Locally recognised events caterer for adult and kids’ parties, weddings and engagements, wakes, he
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17/11/2025
Only 5 Weeks to Christmas Eve!
The countdown is on, and Christmas is closer than you think. If you’re planning a festive gathering, office party or end-of-year celebration, now’s the time to book your catering.
From elegant grazing tables and cocktail canapés to full festive feasts, Catering by Design will take care of the food, setup and service so you can focus on celebrating.
Don’t wait until the silly season rush! Secure your Christmas catering today and let us help you create an event to remember.
16/11/2025
Summer Zucchini and Basil Spaghetti
Light, fragrant, and full of fresh summer flavour, this pasta is the perfect way to make the most of a seasonal glut of zucchini, capturing the fresh flavours of summer in southern Italy.
Known in Italy as “Spaghetti alla Nerano”, it’s a classic Italian dish named after the beach town where it originated, the coastal village of Nerano on the Sorrento Peninsula.
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
• 6 small zucchini (approx ½ a kilo)
• ½ cup light olive oil
• 400 g dried spaghetti
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 50 g butter, chopped
• ½ cup grated Grana Padano or parmesan, plus extra to serve
• 2 cups basil leaves, plus extra to garnish
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Method
1. Slice the zucchini into very thin rounds using a mandoline or sharp knife
2. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
3. Fry the zucchini in batches until lightly golden and place cooked zucchini on a plate, saving the olive oil in the pan to cook the sauce.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente.
5. Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic, and cook gently until fragrant.
6. Return the fried zucchini to the pan, stirring gently to crush some of the zucchini..
7. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of cooking water and drain the spaghetti
8. Add pasta to the zucchini mixture along with half the reserved water, increase the heat to high and toss everything together until the liquid is mostly reduced.
9. Lower the heat, then add the butter, Parmigiano and basil.
10. Toss vigorously with tongs or a wooden spoon until the butter melts and the sauce turns glossy and creamy. Add a little more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
11. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and finish with extra grated Parmigiano, fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.
This pasta pairs beautifully with a crisp glass of chilled white wine or sparkling mineral water infused with lemon and mint. Serve it family-style on a large platter for easy summer entertaining.
What a weekend! 💍
Saturday’s bride was truly the most relaxed and stress-free bride I’ve had in my 38 years of creating weddings.
On the way to the venue her soon-to-be husband had to slam on the brakes — the cake toppled — and she simply sent me a photo saying, “Can you fix this?”
We did! 🙌 The two tiers became one tear on a cake stand, and no guest was any the wiser. Everything came together beautifully for such a fun, love-filled celebration.
Huge congratulations to Bec and Scott — thank you for asking Catering By Design to be part of your amazing day. xx
13/10/2025
Party Decorations That Transform Any Space
Even the simplest venue can be totally transformed with the right décor. At Catering By Design, we go beyond food and drink, creating magical event spaces with:
🌸 Elegant flowers and greenery – from centrepieces to floral arches in your colour theme
💡 Stunning lighting – string lights, lanterns, candles and more
🎈 Beautiful balloons – delivered and inflated onsite so you can stay stress-free
💍 Wedding décor – tailored designs that bring your vision to life
🎶 Music and entertainment – from classical quartets to DJs, we’ll set the perfect vibe
When you book with us, you’re not just getting catering. You’re getting a full experience designed to make your event unforgettable.
📞 Contact Karin on 0412 269 049 to find out more about our complete event packages.
08/10/2025
Fresh strawberries on top, silky jelly-infused cream inside, and a golden pastry shell holding it all together. With strawberries in season, this tart is light, luscious and the ultimate spring showstopper.
Perfect for sharing… if you’re willing to!
Fresh Strawberry Tart with Strawberry Jelly Cream Filling
Ingredients
Cheesecake
200 g cream cheese, softened
½ cup thickened cream
2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
85 g packet strawberry jelly crystals (powder)
½ cup boiling water
¼ cup cold water
Topping
400 g fresh strawberries (2 punnets) , washed, hulled and halved
½ cup strawberry jam
1 tbsp water
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C
Grease a tart tin and line with pastry, pricking the base with a fork.
