Catering Information

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This page provides an overview of catering policy and procedure.  Please review it carefully to ensure policy compliance.

Definitions

TERMDEFINITION
CateringFood and/or beverage service that includes food preparation or serving at an event.   This is different from food drop-off.
Covered ServiceService that is to be performed by a university unit or employee (not an outside contractor or supplier).  Catering is considered a Covered Service.
Food Drop-OffA food drop-off is a situation where food is prepared off-site (not a UC Facility) and physically dropped off at a UC Facility with no additional service or preparation provided. The Covered Service policy does not apply to food drop-offs.
UC FacilityProperty owned, leased, or otherwise operated by the University of California/UC Davis. UC Davis facilities include those in remote locations operated by UC Davis, including Bodega Marine Lab and field stations in Tulare.  

UC Davis Catering Options

Olive & Vine 

Olive & Vine (UC Davis Dining Services) is the UC Davis caterer for the main Davis campus.  

All catering requests for university facilities (excluding UC Davis Health departments/units) are to be fulfilled by Olive & Vine.

Any UC Davis catering requests for university facilities that cannot be fulfilled by Olive & Vine require a Covered Service carve-out request as described later on this page. 

Food and Nutrition Services

Food and Nutrition Services is to be used for all catering requests for UC Davis Health departments and units. 

If Food and Nutrition Services is unable to fulfill a catering request for a UC Davis Health unit at a university facility, a carve-out request is required, as described later on this page.

Davis Campus Food Trucks

UC Davis Dining Services also has contracts with multiple food truck companies, which are regularly located on the main Davis core campus. Those food trucks have established revenue agreements with the university and are excluded from Article 5/Policy 5402 for contracting out covered services. 

Catering Instructions: University Facility

  1. For full-service catered meals, students, faculty, and staff are required to utilize Olive & Vine or Food and Nutrition Services as mentioned above. For Olive & Vine orders, follow the instructions on the billing.
  2. If Olive & Vine or Food and Nutrition Services are unable to support the request, a request for a carve-out to the Covered Services policy must be completed. The carve-out must include documentation from Olive & Vine  or Food and Nutrition Services (e.g., an email) stating that they are unable to provide your requested service. 
    1. Carve-outs are not permitted in any facility funded with General Fund capital expenditures. View the most recent list of General Fund capital expenditures to determine if your facility is included. Please note that the list is subject to change at any time.
  3. The carve-out request is to be reviewed and approved by the Covered Services team.
  4. An Aggie Enterprise Requisition document of the Agreement Review type, Catering, Lodging, Event (card payment), is required when a supplier will provide service at a campus location.
  5. Once the Requisition has been approved by Procurement & Contracting Services, you can process payments to the caterer, using the Travel Card whenever possible to pay for the catering expenses.
  6. Attach the signed and approved carve-out request to your AggieExpense report when reconciling the card expense. 

Olive & Vine Billing Process

Olive & Vine uses the Preferred Booking Program system to directly charge departmental account(s).

  1. Place the order with Olive & Vine.
  2. The order form requires an Employee ID (AggieExpense Traveler ID).
  3. Olive & Vine will submit the billing through the campus' Preferred Booking Program billing option.
  4. Charges will appear in AggieExpense under Available Expenses.
  5. Import the expense into an AggieExpense report and complete and submit the report.

Catering Instructions: Non-University Facility

Please note: As of April 2025, covered services policies also apply in cases where a non-UC facility is being used.

  1. The Covered Services policy does also apply in the case where a non-UC facility is being used.  A request for a carve-out to the Covered Services policy must be completed unless the caterer is already included as part of the venue rental agreement,
  2. An Aggie Enterprise Agreement Review document,  Catering, Lodging, Event (card payment), is required to be completed for any caterer agreements requiring a university signature.
  3. Once the Aggie Enterprise document has been approved by Procurement & Contracting Services, payments can be processed to the caterer, using the Travel Card whenever possible.

Alcohol Service Information

The supplier, Capitol Garage, has a university agreement for bar service.  The university Travel Card should be used for any payments to Capitol Garage; be sure to cite agreement number A74639 when contacting Capitol Garage.

Other suppliers may be used for bar service with a fully approved Aggie Enterprise Purchase Agreement in place before the event.

Please visit the Conference and Events Services website for alcohol permit information and other requirements for alcohol service on university property and for university events.