Testimonials

I am sure that our dinner last week is a distant memory for you now you will have done so many since.  But I did want to pass some feedback to you. Several people talked to me the next day about the quality of the meal – people who travel a lot and would have access to high quality food.  One man said it was the best steak he had had for a decade and another person who is the partner in one of the big 4 law firms said that “that was not conference food – it was five star dining”.

So well done and thank you

Kasy Chambers
Anglicare Australia


We didn’t have to think twice on choosing Ochre to cater for our wedding day, they went over and above our expectations, and delivered a worry free night with fantastic food, drink service and absolutely lovely staff. Ochre was not just our caterer, but helped us organise our wedding venue, furniture, music, lighting and design. 
Carley is amazing to deal with, and always ensured we were looked after on the night and made everything run so smoothly.
Thank you so much.

Tash & Dom x


Hello Craig and Carley,

We are so happy we chose Ochre Catering to create a sensational final night dinner for 200 guests for our international client.

Your advice, recommendations and support was priceless, while the menu you created was ideal for our client’s demographic and dietary requests.

On the day, it was quite something to watch you both organise your teams so seamlessly, and not surprisingly, the whole event flowed so smoothly.

Please pass our thanks onto your team members too; they were so helpful and friendly.

After such a fabulous experience we are looking forward to the next chance we have to work with Ochre Catering.

In the meantime, we wish you all the very best for your future success.

Laura Pressley and Fiona Whelan
ID Events Australia


 
I just wanted to thank you very much for your help organising our dinner on Tuesday night at sugar shed.
We had a fantastic night. The venue was spectacular, food amazing, Tony & fellow musician were really great and all the staff were so friendly and attentive.
All the guests have given me raving reviews. 
Appreciate all your assistance!
Thank you
 
Sally

Thank you so much for organising such a seamless catering experience! The food was amazing, the staff were so polite and helpful. The guests raved about the food & we couldn’t have been any happier with the level and quality of service provided.
A huge thank you to everyone involved with our wedding catering and a massive thank you for the unforgettable experience.

Kind regards, Oya


Thank you very much for all your hard work, the outstanding meals and fantastic service. The guests at our wedding were very impressed with you all and many have told us it was the best food they have had at a wedding in a long time. Jack and I are so thankful. 
All the best for your future endeavours and again, thank you very much.

Jack and Izzy


Thank you once again to you and the team for your wonderful efforts yesterday evening at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards.
 
We received positive feedback from the guests on the catering, and the service was great.
 
We look forward to the opportunity of working with you again in the future.
 
Jillian, Event Manager – Department of the Premier and Cabinet

“I would like to thank yourself, Craig and your team for making the grand opening of our new clinic a very special occasion.

The food that was prepared was fantastic and I heard a lot of good comments as I was moving around. The presentation was also very impressive.

Luckily for me I now have the luxury of tasting your delicious food tonight at our awards night.

Once again a big thank you for your team for what they did for us today.”

Kind Regards, Craig


“Ochre Restaurant managed the catering for a conference dinner held at The Tanks Arts Centre last week. We originally had almost 300 guests booked to attend, however with the sudden border closures across the nation our numbers decreased significantly. Carley and Craig were so accommodating with all of our changes, and provided a fantastic solution for a fabulous, more intimate dinner. On the night their staff were extremely professional, and the food was amazing!. The Ochre team were a pleasure to work with – we look forward to working with them again in the near future.”

Regards, Lexie – Director of Events Encata Event Management

Tanks art centre catering
Tanks art centre catering

 


 
“Hi Craig,
 
Just some feedback from Sunday….
 
Jay and Harrison were wonderful – efficient, unobtrusive, thoughtful and very helpful.
Carley was very attentive and took great care of those with special dietary requirements.
 
All the guests commented on how delicious the food was and the presentation was excellent.
Full marks.”
 
Many thanks
Margaret
 

 

“Please thank your team for their professional, efficient and friendly service on Sat night.  The chefs smashed it and the drinks flowed freely!  Everyone was impressed and were quite taken with how cost effective it was to have Ochre do what you did.”
 
Angelo

 
“Many thanks to Carley and her team at Ochre Restaurant for the extraordinary job they did catering for the 2020 Cairns State High School formal at Cairns Cruise liner Terminal with over 280 guests.  With the last minute change to the venue due to COVID19 restrictions, Ochre restaurant took on the job of hosting our event within very tight timelines. 
 
The communication leading up to the event was exceptional. The organisation of the event was excellent and Carley and her team catered for all kinds of dietary requirements without any issue. On the night, the staff were fantastic with our students and the service was immaculate. I believe there was a major plumbing issue that occurred at the venue, that we did not even know about. I am sure this would have caused much stress for Carley and her team, but handled without any problem.  
 
I highly recommend Ochre Restaurant and Catering to any organisation running an event!”
 
Brendan Begley – Cairns State High School
 

“We couldn’t be more happy with our decision to have Ochre cater our wedding. Craig and Carley run a well-oiled catering machine and even with the added pressure of COVID-19 restrictions plus the usual chaos of a wedding – we did not have to worry about a single thing with them. Not only was the service seamless (even offsite in a farm shed) but the food was absolutely delicious. Our guests were delighted, everyone was so happy with their meals and it was everything we had hoped for. We highly recommend speaking to Ochre about catering for any event.”

Kristy & Brendan


“An enormous thank you to the team at Ochre Restaurant and Catering.

We recently hosted a dinner for our team of 25 people for the Master Builders Awards night at our home.

From our first point of call, I experienced nothing but professionalism and a feeling like, our event was just as important to them as it was to us.

We found the menu package options to be not only affordable but also 5 star quality. A testament to Carley who oversaw the process including the menu choice, putting together the package and ensuring all catering items were ready to go on the day. She sourced extra large tablecloths to fit our enormous tables and provided a few ‘extras’ that we had not considered, and without hesitation. A very dedicated manager.

