Real Paella Catering is a family-owned paella caterer founded in 2006 by Valencia-born chef Juan Ten Boquera, serving all of North Florida. We cook authentic Spanish paella on-site, or deliver it hot, for weddings, corporate events and private parties across North and Central Florida, from Pensacola to Jacksonville and the Tampa Bay area. Here is everything you need to plan, in one place.
How pricing works
Every event gets a custom quote based on:
- Guest count: from 15 guests in Leon County (Tallahassee) and 50 guests anywhere else in Florida, up to 1,000 guests.
- Cooked on-site or delivered: on-site cooking is a live show for your guests; delivery is cooked fresh and brought hot in disposable trays.
- Menu: which paellas you choose, plus optional salad, tapas, dessert and sangria.
- Extras: plates and utensils (compostable, or porcelain and stainless steel rentals), servers for plated service, bartending and live music.
- Location: which of our service regions your event is in.
The fastest way to a price is our online quote request. Pick your region, tell us your date and guest count, and our catering team sends a custom quote.
Service areas
- Northwest Florida: Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach, 30A, Panama City and Apalachicola. Call 850-980-1650
- North Central Florida: Tallahassee and Thomasville, GA. Call 850-980-1650
- Northeast Florida: Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville and Palm Coast. Call 904-834-1312
- Central & Gulf Coast: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Wesley Chapel. Call 813-419-3798
What to expect on the day
- Setup to serving takes about 2 hours. Invite guests early: watching the paella cook is part of the fun.
- We need a flat outdoor area of at least 10′ x 10′ (more for larger parties) and direct access for our truck and trailer.
- No kitchen, water or electricity is needed. We always bring a tent in case of rain; if it is unsafe to cook outside, we bring the meal cooked and ready to serve.
- Paella is served straight from the pan buffet-style, or plated to tables with servers. Leftovers stay with you.
Food
- Albufera rice, saffron and smoked paprika imported from Spain; fresh local ingredients; never processed.
- Our paella is naturally gluten-free and contains no MSG. We accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions, including shellfish allergies, and offer a vegan paella.
- Most popular wedding menu: paella mixta, Spanish salad, tapas, dessert and sangria.
- Parties under 40 guests can choose up to two types of paella; larger parties have no limit.
- We cannot offer tastings because every paella is cooked fresh for each event. Our customer reviews speak for the food.
Booking and payment
- Your date is confirmed with an online contract signed electronically and a deposit. Deposits are non-refundable; there is no separate cancellation fee.
- Orders can be changed up to 72 hours before the event.
- The final payment is due on the event day by check, cash or money order, or by credit card with a 5% surcharge.
- We meet all U.S. FDA Food Code inspection standards with no violations.
Bartending and music
We hold a liquor, wine and beer license. Bar service includes 4 hours of service, bar setup, garnish and mixer packages, a beverage table, dispensers, non-alcoholic drinks and one bartender per 50 guests, and no catering order is required. For music, choose flamenco guitar, a flamenco band, classical guitar or Latin jazz.
Still have questions? Read our full FAQ or call 850-980-1650. We answer 24/7.