ABOUT US
"INVEST YOURSELF IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. THERE’S FUN IN BEING SERIOUS.''
- JOHN COLTRANE
OUR JOURNEY
Verbena Caterers emerged from a love of food and of each other. As a husband and wife team, our journey began in 2006, working side by side for a premier caterer in Connecticut. As we worked together, we continued to refine our craft, learning from one another and allowing each other to excel at our strengths. Today you will still find us by each other’s side, playfully competing for control of our Pandora playlists, while we discuss every detail of the upcoming week’s menus.
Our commitment to excellence is a product of over 20 years experience behind us, working hands-on in all aspects of the food and beverage industry. We have built our reputation upon the simple philosophy to serve honest, delicious food and to make our clients feel like family.
Together, let's celebrate the joy of food, the beauty of togetherness, and the love that goes into each and every bite.
Richard Coletti
CHEF OWNER
Rich graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 1997. Born and raised in Westchester County, he started his career working at high volume hotels and restaurants in NYC and Westchester. On the side, he also provided catering for commercial shoots in NYC feeding high-profile celebrities. In 2005, he moved to Connecticut, and took over as Executive Chef at Jordan Caterers in 2007. Rich continued on to serving as Executive Chef for other Connecticut based caterers before opening Verbena Caterers in 2016.
Everyone who knows Rich well refers to him as the ‘MacGyver of Catering,’ able to overcome any obstacle in the field and ensure a successful event.
Gianna Coletti
CHEF OWNER
Gianna graduated from Boston University in 1999 with a degree in Music. While working as a recording engineer at a local studio, she also did front of the house service for several local restaurants and bars. Those years she spent in the restaurant industry cultivated a desire to take her passion for food and service to the next level. She attended The Center for Culinary Arts and graduated in 2005. After spending nearly 5 years as the Sous Chef at Jordan Caterers, she was given the opportunity to build a new eatery from the ground up and served as the Executive Chef until the birth of her first daughter in 2011. Blessed with her second daughter three years later, Gianna continued off-premise catering until opening Verbena Caterers in 2016.
Gianna is the perfectionist. From menu inception until the last plate is cleared, she’s got your back, making sure everything is delivered as promised.
OUR TEAM
Our devoted team is an essential extension of our closely-knit family, always sharing their warmth and genuine hospitality. They embody professionalism, dedication, and hard work, and their commitment plays a pivotal role in the success of our events.