On the evening, everything went smoothly and professionally.

I highly recommend Ochre Restaurant and Catering to anyone organising a small or large event.”

Julie Verri
Nathan Verri- Masters of Design & Building


“Hi Craig,
Just to let you know everyone was very impressed with everything about the Ochre; staff, food and venue.
I didn’t get one negative from anyone and there is usually one.
Our international speakers were most impressed.

Thank you again and will certainly continue to recommend your establishment to anyone going to Cairns.”

Kind regards, Pamela Saunders


“Thank you Ochre for catering both our wedding reception and post stand up breakfast, the food was spectacular and we really appreciated all of your professionalism along the way.
Working with you was a pleasure and you made everything so easy for us.
We highly recommend your services and culinary expertise for anyone holding and event in Cairns
Thank You again,”

Margo & Daniel
Wedding Reception


“Carley, We cannot thank you and the team for all your hard work! The night was just perfect and we received lots of complements on the food! All of your waitstaff and especially Martin and Tenai could not be more accommodating! They allowed the night to run smoothly and every detail that was asked for was completed! 
Working with Ochre has just been outstanding! Thank you so much!!”
 
Alfina & Mitch – Wedding

 
“Firstly I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your work that went into both evenings for our Festival of Food and our Gala night at Tanks, we have had such great feedback especially on the food component of these events. I have loved dealing with you guys although I moved stages around and requested additional cocktails and Vodka you still made it all happen in the most amazing way!”
 
Peta – Events Manager IOOF

 
“We held a conference in Cairns in July 2018.
 
Over the six nights we entertained over 500 guests primarily from all over Australia and we were joined by some international guests.
 
We engaged Ochre Catering to assist us with 6 of the 7 planned events. These included 3 offsite dinners for +350 PAX, an exclusive executive lunch for 20, a partner welcome at the Ochre Restaurant for 70 and our Gala dinner for 500 people on the final night.
 
Our decision to primarily use a single cater was a corner stone to the success of our week. Each of our events were unique and the team at Ochre ensured that the catering worked with the theme of the event and ensured excellent menu variety across the week.
 
Craig Squire, Chef Director, hosted our exclusive lunch for 20 and gave a wonderful insight to the local produce, the history of his business and the 5-course degustation lunch he had prepared. This was my favourite meal of the week and was perfectly balanced with matching wines for each course.
 
The wait staff were a highlight of the week – the service standard was prompt, on time and were all excellently presented with the correct balance of staff per head.
 
We host up to 5 events a year at various location across the country, the consistent quality of produce and service level at each of our events is a credit to the team at Ochre and I would be happy to recommend them to any event organiser.”
 
Name and Company withheld for privacy reasons, however personal references are welcome.

“Hi Craig, Just a quick note to pass on our thanks for a great night for our Luxaflex Gala Dinner. The setup, food, service and atmosphere of the function was excellent, and we’ve had so much positive feedback. Thanks again for looking after our group so well. The photographer got some amazing photos if you want access to any of them you are welcome to use them.” Kind Regards, Jenny 


“Hi Craig On behalf of Corview, I would like to say thank you for the wonderful dinner we had at Ochre on Saturday, 28 July.  The food was magnificent, the service very attentive, and the view spectacular.  I didn’t hear one complaint!! Also, special thanks to Carley and all the staff that worked on the night that made our event special.” Regards, Elaine Holbrook


Good Morning Craig,

We would just like to thank you and your team for giving us such an amazing night Saturday. Both your chef and waiter were super friendly, respectful, skilled, accommodating and professional. 
 
Everyone had a lovely time and a great dinner. Even our fussiest eaters enjoyed the meal and I am sure you’ve gained a few more fans. 
 
Thank you for a great service! Everyone was so amazed that we are thinking of repeating this at Christmas time. 
 
Thank you so much
 
Kind Regards
Josephine Tait

Just writing to express our appreciation once again for Ochre’s great catering for our Conference last week. As usual, all the arrangements went without a hitch and our conference delegates were very satisfied with the catering arrangements. Please pass on our thanks to all who were involved. Particular thanks to Andre who is a delight to work with and a wonderful ambassador for your Company. Many thanks Averil Australian Avionics


“My name is Jasper and my wife and I were just lucky enough to have Nicole come from your restaurant tonight to Misty Mountains. Simply put, the food and service was amazing. The flavours were full and delicate and delicious, and in such generous portions. Every mouthful was a delight and a new experience for us. Every dish beautifully presented, the ingredients fresher than we’ve ever had. The only thing that rivalled the amazing food was the wonderful service by our chef Nicole. She was extremely professional whilst being warm and friendly, and made us feel right at home. We can’t stress enough how lovely she was or how much we would recommend her to friends (we’re already talking about flying back to cairns in the future so that we can come and try more of the food at Ochre.) All in all we’ve had an incredibly special and memorable night on our honeymoon, and greatly look forward to being able to enjoy the Ochre experience in the future.” Yours Warmly, Jasper


“We just wanted to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to you and the wonderful staff at Ochre for looking after us and our guests at our wedding reception dinner.  The service you and your staff provided from the very start of the planning process right up to the wedding dinner was  simply outstanding! The food was amazing, the beverages never stopped flowing and coupled with the exemplary service from you and your staff, made our wedding celebration,  something that we will always remember!  We thoroughly enjoyed our regular ‘planning meetings’ with you as it gave us an opportunity to sample as much as we could from Ochre’s wonderfully unique and creative menu!  We look forward to continuing our friendship with you and the team at Ochre well into the future. “ Margaret & Ian


“Hi Craig, Just an email to say thank you and be part of Sunny’s surprise birthday. She was totally surprised. The food was fantastic and all our guests enjoyed it thoroughly. Please convey our thanks and gratitude to Harrison and Courtney, they made the party go smoothly and their professionalism and service is second to none. Once again, thank you again.” Regards Jing