Bake for 20-25 mins until golden, remove from the oven and cool.
While the tart base is baking, dissolve jelly crystals in boiling water, stir until fully dissolved, then add cold water and allow to cool slightly.
Beat cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Slowly add the cooled liquid jelly, mixing until combined.
Fold in whipped cream to create a light, airy texture.
Pour filling into the cooled tart shell and refrigerate until set (about 2–3 hours).
Arrange halved strawberries on top of the set filling.
Heat jam and water in a small pan until melted and smooth and brush gently over strawberries for a glossy finish.
Serve chilled
06/10/2025
This or that - Cheese Platter OR Dessert Table?
Do you lean savoury or sweet when it comes to celebrating?
Would you prefer to end a meal with a perfectly styled cheese and meat platter overflowing with artisan cheeses, crackers and fruit…
OR
A dessert table stacked with cookies, cakes, tarts and bite-sized treats?
At Catering By Design, we say why not both?
Because every great event deserves options that bring joy to every guest.
As the days get longer and the sun warms up Pittwater, there’s no better way to elevate your event than out on the water.
“Double Vision” Seawind 1000 is an incredibly impressive and versatile luxury 33 foot catamaran…the ideal venue for your next corporate event, small wedding, birthday party or any private gathering.
Bringing together breathtaking views, salty air and a relaxed elegance, holding an event on a catamaran transforms any gathering into something unforgettable.
Whether it’s a corporate event, milestone celebration, or just a gathering of friends, our catamaran sets the tone for magical memories.
From the very first birthday to the 100th, every milestone in life deserves a table filled with flavour and joy.
At Catering By Design, we create menus that bring people together for:
🎂 Birthdays big and small
💍 Engagements and weddings
💐 Anniversaries, from silver to diamond
👶 Baby showers and gender reveals
🙏 Christenings and naming days
🎓 Graduations
🌅 Retirement parties
🏡 Housewarmings
✈️ Farewell and welcome home gatherings
Whatever the occasion, we believe every celebration should be remembered for the food, the laughter, and the people around the table.
“Karin and her team were thoughtful, considerate and went above and beyond in making the day stress-free and memorable for our family.
“Thank you!!”
Renee
5 star Google review
Hi Renee,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was such a pleasure to cater for your dad’s birthday celebration. I’m thrilled to hear that you and your family felt spoilt by our service and that the day was both stress-free and memorable.
Kerry and Julie were so touched by your kind words – they always strive to go above and beyond, and I’m glad they helped make the occasion extra special.
Thank you again for trusting us with such an important celebration. I hope we can work together again in the future!
Warm regards,
Karin
Catering by Design
18/09/2025
Office & Corporate Catering – Time to Book Now
The busiest season of the year is here. Melbourne Cup lunches and Christmas parties are filling up fast, and now is the time to secure your catering.
From elegant grazing platters and canapés to full sit-down menus, Catering By Design makes it easy to celebrate in style. We handle the details so your team can relax and enjoy the moment.
Let’s make your end-of-year event one to remember.
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Contact The Business
Send a message to Catering By Design - Without Love, It's Just Food:
We are Catering By Design — a locally recognised events caterer for adult and kids’ parties, weddings and engagements, wakes, hen’s day and buck’s night, baptism/christening, baby showers, bridal showers and corporate functions.
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Offering full service catering across the Northern Beaches and beyond, our purpose is to create the perfect event. We do this by preparing delicious food presented by experienced wait staff who understand that their role is to be of service to you and your guests.
We believe it is our job to make you look good and enjoy the event as if you were a guest yourself.
The best way we can support you is to have a conversation, ask questions and become clear on what you want — supporting your budget, location, theme and time of year.
What we plan together, we will deliver!
Our business is relationship based and we believe that creating a wonderful event works best by having actual conversations. As much as we use technology, it is far more effective to actually talk with each other.
Contact us, our job is to take away stress and let you enjoy your event.
