The cat's out of the bag--we've been named "Best Caterer in Santa Barbara" by the Santa Barbara Independent for the 14th year in a row. Our whole team is blown away by this honor, especially as we're just getting back into the swing of things after two crazy pandemic years. Our business has grown so much from 2009 to 2022, and we're so proud to still be providing the excellent food, warm service, and spectacular event planning that deserves accolades like these.
Our founder and executive chef, Lynette La Mere, has this to say about the achievement:
"Did winning Best Of have any special significance after the pandemic? Pure Joy Catering owner Lynette La Mere said, 'Absolutely! We’ve basically had to rebuild the whole company from the ground up all over again, build a whole new team, and train them — and it’s been a remarkable experience. We really are better than ever before, and this is a fantastic acknowledgment of that. Thank you for standing behind small businesses and helping us survive this. Since the pandemic, we’ve had the opportunity to hire some really great women and help them thrive, and it’s a dream for me. Business is way better than ever. We’re getting to do some really exceptional and spectacular events; it’s very exciting.'"
Close to a fourth of a million people voted in this year's Best Of Poll, the Independent's highest numbers ever. The support from our past clients and community members means the world to us. It's not easy running a small business, but moments like this make it feel as sweet as one of our crispy churros dipped in warm, silky chocolate sauce.
Here's to all of the other winners, and to 14 more PJC Best Ofs in our future!