“Hi Craig I wanted to thank you and your team on two very successful events, as always the catering and service were fantastic. Kind regards” Megan Douglas Conference Co-ordinators


“Dear Craig, On behalf of the Committee of la Chaine des Rotisseurs, GBR Bailliage, I would like to say a huge thank you to you and your team for you continued support of the Baillaige and a remarkable day at Mt Uncle. Not only was the food superb, with many compliments from members and guests, but it was beautifully plated and delivered by Louis and his assistant. I know you looked after us with the price and quality, but this day just seemed to have the Ochre magic touch. I did ask Loui to come out so we could thank him and he spoke about the food to much appreciation. Thanks mate.” Roger


“Thank you to Craig and his team for providing a fantastic food and beverage service for the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in September. With an event of this size we welcomed the ease of working with such an organised team to provide the best possible service to our VIP guests from across the world and the general public. Your team rolled with the demands of working in a challenging environment. It was an absolute pleasure to work with your team and I would highly recommend Ochre, as I cannot fault the five days of service provided for the World’s largest mountain bike event.” Rebecca Harwood VIP & Catering Manager UCI MTB World Championship


“Thank you to the Ochre team for putting on an amazing Gala Dinner for our Conference. The feedback from the guests was all very positive and having been at the event for some of the night I can agree. The food and drink was delicious and the service was great. Craig did an amazing job in the lead up to the event with the organising of every aspect – not being in the state myself I had my concerns but Craig out all my worries at ease and the result was exactly what we were hoping for! Looking forward to the next time we can get up to Cairns to enjoy it all again! Thanks again for a great event!!” Alexandra Conference Organiser


“This is a somewhat belated thank you for hosting our group of exchange students and teachers from our sister school in Italy in early August. It was considered a highlight of their time here and all enjoyed learning about and tasting foods very different from what they are accustomed to. The group has now returned to Italy with wonderful memories of, and greater insight into, the tastes and cultural richness of Far North Queensland. With sincere appreciation and kind regards” Jill Brough International Baccalaureate Program Support International Student Program EAL/D Support Cairns State High School


“I just wanted to touch base with you, a few weeks after the recent FNMLS matched wine dinner event at Ochre. From where I was sitting it was a splendid event. I compliment you and your staff yet again for an amazing menu of really fabulous beautiful food, matched with the lovely wines from Denmark, WA. I also thank you for all your support, for making your contributions look easy and for being such an instrumental and important part of this event. Phil and Viv were really delighted about every aspect of Ochre’s involvement, and all the participants that I spoke with expressed their appreciation of the beautiful food. Thank you more from me!” Yours faithfully Jeneve Frizzo – Principal JENEVE FRIZZO – ESTATE LAW


“Have to say the Welcoming function went exceptionally well. My colleague advised that at breakfast the next morning all attendees were commenting on the great food and the exceptional service by the young lady who was managing drinks and canapes that night. I also have to sing her praises I just apologise I didn’t get her name, she moved through the room with ease, knew how to work the floor and provided exceptional service. A credit to your team. Thank you again, I hope there is some way that your company recognises exception service in your staff as this young lady definitely needs to be recognised. Wishing you all the best.” Kind regards Sue Spencer Australian Federal Police


“Hi Craig and your team, I want to thank you for the wonderful and professional way you did the Wedding Reception for my Daughter Stephanie and her husband Josh at  the Wharf Terminal  in July 2016 . The organisation and planning was done so very smoothly, as was the preparation and the  great food , service and the actual running of the event which you supervised on the night. This followed the  very successful Conference Dinner for The Australasian College of Dermatologists Biennial Spring Meeting at the same venue , which you again organised for me in 2013. Following this ,when Stephie said she was getting married , I knew there was no other choice for the reception. I would not hesitate to recommend you and your professional team to anyone else. Again,well done”. Kind Regards,   Dr Neville Collins MBBS FACD Dermatologist Cairns


“Hi Carley, Thanks very much it was amazing. Thankyou for everything. The food was incredible and your staff were all lovely and did a great job. Lots of our family and friends commented on how lovely they were and how great the service was.” Kind regards Monica


“We had the best time. Thanks so much for catering. The service was absolutely fantastic and so was all the food! We can’t thank you enough!!!! All the staff did such a great job!! We had compliments about it all night! Thanks for making our night perfect!” Kind regards Jesslyn Brazzale


In regards to the function the Cairns Post held last week in your restaurant. Craig, everything was fantastic.  A credit to you and your team.  I have only received good feedback from the guests who attended.  The food was extremely impressive, the drinks were flowing and cold and the space was just perfect.  Louis your chef was a real gentleman and even came up to see how everything went.   I only picked up the event the day before to run and thankfully you and your team are professionals, it looked as though I’d known exactly what was going on. I can’t thank you enough for coming to the rescue with glass for the frame that broke.  I really appreciate that. I will definitely have your venue at the top of my list, it really was a great experience. Many thanks Trish The Cairns Post


We just want to thank you and your staff for a job well done on Saturday. The food was superb and the staff were so helpful and professional. We have had really positive feedback about the food and everything ran perfectly. Kind regards Allison


“Hey Craig and Carley, I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you both and your team for an amazing job on Monday! Tyren and I could not be happier with the food and the set up. It was exactly what we’d hoped for! Everyone has been raving about the food and how delicious it was and loved that they could choose what they want to eat. I’ve had quite a few ‘best food at a wedding ever’ comments and although we ran nice and late you were fantastic at still serving us the the best quality product I’ve ever had at a wedding. We’ve directed everyone that might be popping back through cairns to call in to the restaurant so hopefully you have some visitors if time permits. “ Thank you so so so so much! Xxx Cara and Tyren 


