Luxury Chocolate Tartlets
Wedding Dress Photography
Champagne Flutes

    T
he Abbey Catering & Event Design Company was founded many years ago and has since become the most sought after, catering to full service, event production company in the San Diego and Orange County area. Specializing in gourmet catering services and all inclusive party packages, The Abbey takes care of every detail.

Known for a commitment to quality, service, and presentation, The Abbey provides the perfect setting for your event. Exactly this is what has awarded The Abbey the reputation of "Best of the Best".

Along with our quest for perfection, we have a firm belief in giving back and supporting many worthy charitable causes and organizations in our community, from Los Angeles to San Diego. A sample of our 2009 recipients include Mama's Kitchen of San Diego, Sullivan's Children Foundation, APICAP, various San Diego Womens' Shelters, SPCA, San Diego Breast Cancer Walk, San Diego AIDS Walk, and more. If you have a non-profit organization and would like to be considered for our annual charitable contribution budget, please forward an email to donations@theabbeycatering.com.

Be sure to visit The Abbey Blog (www.theabbeycatering.com/blog) to learn more about what we're up to!

Any further questions may be answered through our contact page or our Privacy Policy.

Meet Our Friendly San Diego Catering Staff

Rob Leszewski - Senior Wedding & Events ConsultantRob Leszewski - Senior Wedding & Events Consultant
I have been in the business ever since my own wedding. After going through the whole process of getting married, my wife and I grew a close bond with The Abbey Catering and everything that went along with it. I had the wonderful opportunity to do something that was so very gratifying I couldn’t pass it up. So now my days are mostly spent trying to help our clients “vision become a reality.” I cannot describe enough the pleasure I get from my job and helping others. Although the process typically starts with me, I am just a small piece of what accompanies every Abbey event from the smallest corporate event to the largest of weddings. I guess the only issue I face is that my wife gets a little jealous I get to go to weddings every weekend. So sometimes I bring her along. A win, win!

Jesika Leszewski-Grove - Sales DirectorJesika Leszewski-Grove - Executive Director
Since childhood, Jesika’s passion for weddings and events has been evident.   At the young age of 12, Jesika single-handedly orchestrated her sister’s entire wedding and realized that this was her dream.  At the age of 16, she became a young entrepreneur and started up her own company in Event Design creating Dream Weddings for all her clients.  After four years, Jesika decided to continue advancing her skills and teamed with 3 of San Diego Navy Bases where she specialized in planning weddings, officer functions and galas.  In 2006, Jesika continued her career by working in Executive Sales for the owner of a Fine Dining Caterer in La Jolla before joining The Abbey as Executive Director. 

As Executive Director for The Abbey Catering and Event Design, Jesika-along with the entire Abbey Team, is here to assist every client with executing the perfect event and providing an uncompromising level of quality, and ensuring the highest level of service and support!

Robert BaRobert Battoe - Wedding & Events Consultant
Robert was a boy when he first realized his passion for entertaining people and keeping them smiling. After spending his college years studying Fine Art , Robert moved to NYC and became involved in the Fashion Industry. Working for over 10 years as a stylist he honed his skills for tending to the needs of his high profile clientle. While continueing his work, Robert assisted a friend on planning an event for a boutique opening and found that with his background it was a natural fit. After moving to San Diego in 2004, Robert got the oppurtunity to work with the Abbey as an event server. Within a few months he was Captaining events and is now one of the Abbey's Event Coordiators. With several years and many happy clients, Robert is sure to make your day - spectacular!
Petr Trebin - Special Events Coordinator

Petr Trebin -Executive Event Coordinator
Petr Trebin was born and raised in the capital city of Czech Republic, Prague.  In 1996 Petr graduated from SOU Klanovice with a degree in Hospitality Management with a Minor in Russian, German, and English languages.  With his professional eye to detail and organization skills, his event planning career began twelve years ago as a hotel restaurant manager in Prague.  Petr came to The Abbey Catering & Event Design Company in 2002 where he has successfully coordinated numerous events.  Petr’s many interests include traveling, language and cultural studies, snowboarding, music, and reading.  You can be at ease with Petr’s efficiency, accountability, and charm when planning your next event.

Matt Berardi - ChefMatt Berardi - Sous Chef
Matt Berardi has been working in the culinary field all his life. The reason why? He simply loves to entertain. Matt graduated from The Academy of Culinary Arts as a certified chef with a culinary arts degree. His experience varies from working as a personal chef, restaurant manager, and catering chef/captain. Matt came to the Abbey Catering & Event Design in 2008 and has combined his skills to help out where ever and whenever. Along with his culinary degree he also is a certified personal trainer. Matt loves making healthy food taste good, and always can offer a healthy option to your menu design. You never know what his next move is, but he always makes it happen!
Julia Ibarra - Kitchen ManagerJulia Ibarra - Kitchen Manager
She's the queen of clean. Managing to keep up after a 24 hour operation like The Abbey isn't easy, but she makes it look like a breeze. Julia oversees organization and cleaning of all inventory and property. Think your kitchen cabinet multiplied by about 3000. That's no short order, and somehow she even manages to keep her hair in place.
Cesar Lizarraga - Warehouse ManagerCesar Lizarraga - Warehouse Manager
A farm boy hailing from Mazatlan, Mexico, Cesar is the man with the answers at The Abbey. Where are those funky martini glasses? Where do we keep a thousand square plates? Is this a dinner fork or a salad fork? Cesar's job is to know exactly where all of The Abbey's tens of thousands of pieces of inventory are at any minute, as well as make sure the right stuff shows up at the right place, and always at the right time.
Scott Huettl - ControllerScott Huettl - Controller
Scott took his first course in accounting when Jimmy Carter was President, and has been at it ever since. A Certified Public Accountant formerly licensed to practice in Minnesota, Scott moved to San Diego for the improved weather. Scott comes from a large family, and has been to many weddings. He understands that each one is unique and memorable. By the way, Scott's last name rhymes with vittles. We are the Huettl's, and we like our vittles!

Derick Dorner - C.I.O.Kevin Burns - Project Coordinator
As one of the newest members of The Abbey Team, and resident office ninja, Kevin works behind the scenes to help make everything run smooth. You may only hear from him from time to time, or maybe even only catch a glimpse of him in passing, but he is there, in the shadows. He is taking his experience in project management, his love of technology and a willingness to pitch in, to help The Abbey expand even further.
Derick Dorner - C.I.O.Derick Dorner - C.I.O. / Partner
Don’t call me if your blackberry is not working.  You may only see me when I'm fixing your technology, but I actually do a lot more than that here at The Abbey Catering & Event Design, a catering and event design company specializing in catering and event design in San Diego County, California.  One of those things is search engine optimization which I just did when you weren’t looking. As a matter of fact, most of my job happens when you’re not looking.
Zapher Dajani - Managing PartnerZapher Dajani - Founder
Hospitality is in my DNA, I just really enjoy hearing how we made someone's evening special or did something unexpected and great. Years ago, when The Abbey was just a fledgling, I spent long days and nights working hard to create unique services measured to a higher bar. Today, I spend my days making sure those high standards The Abbey is founded on are still in place. Moving forward and doing new, exciting services while working with great clients is where my fun comes from. I think our company motto really expresses it best, "What's your vision?".
 
Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau
The Abbey Link Exchange Network
The Abbey Catering & Event Design Company
3045 Rosecrans Street, Suite 209
San Diego, California 92110
T: 866 535 8949 | F: 619 955 8676
events@theabbeycatering.com
© 2010 The Abbey Catering Company