes a distinguishing factor in my ability to craft unforgettable events for my clients.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY:

Frequently, we encounter clients seeking assistance across all facets of event planning. One memorable instance involved collaborating with Boeing. When they approached us, all they had was a vision and a theme. This presented an exciting opportunity for me to exercise creative freedom, bringing in our favorite vendors and collaborating with our chef to craft a unique menu. The result was an unforgettable event.
Rebecca

Logistics Specialist

I’ve spent the last 20 years supporting mid- to senior-level executives, ensuring their days run smoothly and efficiently. Beyond my professional life, my passions lie in both the fine arts and the culinary arts. I’ve had the privilege of working with Tony Caters for over four years, and I’m thrilled about how my role is evolving with Smashing Dishes. I’m a true enthusiast for organization and enjoy wearing many hats. Surprisingly, I rarely get stressed, and I consider myself a multitasking superstar.

As a foodie, I love trying new things and traveling with my husband and our seven-year-old daughter. I’ll try any food once, and while my daughter is still learning to explore new flavors, she already possesses the palate of a 30-year-old foodie. My journey at Smashing Dishes promises exciting challenges and opportunities, and I’m looking forward to every moment of it.

SUPERPOWER:

Sleep. I’m consistently able to sleep 8+ hours per night, without fail.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY:

My favorite memory is the pride I felt on March 15, 2020. In a time when our catering business was reeling from the sudden cancellations, “Tony’s To Go” provided us with a glimmer of hope. Tony’s initiative was a testament to his leadership and commitment to the team. I felt immense gratitude for his foresight and willingness to adapt to the challenging circumstances.
Lupe

Production Specialist

Being a first-generation Mexican American, I’ve faced and overcome many challenges and obstacles. Growing up in San Jose, CA, my parents paved the way for my brothers, sisters, and me. They started by working at the Berryessa Flea Market, followed by running a fruit stand off of Zanker Road, and eventually settling down and running restaurants with my late sister Maria Elena.

During COVID, I was given the opportunity to work for Tony at Tony Caters, and now for Smashing Dishes. This has been one of the most fulfilling careers of my life because I sincerely enjoy making clients happy at our events.

My passion for cooking, great hospitality, and guest interaction have led me to this industry. And now working with Tony, I’m able to thrive along with my extended work family. I am looking forward to learning new things and improving my professional skills.

SUPERPOWER: My passion for cooking and great hospitality.

FAVORITE COMPANY MEMORY: My first event working as an event lead for a client on the Peninsula. The client was so pleased with my service that he reached out to Tony and requested me for the next day’s event.