“I would like to say a massive and very grateful THANKYOU to you and your wonderful team!!!  What those lovely girls did out there for us all at Pete’s send off was amazing!!! The food was really incredible… truly special and soooo  very yummy!!! A feast for all the senses!!!   The whole setup… the bar was excellent and worked so well too!!! Everyone was very impressed… of course!!!  Thankyou again to you all…”   Cheers and Kindest Regards – Lynne


“Thank you Ochre Restaurant for being a wonderful place to eat. My husband and I love going to Dinner at your place. We think the staff are fab they do their job with a smile on their face which is rare in this day and age. We are always guaranteed of perfectly cooked food every time. We wish you and your staff a very merry Xmas and new year. Hope you have many more wonderful years of giving the locals great service and great food.” Kathy and Glen  – Togo Lining


“Good Morning Craig, I would like to thank you for having us at Ochre last Friday.  It is a beautiful venue and the food was amazing. Our staff have all commented on how great it was and we all had a really enjoyable time.   I’ll certainly be coming back for dinner again soon.”   Kind regards, Kelli – Cairns City Dental


“Hi Craig, Just wanted to thank you, Natalia and Caroline for making Janns 50th such a special night. The ladies did an amazing job and the food was as you would expect from Ochre, “exceptional”. Everyone made comment about how fantastic the food was and the amazing job the ladies did. Thank you all for making it a night to remember.” Cheers James


“Just want to pass on our thanks to you and all your staff who were associated with the catering last week for the PT6 Conference.   As always, the catering was spot on and greatly appreciated by our guests.   Please pass on our sincere thanks also to Andrea for his work at the Aviation School and also at the Dinner at the Cruise Terminal.   It makes the whole event so much more enjoyable, (and contributes greatly to its success)  when we can rely on your staff who are always efficient, competent and very pleasant to work with.   He did a great job keeping our delegates happy and satisfied during the entire Conference.   Hopefully we can look forward to hosting the event again in 2017.” Averil Bunce , Hawker Pacific


Where do we begin? When we started to difficult task of planning a wedding in tropical paradise from Melbourne, we were so relieved when we came across your website. We cannot thank you enough for your constant answers to our many queries, and your practical and stylish layout ideas on making the setup a success. Our food was exactly as we’d hoped for – fantastic quality, fresh, local and seasonal produce which was perfectly presented. We have received so many compliments on the food from our 100 guests, and wouldn’t hesitate a moment in recommending you for any function, wedding or event up north!” Kind regards, Jo & Adam.


“Just wanted to once more say THANK YOU for the amazing night we had at the Cruise Liner Terminal. The food was absolutely delicious and more than enough! Our guests revved about it! All I hear is positive feedback since we been back! The decoration was spot on and exactly what I was after. You and your team really delivered on both service and food. Thank you so so much for everything you did for us from the planing through the execution of our event. Thanks to Carly who was fantastic on the night as well! Hoping we can come back to Cairns soon.” Kind Regards Melissa Rossatto – EA to Grant Harrod – CEO at LJ Hooker


“When planning the most important day of your life, a ‘perfect’ wedding and then actually pulling it off to near perfection, you have to look around you at the team of people you get to help you create your dream day, and know that if it wasn’t for them, it wouldn’t have been one of the most amazing days of our lives. Throughout the whole process of planning, Craig left us feeling, stress free, happy, excited and most of all, comfortable knowing that we had the best people for the job. Craig and his teams professionalism, experience, and organisation was 110%. And the food, well where do I start?! 5 star quality food, served on a beautiful buffet, with every dish a burst of Aussie flavours, cooked to perfection. Every single one of our 175 guests commented on how amazing the food and service was. A massive thankyou to Craig and his amazing team at Ochre Restaurant and Catering for putting your heart and soul into everything you have done for us. We can’t recommend you highly enough.” Cheers! Sammy & Ruben McDornan


“Thank you and all your staff, front and back of house for a magnificent dinner. Everything came together perfectly and everyone had a great night. The thought and creativity put into the menu reflects the high standard of the restaurant. I’m sure you will nail it in the new location. Please pass on the Chaine’s congratulations to all staff.” Regards Roger Phillips – La Chaine des Rotisseurs


“To the Manager, Just a note to say ‘thank you’ for the wonderful experience we had at Ochre last weekend. There are many things that contributed to a memorable evening but in particular, two things: We were served by Monica who was exceptional. Not only was she welcoming  but her professionalism was outstanding. We sensed a real ownership on her part that she wasn’t just working a job, but that it was her interest, her ‘home’ and somewhere she was proud of. Her interaction and timing was impeccable with a wonderful mix of service (meeting individual customer needs) and hospitality (laughter, energy and warmth). Much like the perfect referee in a game of footy… Let’s the game flow and comes in at the perfect time to ensure the best outcome!  Please thank her from Louise (her Danish sister haha), myself and all the (rowdy) girls. The second aspect that set your restaurant apart from others was the cuisine itself. I have been to a few places that claim ‘modern Australian’ but have never experienced the authenticity of Ochre. Each element was treated with deep respect and true reflection of our beautiful and earthy country. The story behind the ingredients, their description and the exemplary presentation was truly appreciated! I felt so proud of this amazing country that is my ‘home’ celebrated in each dish. So with deep gratitude for such a memorable experience I wish you all the best and thank you for living your passion!” Kind Regards, Trish


“Thanks Craig. It was an awesome night. Thank you for your support. Your staff were wonderful. I received so many compliments on the food too. I think one of your staff might even join up as a volunteer. We are looking forward to dining in your new restaurant. All the best with the launch. Warm regards and many thanks.” Yolonde Entsch – YWAM – Cairns Corporate Challenge Fundraising Gala Dinner


“Dear Craig, Thank you so much to your wonderful team for catering our wedding on 16.4.16. The staff were exceptionally professional and friendly. Carley was brilliant and everything went very smoothly. The guests were very impressed with the food and service. People were saying it was the best wedding they had been to (obviously I agree).Thank you once again” Kind regards Sally Barkla


