Catering to You in Silicon Valley
At Tony Caters, we love what we do. We know everyone says that but we actually mean it.
With San Jose as home, we cater to companies and individuals in the entire San Francisco Bay area.
Our goal is always to make your meeting or special event as easy as possible, both in planning and the actual party itself.
How do we do this? By treating you individually. Connecting with you as a person.
Which means we’re people too. Here’s more about us:
Tony Santos,
Founder & CEO
Aside from fatherhood, Tony Caters is truly the great adventure of my life. Hospitality and event catering are my true passion. No day is the same as the one before, and successfully navigating the unexpected for our clients gives me a thrill and a sense of honor.
I’m a rare 3rd generation Silicon Valley native, born and raised right here in San Jose in my mom’s incredible and abundant home kitchen. I graduated from Santa Clara University and pursued a first career in technology public relations before jumping ship in 2005 for culinary school and entrepreneurship. My diverse experiences and background have uniquely prepared me to help our clients achieve their goals and become stars in the eyes of their guests, as I love to say.
I’ve literally never seen my son (then 5 years old) beam so greatly from ear to ear when I answered his question, “Daddy, are you the boss of your work?” One day he’ll understand the stress and controlled chaos of wearing all those hats. Hopefully, because he’ll be the new boss.
In my spare time, my wife and I enjoy volunteering in our son’s classroom, and quick getaways around northern California and beyond.
Tani Quinata,
Sales Manager
My passion for the catering and event industry was definitely an unexpected career turn, yet in hindsight, a very natural transition. My journey in the food and beverage industry began at 16 with working at a pizzeria owned by a neighborhood friend; I haven’t looked back since.
I graduated from the San Jose State hospitality program in 2014 and was serving in restaurants part-time to get me through college. Shortly after graduating, I landed at a family-owned Italian wine bar in Los Gatos, and what began as a server/shift lead position quickly grew into the general manager role. Little did I know that my love for bringing people together in that small wine bar would have a lasting impact on my career path.
Since then, my roles have shifted from restaurants and food & beverage to big-picture thinking in the catering and special events industry. From event agencies to venue-based businesses, I’ve enjoyed learning so many different aspects of the catering world. My most recent experience comes from a winery that specialized in in-house catering and curated events, which fueled my love for creating custom experiences for each client.
I truly enjoy getting to know clients and what they envision for their events. Each event, just like each client, is unique, and I want to make sure that we are capturing that in both the food and the experience that we help create.
Joshua Yates
Sales Executive
With over 20 years of immersive experience in the hospitality and special events industry, my journey has been nothing short of interesting. One memorable tale from my career involves a delightful incident during an animal charity gala, where a rescue pup chose my shoe as its unexpected restroom. Yet, I can navigate such moments with grace and adaptability that truly exemplifies my role as a catering sales professional.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to collaborate with esteemed catering and events companies, orchestrating flawless experiences for renowned brands such as Rolex, Bloomingdales, Guess, Chicago 2016/IOC, Google, Chevrolet, State Farm, Microsoft, Tik Tok, HP, and Accenture. While on the social side of events I have planned events for celebrities like Kevin Spacey and prestigious events for the French Consulate.
From managing a catering company to serving as Director of Catering at the prestigious United Club within Soldier Field, I have honed a diverse skill set spanning consultative sales, meticulous event planning, and insightful menu development. These experiences have equipped me to flawlessly execute events of all scales with finesse.
Beyond my professional pursuits, I am deeply committed to community engagement, advocating for causes close to my heart such as LGBTQ+ equality, women's rights, and the arts. My involvement extends to serving on the board of the Gene Siskel Film Center and previously as a board member of the Green Wedding Alliance. Additionally, my compassionate side is revealed through my propensity for shedding tears at weddings, a characteristic I embrace with good humor and invite playful banter.
Rebecca Centers,
Logistics Specialist
Some might say I’m the Marie Kondo of logistics specialists. After 10+ years of supporting mid- and senior-level management, combined with my culinary background, my role as the Sales Administrative Assistant at Tony Caters is the perfect marriage. I have dedicated my career to keeping executives and business owners organized, prioritized, and less stressed. I practice a streamlined and intuitive approach to assistance that rests on efficiency, big-picture thinking, and out-of-the-box problem-solving.
Over the course of my career, I’ve discovered that I thrive on challenges and do my best work in high-volume settings. I enjoy responsibility and believe that my experience, professionalism, and proactive demeanor are a perfect match for the “many hats” that administrative assistants wear. I’m enthusiastic and personable, and my passion is to contribute, support, and make a difference to the success of Tony Caters.
As a foodie myself, I’m happy to report my 6-year-old also enjoys the variety of food the bay area has to offer. When I’m not working, my husband and I enjoy introducing her to all the amazing food the Bay area has to offer, and spending as much time outside as possible.
