From Chaos to Celebration: How a Catering Service in Chennai Saved My Grandmother’s 90th Birthday

It was my grandmother’s 90th birthday on the 29th of June, a milestone that deserved to be celebrated with love, laughter, and all her favourite people. I had this big, beautiful idea: to throw her a surprise party at home with her closest friends. After all, I’m the grown-up now — the “responsible” granddaughter who’s supposed to be able to pull off heartfelt gestures and picture-perfect events.

It was so beautiful to imagine, but when it came to actually planning it? Ugh.

As the date crept closer, I realised I’d underestimated how much work it would take. Coordinating invitations, organising decorations, managing seating, and figuring out return gifts — the to-do list was endless. And then came the most stressful part: the food.

I initially thought I could totally use one of the family recipes to cook a wholesome meal and maybe order a few dishes from a restaurant. But as the RSVPs started pouring in, so did the anxiety. I didn’t want to spend my grandmother’s big day trapped in the kitchen, juggling vessels. I wanted to sit next to her, hear her stories, and watch her light up with every new guest that walked in.

That’s when I decided I needed help. I searched for a catering service in Chennai that truly understood the kind of celebration I was trying to create, something intimate and rooted in home-style comfort. I wasn’t looking for a grand, impersonal setup. I needed someone who specialised in small catering, someone who could handle home events with both efficiency and heart.

So, at 11 PM, tired but determined, I began Googling things like “best catering services Chennai” and “home caterers Chennai for birthday party.” That’s when I came across CaterNinja.

Their website was pretty straightforward and thoughtfully designed. They offered flexible menu options, transparent pricing, and special services tailored for intimate home events. I filled out a quick form, and I got a call back the next morning.

From the first conversation, I felt like they got it. I didn’t have to explain too much, just told them the guest count, the kind of food my grandmother loved, and the tone I was going for. We ended up choosing the NinjaBuffet, which offered a comforting vegetarian spread: soft phulkas, paneer butter masala, vegetable biryani, creamy raita, and, the highlight, a live South Indian dosa counter right in our backyard.

They even helped us set up banana leaves for a nostalgic, traditional feel, something my grandmother hadn’t experienced in years.

On the day of the party, everything was seamless. The food arrived well ahead of time, perfectly packed and labelled. The staff was polite, professional, and incredibly organised. I didn’t have to give a single instruction. It just… flowed.

My grandmother was glowing. She was genuinely moved when she saw her friends gathered, the thoughtful setup, and the delicious spread that reminded her of family weddings from years ago. And I? I finally got to sit beside her, holding her hand, watching her smile, exactly as I’d imagined.

What stood out to me most was that CaterNinja didn’t just deliver food, they delivered peace of mind. Their team helped me be fully present on one of the most important days for our family.

If you’re planning an event at home, any kind of event, I can’t recommend them enough. Just brief them with the kind of celebration you want, and they deliver. Caterers like CaterNinja make it possible to host with joy, not stress. And really, that’s what matters most.

Because sometimes, the best gift you can give… is simply being there.