“Hi guys I just wanted to say a quick thank you for everything yesterday. You all helped the day go exactly how I envisioned. All of our guests have complimented me on my choice of wedding coordinator, celebrant, florist, photographer, and restaurant for lunch! Saying that they couldn’t fault anything and that couldn’t have been done with out your expertise. It was a fantastic day – Andrew and I will of course never forget it and nor will our guests! I’ll be sure to find a way to online review you all whether it be trip advisor or Facebook for your business pages. 🙂 thank you so much.” Love from Andrew & Elouise  


“Hey Craig, Sorry for the late feedback I thought I’d already sent it. I think it’s nice to get feed back. So it’s all good your staff did an amazing job especially with the distance and logistics they had to deal with. The biggest issue I had to deal with was catering for so many fussy eaters the painful ones too like no chicken on the bone, no seafood, no chilli, no vegetables, no garnish! Not kidding that is a thing from a close family member. The menu we had was perfect and banquet worked a treat guests highlights…. Seafood platter was favourite (squid the best Pork belly was second Lamb and chicken was favoured by the fuss pots. Panna cotta was best dessert The staff were lovely to children and guests and did a great job cleaning  everything up. Thanks again” Alastair – Hentley Farm SA


“Hi Craig, I just wanted to let you know how well the party went last night. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully prepared and so plentiful. All the guests loved it. Also I have to commend the crew you sent last night. They all were so pleasant and professional and left everything spic and span. Home entertaining for a crowd can be stressful but not when you’ve got Ochre Catering! Many thanks and Merry Christmas” Denise


“Dear Mr. Squire, I want to thank you, Carly and your team for your recent contribution towards the Northern Queensland Economic Summit (the Summit), held in Cairns on 4-6 November 2015. Your willingness to commit your tie and expertise to create a wonderful experience for guests was critical to the success of the welcome dinner event for the Summit. In particular, the delicious local food and produce along with your experience in working with the venue and local suppliers helped provide a welcoming and professional atmosphere and an ideal start to the Summit. I am prout that the Summit, the first event of its kind, was organised to bring international and domestic investors together to discuss opportunities in Northern Queensland, explore what the region has to offer, and meet with fellow delegates and Queensland senior government officals. Again, thank you for your contribution to the success of the Summit. I wish you and your business every success in the future.” Yours sincerely, Annastacia Palaszczuk (Premier of Queensland)


“Hello Carley & Craig, I must say that the comments on our Christmas thank you for the Volunteers has been non stop & amazing….. Everyone loved the food, beverages & the very attentive service – so, thank you…. thank you……. Also side note – the girls in the group all said that you have the most handsome waiters in town…..hahahahaha Again, from the Volunteers THANK YOU !!!” Wayne Cairns and Tropical North Queensland Visitor Information Centre


“Hi Carley and Team, We had the most amazing wedding night and it was because of your excellent team. The food was amazing but your staff were outstanding! They did the most wonderful job with the location and our guests were beyond happy with the service. The bar staff were so helpful and kind. My new husband and I had a beer in our hands all night because your staff tracked us down anytime to make sure we were having fun and were fed. Thankyou for everyone,” Annie and David


“We were delighted with the service and food that you provided. Our guests were very impressed and we have received many favourable comments on the food quality and amount. We feel it was good value for money and we will have no hesitation in contacting Ochre if we do this again. Again thank you very much.” Czek St. Augustine’s College


“I have had the pleasure of enjoying your services twice this weekend. The first was at my dear son Murray’s Wedding celebration at WHITFIELD House on Saturday 17th October, then the following morning at our residence in WHITFIELD for a “follow the Wedding” Brunch. Both occasions could not be faulted. Your team worked silently with a smile to create a wonderous feast enjoyed by the entire guest list. So I would like to congratulate you on your first class company, whom I will definitely use again.” Kind regards, Donna Moule


“Hi Craig, Thank you for your level headed reaction to the warm alcohol situation – it was greatly appreciated. The feedback I’ve received from the event has been amazing and I’ve had a lot of great comments about the Oyster Bar so thank you very much for the suggestion.” Linda Cooper


“Dear Paul, Craig and Carley, I just wanted to thank both Soulgrowers and Ochre for a great night last night for the FNMLS. The food was delightful, very well matched to the wines, beautifully presented. The standout dish in my view was the bug and scallop dish, perfectly matched by the lovely wild iris chardonnay. The wines were all fabulous. All the best to you and all your staff (Craig, you attract quality people), and thank you again.” Jeneve


“Hi Craig Thank you very much for the way you handled the event, absolutely brilliant!  I thought the whole layout of the evening and the quality of the food was superb and I never had any doubt from the very beginning.   Hopefully will get the opportunity to do similar soon” Ian Curry HI Events


“Dear Craig, Just coming up for air…..Both my client and I were extremely happy with your catering – the food was awesome, it really was…. please give a personal thanks to (I’m hoping my memory serves me well!!!, but Brooke, Chris and Andrea were exceptional, very professional and personable).” Jayne Kidd Principal e-Kiddna Event Management


“You guys did an amazing job with food and service. To be honest, not being familiar with any catering companies in Cairns/PD we didn’t really know what we were going to get but it was all exceptional and all the guests were full of praise also. So a big thank you to you and your staff. The process from start to finish was very easy and any requests we had were accommodated without any trouble. We would certainly recommend Ochre to anyone else thinking of a function or wedding in FNQ. “ Thanks again, Andrew & Elise


“Thank you for a fabulous meal – your reputation for great food and service was well demonstrated. Andrea and Amy and the behind the scenes staff did a wonderful job. I really appreciate the effort and the catering for our much smaller than hoped for numbers. From all the feedback I received from the members who came the evening was a success. Great food, stunning venue and lovely music it all went well.” Thank you, Harmina Balch Wine & Food Society Black Tie Event Dinner


