Too often, food at a cocktail is only a pretext: trays going round, lukewarm bites, guests nibbling absent-mindedly. With Prémices, the chef turns an ordinary moment into an experience people still talk about the next day.
From standing cocktail to cocktail dinner, one standard.
The cocktail is the most flexible format in event gastronomy. It can last 45 minutes or four hours, welcome twenty friends or two hundred colleagues, precede a seated dinner or be the only culinary highlight. That flexibility makes it the favourite choice for birthdays, launches, corporate evenings, private receptions and galas.
Prémices covers the whole spectrum. The classic standing cocktail is built around hot and cold pieces, verrines, bites and miniatures, carefully measured in number and quality so nobody leaves hungry. The cocktail dinner goes further: themed stations replace individual plates, guests move freely and compose their own moment, in a relaxed conviviality that naturally encourages conversation.
In both cases our chefs prepare on site. Nothing comes out of a transport fridge or a reheated tray. Textures are preserved because they were never altered by transport, temperatures are right because dishes are plated to order, and the freshness is immediately noticeable to your guests. It sets our cocktails in Paris apart from almost every cocktail caterer on the market.
Every format, from aperitif to full cocktail dinner.
The cocktail lunch is a popular format for daytime professional events, combining the efficiency of a quick meal with the conviviality of a standing buffet. The aperitif cocktail, shorter, often introduces a seated dinner or a dancing evening. The full cocktail dinner stands on its own and can last three to four hours, with a culinary density comparable to a seated meal.
Our cocktail menus always include options for specific diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal. These are handled discreetly in the kitchen, so the guests concerned never have to stand out from the group. For first budget reference points, see our pricing page before requesting a personalised quote.
Live cooking: the touch that turns a cocktail into an experience.
The live cooking station has become one of the most appreciated and memorable features of high-end cocktails. Simple in form, demanding in execution: the chef prepares a series of bites or a centrepiece live in front of guests, who watch, ask questions and take in the gesture. Cooking becomes a show.
A hand-cut tartare station, a board of aged cheeses presented by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France cheesemonger, maki rolled by hand by a Japanese chef, verrines assembled minute by minute: so many moments that create a shared memory among your guests. The staging matters as much as the food: a slate board, handmade ceramic bowls, careful lighting, a chef in an immaculate jacket. These details instantly signal that this is no ordinary caterer.
We select our live cooking chefs on two equally important criteria: technical level and ease with people. A live cooking chef can hold a conversation, make his choices accessible and adapt to an audience he does not know. The profile is rare; we look for it, test it and approve it with care.
"A wonderful experience for a business dinner for eight. The chef and maître d'hôtel duo was flawless and the menu of great quality. Highly recommended." Amélie Quidor, HR Director, Bouygues Construction
How your cocktail unfolds.
Step 1. You define the format
Standing cocktail, cocktail dinner, live cooking or a combination. Number of guests, duration, venue, atmosphere and occasion. We call you back quickly to refine the details.
Step 2. We build the culinary programme
Choice of the right chef for your register, selection of cocktail pieces, set-up of stations for live cooking. Every menu is designed for the flow of your event, its duration and the season.
Step 3. The chef composes in front of your guests
He arrives early, sets up his stations and prepares live throughout the cocktail. Your guests eat fresh, watch him work and talk with him. They remember it.
Where can it take place?
In your own space or in one of our partner venues in Paris: Le Jardin des Bauches (Paris 16th, up to 50 guests), Hôtel Particulier Wagram (Paris 8th, up to 200 guests) and Maison Rapp (Paris 7th, up to 15 guests). See all our exceptional venues.
See also corporate catering, catering for 50 guests and culinary entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cocktail dinner and a classic standing cocktail?
The classic standing cocktail is an extended aperitif: light pieces over one to two hours, often before a seated dinner or a party. The cocktail dinner is a full standing meal with more generous themed stations, lasting two to four hours. Culinary density and volume per guest are significantly different.
How many cocktail pieces per guest?
It depends on the duration, the time of day and whether a meal comes before or after. For a one-hour aperitif cocktail, count five to eight pieces per guest. For a classic two-hour standing cocktail, eight to twelve. For a full cocktail dinner that replaces a meal, fifteen to eighteen pieces per guest, with more generous formats and hot stations. We calibrate quantities precisely in the quote so nobody leaves hungry.
Are drinks included?
The Prémices service covers the culinary side: cooking on site, plating and serving the bites. Drinks can be included on request, or handled by you or a bartending supplier. Both options are set out in the quote.
How much space does a live cooking station need?
A live cooking station fits in four to six square metres, including the work table and room for guests. Our chefs bring their own equipment and adapt to the venue. We assess feasibility in the first conversation.
How long does a Prémices cocktail usually last?
An aperitif cocktail usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour and a half, a classic standing cocktail an hour and a half to two and a half hours, and a full cocktail dinner two and a half to four hours. These are guidelines: we build the culinary rhythm around the progression you want for your event.
Planning a cocktail? Describe your event and receive a tailored quote within 24 hours.