Why Ñora
Our Story
Ñora Spanish Catering was founded by chefs Sergio Emilio Monleón and Emily Sarlatte. The two met while working in restaurants in 2000 and had both spent time living in Spain, where they developed a shared love for the food, culture and way people gather around the table.
In 2012, Sergio and Emily began cooking Spanish food at Bay Area festivals and markets. The enormous paella pans drew crowds, and what began as festival cooking grew into Ñora Spanish Catering. Today, Ñora caters weddings, corporate events and private celebrations throughout the Bay Area, from simple paella parties to full-service events.
Paella is still at the center of what we do. Our chefs learn the techniques directly from Sergio and Emily, while our catering team handles the planning, staffing, rentals, bar service and event logistics that allow the food to work at events of all sizes.
From Ñora to La Marcha
In 2015, Sergio and Emily opened La Marcha Tapas Bar in Berkeley, giving the Spanish cooking behind Ñora a permanent restaurant home. The restaurant remains closely connected to the catering company and is also where many Ñora clients come for tastings.
La Marcha is recognized by the MICHELIN Guide as a Spanish restaurant, and Michelin describes it as coming from the team behind Ñora Cocina Española. La Marcha is also certified by Restaurants from Spain and was included in Eater’s & SF Chronicle’s 2026 list of the Best Restaurants in Berkeley. La Marcha has earned national press and rave reviews from critics and diners alike, including acclaimed San Francisco Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer, who declared “Paella, perfected” in his review of the restaurant. Read the SF Chronicle review.
That restaurant background carries directly into the catering. Whether we are cooking paella in a backyard or feeding a large wedding, the expectation is the same: good ingredients, proper cooking and food that people remember.
“
Paella, Perfected.
Michael Bauer · Food Critic · San Francisco Chronicle
Ñora and La Marcha have been featured and recognized by local and national food publications and organizations for their Spanish cooking, paella and hospitality.
What Our Clients Say
“The food was a major hit and several of our guests said it was the best food they had at a wedding.”
Allison · 160-person wedding
WeddingWire ★★★★★
“The food, service and presentation were absolutely phenomenal.”
Kerry · 200-person wedding · Half Moon Bay
WeddingWire ★★★★★
“Many guests came up to say it was some of the best wedding food they’d had.”
Anna · 150-person farm wedding · Petaluma
WeddingWire ★★★★★
“So many of our friends and family told us that this was the best wedding food they had ever had.”
Michelle P. · Wedding
The Knot ★★★★★
“They were the best vendor we worked with.”
Colin · Wedding at Wildwood Estate & Gardens · Watsonville
WeddingWire ★★★★★
“That was the best paella I have ever had!”
Brett M. · Private Event
Yelp ★★★★★
Reviews & Profiles
For more than a decade, couples, companies and private clients throughout the Bay Area have trusted Ñora with their events. Across WeddingWire, The Knot, Yelp and Google, the same things come up again and again: food guests are still talking about after the event, the experience of watching the paella come together, and a catering team that helps manage the details behind the scenes.
We’re especially proud that clients don’t just talk about the paella. They talk about the servers and bartenders, the planning support, the presentation, the flexibility and how smoothly the event came together. Our reviews include intimate private gatherings and backyard weddings, as well as 150- and 200-person celebrations at venues throughout the Bay Area.
Read more from past clients and see photos from real Ñora events on our public profiles.