“Hi Craig, Congratulations on a wonderful night. The food as usual was superb and your team did a professional and friendly job. The beef cheeks were an inspiration and delicious. Well done and a huge thanks from the Chaine.” Roger Phillips – Vice Conseiller Gastronomique


“Hi Craig, A quick note to see a big big thanks for playing such a big role in our wedding last Saturday. The food and drinks were excellent and the production was perfect too. Our guests really enjoyed all the food and many commented that it was the best wedding food they’d ever had. Thanks to you and your team for all your support in the lead up too! Really appreciate it.” Best wishes, Cat


“I just wanted to say a big thank you for doing a fantastic event for us last night. We have had some great feedback. Thank you so much for all of yours and Carley’s efforts in putting together a terrific evening for our guests.” Jane Knox – PwC Team Leader Qld Events


I had heard wonderful things about Ochre Catering and I was impressed by their food at a couple of events I attended that they had catered for, so when it came time to secure a caterer for my wedding I knew that I wanted Ochre. Obviously wanting to make sure there wasn’t anything better out there I had sourced a few quotes and assistance from other companies, but when it came down to it, the service and food offered by Ochre was definitely the best value of all of the places I had contacted. Carly was an absolute dream through-out the whole process, assisting me with the whole package I required due to our venue being The Sugar Wharf, Port Douglas. Nothing was too much hassle for Carly and when it poured with rain the day before my wedding and we had to change our game plan to an inside function instead of out on the deck I knew I could trust Carly to just do whatever had to be done. I left everything in her capable hands and I could not have been happier, in fact I was speechless at how she had transformed the venue. I had so much positive feedback after the wedding from our guests about how delicious the food was and how impressed everyone was with the service and the venue overall. I cannot thank Ochre Catering enough for the absolutely outstanding job they did for us. Carly and the team were all absolute gems and if I could do it all over again they would be the definitely be the ones I would call upon” Tamara Ortiz


“Tony and I would just like to thank you and your team for helping us put together our wonderful wedding day in Port a Douglas on the 26th of July 2014. Everything ran smoothly and everyone really enjoyed themselves. I would highly recommend Ochre to all of my friends and family. Thank you again” Kind regards Megan and Tony Gooding


“As part of the organising committee for the 28th World Buiatrics Congress, held in Cairns 27 July to 1 August, it was my job to coordinate the Gala Dinner. Craig provides a professional service from the minute he assisted with site inspections to advice on the selection of the venue and menu through to the last bit of theming.  He worked with us as if he was part of our event team which ensured a streamlined event and an extremely successful International Gala Dinner. The food was wonderful and showcased both the local and Australian theme extremely well. The Cairns Cruise Terminal is a unique venue and provided the perfect location for both the pre drinks along the water and inside for the Gala Dinner itself. Our almost 500 guests thoroughly enjoyed the night and there were many sore heads the next day! The evening that the Oche Team helped to create was truly the best way to finish the World Buiatrics Congress and I’m sure it will be remembered by the Australian and International guests for years to come. Thanks Craig and the Ochre Team!” Kerrie Wise CEM Principal – Destination Conference & Incentive


“ATE14 – Testimonial Tourism and Events Queensland engaged Ochre to cater for 1 800 guests at the ‘Welcome to Queensland’ event for the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in May 2014. The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is Tourism Australia’s largest and most important travel trade show held annually in Australia. In May 2014 ATE was held in Cairns, the first time in 35 years this event has been held outside a capital city. The ‘Welcome’ event was held at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Craig and his team at Ochre provided an extensive menu that catered for the many nationalities attending the event and delivered this creative menu superbly with themed food stations that showcased local produce. Craig worked with us on all aspects of the event delivery to ensure the highest quality of food and beverage and excellent service was delivered and maintained throughout the event. Ochre worked very well with other contractors to the event including the theme and AV company, venue management and our TEQ team. The many years of experience Craig has in delivering offsite events for large numbers in north Queensland was tested with wet weather and other incidents which Craig and his team handled smoothly and effectively. The team at Ochre were extremely professional in all aspects of the event planning and delivery, our guests praised the catering and the excellent service of the ‘Welcome’ event and I think many were surprised and delighted at the quality of catering and service we were able to provide for such a large group in an off-site, regional location. I would highly recommend Ochre to any event planner requiring off site catering and can be contacted to confirm this testimonial. Yours sincerely” Alison Dwyer


“The service and food was fantastic!! Joel and I couldn’t fault anything and there were a lot of compliments regarding the food from our guests, particularly for the delicious canapés. Your team are fantastic, please pass on our thanks to all the staff from Saturday night.” Kind regards, Nicole and Joel.


“Hi Craig – wanted to say a HUGE thank you on behalf of the team. You guys were fantastic – and everyone loved the food. Giant thanks from us all – you helped make it a wonderful evening. Hope the rest of your 20th year pans out well & very much appreciate the collaboration. Regards to you,” Belinda Griffin | Marketing & Promotions Officer Tanks Arts Centre


“THANK YOU for all your hard work and commitment in the lead up to the Price Attack event and of course during the dinner on Sunday evening. You and your team have been an integral part of the success of the Price Attack 2014 Gala Dinner. The feedback we received has been excellent. Having never worked with you before obviously meant there was an element of uncertainty. But everyone in Cairns told me you are the BEST in the business.  I’m happy to say the experience has been very positive and I would certainly not hesitate in calling you again should an opportunity arise. Thank you again. Stay well and enjoy providing great food for many wonderful events, you are very good at it.” Cheers, Martin


“Hi Ochre Team, We had a dinner party here at my house on Friday night, It was the retirement dinner for Roy Payne and 17 diners in total. I just want to let you know that it was fantastic! It was a lovely chance to have the workmates around to dinner as we don’t have the chance to socialise with partners etc. and the whole night was made fabulous by the wonderful catering by Ochre. The two girls , Mel and Bec were very friendly, efficient and food was great. It was a wonderful dinner party and I would like you to pass on my thanks to the Ochre team and the girls involved, kitchen was spotless (only complaint was no leftovers!!)” Thank you once again, Lea Ovaska and Doug McKinstry.


