Commitment to The Good

We, the Forage Sisters, are committed to serving the highest quality food and beverages while being mindful of our environmental impact. In addition to the highest quality service, our mission is to support regenerative farmers and producers by utilizing and preparing their goods for events, showcasing their good work and supporting them in their environmental and social missions. In addition to local produce and flowers, we strive to purchase grain, meat and dairy from small ethical farmers and producers who raise happy, healthy, rotationally pastured animals from farmers we know, or well-known producers whom we trust. We take the utmost care to purchase ethically and environmentally sound goods when shopping off farm as well. As such, we adhere to Seafood Watch’s recommendations of sustainable choices. We also do not purchase single serve items or use plastic water bottles, and we do our best to avoid purchasing goods packaged in plastic. We recycle, and in order to reduce the waste we produce, food scraps are sent to local pig farmers and compost purveyors. In addition to our commitment to support local farms and producers in and around our community, we are also committed to paying a livable, generous wage to all of our staff and team members. 

Winter/Seasonal Sourcing

We create our inspired menus based on the season, our farmer-partners, and what they have available to us. For cold-season events this includes the local winter bounty, including local meats and dairy, green-house raised tender fruits and vegetables, winter greens, root and storage vegetables, dry goods, preserved spring and summer harvests, as well as quality ferments. We seek to source as locally and responsibly as possible at all times, however if you have a dream that is out of season or unavailable in Colorado, we are happy to make it come true with responsible sourcing.

Bar and Bartending

Forage Sisters and their bartenders are skilled and inspired mixologists who are happy to assist you with your event bar planning as well as provide bartending services. Per Colorado Law, we are only allowed to serve spirits, not sell them to our clients; therefore hosts provide all wine, beer and liquor for our TIPS certified bartenders and servers to pour, shake and serve – this includes everything from a specialized and stocked bar with custom event-inspired cocktails, to wine service with dinner, to pouring and passing champagne to your guests. 

Tastings

All guests are welcome to book a tasting of their menu or prospective menus. Because we create everything seasonally, we may not be able to replicate your exact menu, depending on the time of year, but will do our best to showcase our palette and style so you understand what kind of meals and service we provide. Tastings are booked as our schedule permits starting at $125 per couple, with each additional person at $45 plus sales tax and gratuity.

Rentals

Clients will provide their own rentals for their event. Forage Sisters are happy to help coordinate these rentals, which could include: tent, tables, chairs, linens, plates, silverware, glassware, bar, and specialty kitchen items requested by the client for special dishes outside of Forage Sister’s mobile kitchen scope. Forage Sisters can provide platters and serving forks for all grazes, buffets, passed appetizers and family style meal service for parties under 100 guests or distances under 100 miles from either of our home bases. Parties larger than 100 guests or over 100 miles from our home bases will have to rent all serving platters and serving ware. Forage Sisters will provide their own kitchen and tents for the preparation of food unless otherwise discussed with the client and their other coordinating vendors.

Walk-Throughs

In order to have a perfect event that feels as effortless as possible, all events booked with us will include a walk-through with one of our managing staff as well as you or your event planner, booked prior to your event as our joint schedules permit. All walk-throughs, correspondence, coordinating, planning and associated labor that go into bringing a full service farm-to-table restaurant experience to the Client  are included in our service fee.

Payment and Payment Schedule

Forage Sisters accepts many forms of payment including cash, cashiers’ checks, personal checks*, wire transfers, credit card and Venmo. We charge 3% on credit cards and Venmo due to the fees we incur. Final payments are always due two weeks before the event unless there are special arrangements made and agreed upon when event contracts are signed.

Payments should be made payable to ‘Forage Sisters’ and sent to 10261 3100 Rd. Hotchkiss CO 81419. 

*Personal checks– Bounced checks will incur a $100 fee for staff time to rectify our accounts. Additionally, if bounced checks occur in accordance with our late payment policy (see below) late fees will also be charged to the client.

Deposit

A signed contract and 20% non-refundable deposit are required to secure a calendar date. This 20% can be transferred to another date within one calendar year of the original booked date if the client reschedules [for any reason]. If the client fails to book another event within one calendar year, the client forfeits their deposit.

Leftovers

The Forage Sisters want to create a beautiful, abundant event where every guest feels well fed, so in order to accommodate each guest’s appetite, and to ensure our clients and guests get exactly what satisfies them, we thoughtfully over-estimate our quantities. Therefore we often have some leftovers. The Forage Sisters are not liable for the food safety or handlings of leftovers after service – since leaving them for guests or clients renders us unable to control how they are reheated/stored/transported etc. With that in mind, if the Client provides vessels or containers for leftovers, our staff is happy to package them up during the strike and clean-up portion of your event and leave them in a designated place. Any and all leftovers that do not have a container provided for them will go to our pig-food buckets and turned into animal feed for our farm and other farmers.

