Catering & Bar
Exceptional food and drink, thoughtfully served.
From corporate events and brand launches to weddings and private dinners at home, Avela takes care of every detail of the food and bar, so you can be fully present with your guests. Seasonal West Coast cuisine, a celebrated bar program and a team with the experience to deliver it flawlessly.
Our approach
Inspired by the season
Our menus evolve with the West Coast seasons, so your guests enjoy ingredients at their peak. Select from our current menus, or let our chefs create a custom menu for your event.
Seasonal ingredients
Produce from local farms and the Pacific guides every dish.
Layered, balanced flavour
Bold and memorable, with global influences woven in with care.
A style for every occasion
Canapés, chef stations, family-style or plated service.
Every guest considered
Allergies and dietary needs are planned from the outset.
The bar
A bar program to match
Our bar is led by Jacob Sweetapple, one of Canada's most respected names in cocktails. Every drink is made to order at your event, with an equal focus on thoughtful zero-proof options.
Explore the bar program →
What we offer
Tailored to your occasion
01
Seasonal and custom menus
Choose from our menus or commission one designed for your event.
02
Live chef stations
Aburi sushi, oysters, carving and more, prepared in front of your guests.
03
Signature moments
Champagne walls, oyster service and finishing touches your guests will remember.
04
The bar
Signature cocktails, zero-proof options and wines selected to complement the menu.
05
Any scale
From an intimate dinner at home to large-scale hospitality.
06
One dedicated team
Consistent care from your first conversation to the final course.
Menus for every occasion
Built around your event
Choose from our seasonal menus, or let our chefs create something entirely your own. A few we've loved:
An East Coast welcome
An oyster raw bar served from a dory, and a Kiss the Cod screech-in for a bride from Halifax.
A 40th birthday
A custom menu of her favourite dishes, served around one long table.
FIFA World Cup 26
Pitchside hospitality for 8,500 guests across seven matches at BC Place.
The Park Building, Anthem Properties
A live aburi sushi station for a real estate activation, torched to order in front of guests.
The team
In experienced hands
Every event is prepared by chefs and bartenders with decades of experience in fine dining, award-winning cocktail bars and large-scale events.
Culinary Director & Partner
Evan Elman
Twenty years in professional kitchens, including Hawksworth Group, the Wedgewood Hotel and Dinner in the Sky Canada, where he served as Executive Chef.
Executive Chef
Jonah Joffe
More than 20 years in kitchens, including Michelin-starred restaurants. As Chef and Co-Owner of Bar Bravo, he led the restaurant to Michelin Guide recognition and Vancouver Magazine awards for Best New Restaurant and Best Seafood.
Co-founder & Bar Program
Jacob Sweetapple
25 years in hospitality, from opening the Fairmont Pacific Rim's cocktail program and running the bar at Chambar to winning the Global Gin Cocktail Masters in London and judging for The World's 50 Best Bars.
Begin planning
Tell us about your event
Share a few details and we'll return with menu options and a clear, detailed proposal.