“We just wanted to say a BIG thank you for Saturday night. It was a great night, the food was amazing and Matty and Rebecca were absolutely fantastic. Mum had a great night, thank you for helping us make her 50th Birthday so very special and a night we will be talking about for years to come.” Again, Thank You


“Thanks so much for catering our wedding. The food and service was fantastic, totally exceeded our expectations. All the staff did such a wonderful job, we felt so special, the moment I thought about a drink someone was there with a glass or topping it up and the food was perfect. No one went hungry and Joe is still dreaming about the pork belly. Thanks so much for contributing to my dream wedding, it was truly a magic day.” Amanda


“Wanted to thank you and your team for a great job. The food was fantastic, and the guys did an amazing job making sure the event went well. They really went above and beyond, helping out wherever it was needed to ensure everybody had the best time possible. They are a credit to themselves as well as an amazing asset to your brand. The only hiccup of the night was when a friend sat on and broke a glass coffee table, there were lots of bare feet etc and although nothing to do with your guys, they raced in and basically took over the clean up effort. My two adult sons and I dined at Ochre the night before the wedding and again what a brilliant experience. The food and wine were magnificent and the service was perfect. I generally find the level of service we offer in Cairns to be an embarrassment (with remarkably few exceptions) so it was such a delight to be so well looked after. Again many thanks” Michael


“Craig and his team were amazing. From the very first email, Craig was extremely helpful, answering all of my questions thoroughly and promptly and made organising from interstate easy. The food and the service was absolutely fantastic, high quality, great value for money, such professionals.” Nicole – Ellis Beach Yacht Club Wedding


“Just wanted to say thank you again to you and your staff for all the efforts on Saturday! You somehow managed to run the event so smoothly in between all the disorderliness of the guests – apologies again for their behaviour. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food and appreciated the kind and friendly service of your staff. Personally, I really appreciate all the behind-the-scenes hours you have put in and how accommodating you have been with our unexpected circumstances this year.Many thanks again!!


“Dear Craig, On behalf of ICMS Australasia I am writing to thank Ochre for their participation in the ASBA 2013 conference. We well know the last thing the delegates will remember will be the final dinner and the food and what a memory you helped us to create. This was a 4 year project and a professional and personal highlight, watching the delegates all 750 on the wharf as they arrived was amazing. Our clients were absolutely thrilled to bits which is the true indicator of success. Every element of our vision for this event was executed professionally and with the highest customer service. All had a drink and food in hand before the fireworks even started truly remarkable, the food was superb and the choice of wine excellent. Craig thank you for sharing this journey with us, it was a hard road to hoe at times with a lot of first time evers. I know how hard you worked on this production with me. We will be sure to include you in the final Ezine communication being despatched next Tuesday, please feel free to check out the photo library we have some excellent function images and we are only too happy share if you would like any of them. Kindest regards” Suellen


“I can’t thank you and your team enough for the fantastic conference dinner. The venue looked amazing, there seemed to be staff everywhere!! And food was awesome. The set and theming were outstanding and I was delighted every time I queued. Gudju Gudju were fabulous! So unique! Craig, from my point of view as conference manager I can’t thank you enough for how easy you made this whole gig – coordinating all the necessary service providers. I guess that is one advantage of being based in Cairns, and how the Business and Events network collaborates. I was also totally confident I could rely on you and this was one area I would not need to follow up all the time!” Sharyn 5th SNAICC National Aboriginal Child and Family Services Conference


“Again, I just wanted to thank you and your team for putting on such a fabulous day for us. The reception was absolutely amazing, it exceeded everything that we had hoped for. The food was delicious, the setting looked so beautiful and your staff were wonderful! There were a few sore heads the next day but the most common comment was that it was the best wedding that they have ever been to. Thanks for making it happen for us, we truly had such a great night. Kind regards,” Amanda and Andrew


“Just wanted to say that the farewell dinner last week was excellent, India was the best and the food, wine and ambiance was all just the ticket. See you in September Cheers,” Scott


 “I just wanted to send a quick note on the professional service of the staff last night while thoroughly enjoying the tasting menu. Having clients up from Sydney I always know that Ochre provides consistently high quality meals and service to match . Please pass on to all the staff involved that when my company is trying to impress our clients we can always count on Ochre restaurant to deliver. Kind Regards,” Nathan


“Just to let you know how enjoyable our dinner was with our friends yesterday at your restaurant – 10/10 for glorious food (steak, pork and chicken – the pavlova, Crème brûlée, the Tasi wine) the service and staff. I hear that you dished again some green ants – sorry I missed the tasting, dam. Regards” Alberto-V


“A big thank-you is long overdue. You (combined with Brock’s generosity) really turned the Dioxin2012 gala dinner into an unforgettable event. We have received heaps of emails from enthusiastic people telling us about the great time they had. I remember when I walked into your office you sparkled with ideas…. – and you delivered every bit of it. What an awesome treat. Thanx so much and hope to visit again when I am up there next,” Jochen and Caroline


“The Dioxin conference has been held annually for 32 years. This year’s banquet was by far the best. It was the highlight of the conference. The food was fabulous. The refreshments were perfect. The decorations, lighting and staging were beautiful. The entertainment was great, and, The entire evening flowed so seamlessly. You and your excellent staff did a marvelous job. Thank you again and again and again…. Nicole and Brock


