"People love the idea of having dinner parties and barbecues or just serving a meal to family and friends. What most people don't enjoy is the preparation of the meal," Fox said.

That's where Chez Vous comes in. And now Fox has made it easier than ever to hold those fun or fancy parties with little to no effort on the part of the host.

"We started serving take-away food several months ago, and the idea--which isn't a new one but one we hadn't done in a long time--has really caught on with the people of Willow Glen," Fox said.

With Chez Vous Catering, take-away food means exactly what it sounds like. A client will call in and place an order for a tray of hors d'oeuvres, a salad, an entrée or a simple cheese-and-fruit platter; then, at the time they request it, the client shows up at Chez Vous and picks up a completely prepared dish. What could be easier?

"We've been working with our clients and we've gotten to do some really fun things," Fox said. "Many of our clients are having themed parties now and have some of their own ideas as to how the food will be served. What we do is prepare the food they want on some of their own dishes. This way the food still has the feel of 'homemade' or it fits in with the theme of their party."

Chez Vous still offers full-service catering. It provides the staffing at a party location, does the setup, the serving and the cleanup, but with the quiet economy more people are opting for the simpler take-away food.

"Many people these days don't have the time or the knowledge to prepare some of the dishes we offer," Fox said. "What we strive to do is to help our clients have the most elegant or casual party possible without the stress of preparing the food or breaking their wallets."

With summer just around the corner, Fourth of July parties will be in the planning.

"People have a lot to celebrate this year on the Fourth of July. A lot of people like to have barbecues as part of the celebration," Fox said.

And Chez Vous can help with the parties.

"Our chefs have come up with some wonderful meat marinades, and they're perfect for barbecuing," she said.

Once the client decides on the cut of meat they would like, Chez Vous prepares the meat and marinades it. On the day of the party the client goes to Chez Vous, picks up their order and takes it home to cook.

"If someone orders chicken we bone it and take the skin off. We do all of the preparation so that the client doesn't have to. But the meal still has that personal touch because the food is cooked at the party," Fox said.

While Chez Vous does require a minimum order--a serving for 10 people--the selection of salads and other dishes available makes that an easy requirement.

"We find that most backyard parties have 10 people or more, so the requirement really isn't a problem with our clients," Fox said.

"The best party is the one where the host or hostess is relaxed and can enjoy their guests rather than spending all of their time preparing food," she adds.

For more information on Chez Vous Catering or to see their full menu, visit their website at www.chezvouscatering.com or call 408.277.0661. Chez Vous is located at 1053 Lincoln Ave., Suite 100.

In 1984 Lori Fox purchased Chez Vous Catering, and since then she and her staff have helped put the personal touch back into the catering business.

"People love the idea of having dinner parties and barbecues or just serving a meal to family and friends. What most people don't enjoy is the preparation of the meal," Fox said.

That's where Chez Vous comes in. And now Fox has made it easier than ever to hold those fun or fancy parties with little to no effort on the part of the host.

"We started serving take-away food several months ago, and the idea—which isn't a new one but one we hadn't done in a long time—has really caught on with the people of Willow Glen," Fox said.

With Chez Vous Catering, take-away food means exactly what it sounds like. A client will call in and place an order for a tray of hors d'oeuvres, a salad, an entrée or a simple cheese-and-fruit platter; then, at the time they request it, the client shows up at Chez Vous and picks up a completely prepared dish. What could be easier?

"We've been working with our clients and we've gotten to do some really fun things," Fox said. "Many of our clients are having themed parties now and have some of their own ideas as to how the food will be served. What we do is prepare the food they want on some of their own dishes. This way the food still has the feel of 'homemade' or it fits in with the theme of their party."

Chez Vous still offers full-service catering. It provides the staffing at a party location, does the setup, the serving and the cleanup, but with the quiet economy more people are opting for the simpler take-away food.

"Many people these days don't have the time or the knowledge to prepare some of the dishes we offer," Fox said. "What we strive to do is to help our clients have the most elegant or casual party possible without the stress of preparing the food or breaking their wallets."

With summer just around the corner, Fourth of July parties will be in the planning.

"People have a lot to celebrate this year on the Fourth of July. A lot of people like to have barbecues as part of the celebration," Fox said.

And Chez Vous can help with the parties.

"Our chefs have come up with some wonderful meat marinades, and they're perfect for barbecuing," she said.

Once the client decides on the cut of meat they would like, Chez Vous prepares the meat and marinades it. On the day of the party the client goes to Chez Vous, picks up their order and takes it home to cook.

"If someone orders chicken we bone it and take the skin off. We do all of the preparation so that the client doesn't have to. But the meal still has that personal touch because the food is cooked at the party," Fox said.

While Chez Vous does require a minimum order—a serving for 10 people—the selection of salads and other dishes available makes that an easy requirement.

"We find that most backyard parties have 10 people or more, so the requirement really isn't a problem with our clients," Fox said.

"The best party is the one where the host or hostess is relaxed and can enjoy their guests rather than spending all of their time preparing food," she adds.

For more information on Chez Vous Catering or to see their full menu, visit their website at www.chezvouscatering.com or call 408.277.0661. Chez Vous is located at 1053 Lincoln Ave., Suite 100.