Travel

In order to execute menus 100 miles away from our two 2022 staff home bases (Hotchkiss and Boulder), we charge an additional $100 per diem per staff member per day they are working away from home (Hotchkiss or Boulder, we staff from whichever base is closer to the booked event) in order to compensate them for the extra traveling. We also charge for or ask the client to provide accommodations for all of the staff including a full working kitchen for the night after the event(s). This normally takes the form of an airbnb local to the booked event, confirmed with the Forage Sisters at the time of a client’s signed contract.

Vendor Meals

We want everyone working at your event to feel well cared for and well fed. We are happy to provide a behind-the-scenes-buffet for up to 6 wedding vendors additional to your guest count; for any additional vendors we will charge 50% of your menu per head cost per vendor. 

Children

Infants and lap toddlers (under 2) will not incur an extra charge at your event. Children ages 2-10 will cost $25 per head per child. Children older than 10 will be included in the total guest count.

Exclusivity

All food items and nonalcoholic drink items (including bar mixers) served at your event must be coordinated with and purchased through theForage Sisters. Exceptions will be made if your event is being held at a venue which requires the use of an in-house bar/beverage service or if arrangements are made through the Forage Sisters to coordinate special requests for featured food items.

Service Staff

Staff costs are billed separately and adhere to agreed upon event timelines (see menu and contract). If an event runs over and requires staff to stay longer than contractually agreed upon, the Client will be billed for additional hours - overtime charges will be charged as time and a half.  If the guest count increases by more than 10% 15 days prior to the event, Forage Sisters will have the right to add more staff than originally estimated.

Final Attendance

The Forage Sisters requires a final guest count to be reported by the Client no later than fourteen days prior to the date of the event.  If a final guest count is not confirmed by the Client at that time, the maximum number of guests expected will be planned for and charged to the Client.

Change of Date/Venue

In the event of an event being rescheduled or changed, all monies prepaid will be applied to the new event date or location, minus a $500.00 administration fee, as long as it is within the 365 day booking year after the originally booked date, and the Forage Sisters are informed of the rescheduling 90 days before the original booked date. Booking a new date will be subject to the Forage Sisters’ and the Client’s mutual availability.  All new menus, labor and other costs are subject to changes with the new date. 

Administration and Service Fee

This 5% fee is an industry standard fee that covers the cost of “bringing the restaurant to you.” This includes ancillary labor, culinary staff labor,  administration costs, commercial kitchen costs, the equipment that we provide to execute your event and finish the preparation of food on-site (kitchen appliances, grills, firewood, propane, stoves, prep tables, transportation equipment, buffet equipment, etc.) insurance costs and other ‘behind the scenes’ expenses. Additionally, this covers our coordination and logistics to ensure a smooth event, including a walk-through of your venue and any other site visits or vendor visits necessary.

Compliance with Laws

We will ensure that all federal, state, and local laws related to food purchases and consumption are strictly enforced.

State and Local Taxes

All state and local taxes applicable to the event will be applied and included in the event total.

Gratuity

The Forage Sisters do not charge a gratuity for staff. At the Client’s discretion, a gratuity may be included for the Forage Sisters to distribute to their kitchen and event staff.

Late Fee

A late fee of $10 per day that the payment is late after the final payment contractual due date, or up to $300 per month, may be charged by the Forage Sisters to the Client.

Menu Changes

You, the Client, may make menu change requests up to 30 days prior to your scheduled event with the understanding that it may change the cost of ingredients or labor to create the new menu item, making your final invoice subject to change.

Food Safety

Some items may be served raw or undercooked or contain raw or undercooked ingredients. Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk for foodborne illness. All menu items are made fresh daily and some ingredients may not be listed. Please inform us if you are allergic to or intolerant of specific foods and we are happy to make the necessary adjustments.

Damage

We assume no responsibility for ANY damage or loss of any merchandise, alcohol, equipment, furniture, clothing or other valuables before, during or after the event. We will do everything possible to ensure that all of your supplies, rentals and equipment are cared for and maintained in good working order and without any damage.

Third Party Liability

The Client assumes responsibility for any and all damages caused by any guest, invitee or other person attending the scheduled event, including third parties who are hired to provide other services.

Unlawful Activities

The Client will comply with all federal, state, and local laws or orders, and will not do anything on the premises in violation of any laws, ordinances, rules or orders. If any unlawful activities occur and the event is canceled, the Forage Sisters will not offer a refund.

Insurance

The Forage Sisters maintains appropriate General Liability and Automobile insurance.

Forage Sisters Liability

The Forage Sisters’ only liability for third party claims will be limited to actions based on damages caused by our company or by the negligent conduct of our employees.

Rescheduling and Cancellations by the Client

All prepayments and deposits are forfeited if the Client cancels the event at any time. The Forage Sisters will apply the entire balance of your deposits and prepayments, less $500.00 for administration towards another event occurring within 365 days of the original event date within 90 days due notice of the booked event or at the discretion of the Forage Sisters. Re-booking is subject to mutual availability. All menu, labor and other costs are subject to change.