“Thank-you so much for organising the ‘Gala in the rainforest’ conference dinner.   What a marvelous job….   awesome venue preparation…. amazing food…. and what a perfect program covering for all ages and ‘cultures’.   It was really pure perfection.   Also your team was just exceptional…. friendly and always there when you needed them. Most importantly …. Brock and Nicole loved it and I have had only had outstanding feedback. Hope to keep in touch and catch up with you for a drink when we visit Cairns again…. Cheers” Jochen – Dioxin 2012 Conference – Tanks Art Centre


“I don’t know how to thank you and all your staff for such  spectacular wedding catering…..everything was more than we could have hoped for. Your staff were so efficient and so nice to everyone – you should be very proud of what you have. Many  thanks” Annette


“Whitfield House Wedding I wanted to send you a follow up email after your sensational catering for our wedding. We would both like to thank you for the work you and your staff did for us. During the lead up to the wedding I found you to be one of the easiest people to deal with among all the companies we chose to work with. Your communication was always clear, direct and forthcoming. It was truly appreciated. We received so many comments about the food you provided: the majority of which proclaimed the food as the best of any wedding ever attended. It was lovely to hear so many people so happy. Your staff did a fantastic job also. They were all so friendly, efficient and professional. Please pass on our special thanks to the lovely lady who seemed to be the senior wait staff member?  She did a great job of keeping everything running smoothly and keeping me updated with what was happening throughout the evening. We couldn’t be happier with the quality of service and food provided to us by yourself and your staff from start to finish of this process, so thank you once again. It was an absolute pleasure to have worked with you. Warm regards,” Nadia


Read what Sydney event company, Eventful said about their Cairns Cruise Terminal event. “Cool cruising at the Cairns Terminal Cairn’s rather cool new Cruise Terminal venue is an event producers delight. Keen to move beyond the more regular convention centre, Eventful opted to hold a gala dinner at the terminal for 400 guests. Cairns, in need of a central offsite venue, can be justifiably proud of a space that rivals Australian capital cities. Located on Trinity Inlet, the terminal is the official cruising port for far north Queensland. It now doubles as a centrally located event space just a few minutes walk from most Cairns hotels. The heritage listed wharf shed, over 100 years old has recently been converted, maintained and improved upon. Its wonderful historic features have been artfully showcased including exposed timber frameworks, over sized doors and now 930m2 of polished concrete flooring. With access available from four sides, ample power, loads of rated rigging points and an outdoor area with sea breezes and water views over the inlet… it’s one of the finest blank canvases around to play with… and play we did. The Eventful team created a SHOWTIME roving dinner event. Guests transitioned between restaurant areas serving a multitude of cuisine offerings including Asian, fresh seafood, Italian and sushi made to order… each identified with unique and individual theming. Throughout the terminal Eventful installed bars, lounges, roving performances and the SHOWTIME stage entertaining guests throughout the night. Working with Ochre Catering and Ward Benedict theming made the whole event a seamless and impeccable experience. We are pleased to be able to recommend both suppliers for your next event. Just wanted to pass on a MASSIVE THANK YOU to you and your team on organizing an amazing feed at our recent Mali Mali function. The food was awesome, your staff were great! All the guests were blown away with everything! Was truly a successful and amazing night. Once again – THANK YOU!!!!” Jana Stankovich Marketing coordinator Cairns Airport


“I would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank and re iterate my satisfaction from a dining experience that I enjoyed Tuesday evening. It was the second time I had been a customer of Ochre and trust me I had no qualms in returning. Attentive and wonderfully pleasant wait staff made me feel most comfortable as a solo diner. And from observation I was certainly not the only one receiving such marvellous service. Followed promptly by divine meals and may I say possibly the best panna cotta I have eaten. It is a wonderful delight and truly acknowledged the difference that great service and meals make a diners experience. Thank you. I will surely continue my recommendation to any persons visiting Cairns to make a dining experience at Ochre a high priority. Till next time (I will persevere in replicating that panna cotta), keep up the top job team.” Jake Stewart – cafe manager


“Now that I have recovered from Race Day and returned refreshed from a holiday, just wanted to say a big thank you to yourself and your crew. The Race Day was such a fantastic event this year with just over $73,000 being raised for the Leukemia Foundation. I did not expect to reach this total given the economic climate but Cairns just keeps surprising me. Thank you to you for the high standard of catering on our day…your staff were all brilliant and there were no hiccups at all. I have received several comments from guests re the quality of the food and how they thought everything ran well. I also appreciated the fact that tables were being cleared by your crew as needed..this saved my volunteers a lot of time at the end of the day when we had to pack away the tables and chairs etc in the pavilion. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you again Craig…as it has been over the past four years, and I look forward to being able to do so again in the not too distant future.” Berni McKean | Events & Branch Manager Cairns & District Branch Leukemia Foundation


“Just wanted to send you and all your staff a great big ‘thank you’ for all your effort in assisting to organise our wedding day. Everything went to plan, on time, without fuss, and we were extremely happy with everything the day. The food was wonderful and I am still hearing about how fantastic it all was from our guests, that there was plenty to go round and how delicious the canapés were (big credits for the duck spring rolls, my favourite, Yum!). Your staff present that evening were well prepared and extremely organised and everyone had a great time thanks to them. It has been an absolute pleasure to deal with such a professional business and we would highly recommend Ochre in the future, just as you were recommended to us. Thanks again for everything!” Darcy and Belinda Woodburn


“Just wanted to let you know that the food was absolutely fantastic, everyone enjoyed the selections and Nicole did a brilliant job. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ochre as a fantastic caterer.” Marg


“Just wanted to express my thanks to yourself and team for a great gala dinner last Thursday. Your staff were amazing, totally efficient, friendly, helpful and the umbrella walk way at the end of the evening, just made the night. The quality of the food that you produced from that little tent was also great and we have had some very positive feedback. You totally exceeded my expectations and I really appreciate all your hard work and efforts from your team that went into making it such a great night. Thanks again Craig, look forward to working with you again next time we are in Cairns.” Suzanne Mooney