Business Details
37 Years
experience
Exceptional Catering & Event Planning in Long Beach
Established in 1989, our company has grown from a modest 1,000-square-foot kitchen in Long Beach to one of Southern California's most trusted catering and event planning firms. As sibling co-founders Sofia Riley and George Marinos, we combine decades of experience in hospitality with a passion for creating memorable experiences through bold flavors and innovative design. Our approach prioritizes personalized service, ensuring every event reflects clients' unique visions while delivering culinary excellence.We invest in international culinary expertise to craft menus that celebrate Southern California's cultural diversity and local ingredients. Through strategic vendor partnerships and meticulous attention to detail, we transform gatherings into unforgettable moments anchored by exceptional food and seamless execution. Our commitment extends beyond events through community involvement in causes related to health and child welfare.
Services
Catering
Event Planning
Beverage Services
Custom Menus
Dietary Accommodations
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of combined experience from our founder siblings in hospitality
- Our culinary team creates menus with both global influences and local ingredients
- International chef training ensures consistently exceptional food quality
- We accommodate special dietary needs without compromising quality
- Proven track record transforming both intimate gatherings and large celebrations
Services
Catering
Our catering service creates memorable culinary experiences through scratch-made dishes combining global flavors with local ingredients. Our international chefs craft seasonal menus that reflect client preferences while maintaining exceptional quality standards. We ensure dietary needs receive equal attention without compromising taste or presentation.
Event Planning
We provide comprehensive event planning from venue selection to final execution. Our specialists coordinate every element including decor, lighting, entertainment, and vendor partnerships to create cohesive, unforgettable experiences tailored to client visions.
Beverage Services
Our TIPS-certified bartenders offer curated beverage programs featuring local California wines, craft beers, and custom cocktails. We create signature drinks that complement event themes while maintaining professional service standards.
Custom Menus
We collaborate with clients to create personalized menus that may include family recipes or specific dishes. Our culinary team adapts traditional favorites and innovates new combinations while maintaining dietary accommodations.
Dietary Accommodations
Our chefs develop plant-based, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options that match the quality of our standard offerings. We maintain rigorous food safety protocols while ensuring special dietary needs receive equal culinary attention.
People
Sofia Riley
President / Founder
Sofia founded Tgis Catering Services in 1989 after graduating from California State University Long Beach and UCLA. With a family background in restaurants, she combines generational knowledge with formal education to lead the company's culinary vision.
George Marinos
Chief Executive Officer
Joining Sofia in 1999, George brings accounting expertise from BDO Seidman and creative production experience from Shoreline Entertainment. His dual background enables both financial discipline and artistic vision in event execution.
Jeremy Smith
Director of Sales
As Director of Sales, Jeremy connects prospective clients with TGIS's services, leveraging his understanding of Southern California's event landscape to match client needs with the company's capabilities.
Mark Rivera
Director of Events
Mark oversees event operations for The Centre and The Mayne venues, coordinating logistics and execution details for both corporate and private events with the attention to detail expected of TGIS events.
Monica Sajor
Event Manager
Monica manages event details from planning to execution, ensuring seamless coordination of culinary elements with event design. Her background in hospitality operations contributes to TGIS's consistent service quality.
Questions
How long has Thank Goodness Its Sofia been in business?
We've specialized in catering and event planning since 1989, serving Southern California for over three decades.
What makes your catering service unique?
We combine global culinary influences with local Southern California ingredients, creating custom menus and memorable dining experiences.
Can you accommodate special dietary requirements?
Yes, we offer plant-based, gluten-free, and customized options to ensure all guests enjoy our culinary creations.
Do you handle both food and event planning?
Yes, we provide complete event production including venue selection, menu creation, decor coordination, and beverage service.
What geographic areas do you serve?
We operate throughout Southern California with our Long Beach headquarters serving as our primary base.
Reviews (4)
MaDonna W.
May 01, 2022
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All things delicious this catering company supplies the best and the most beautiful display of foods. Last night they catered a party with the most delicious paella! The most creative martini mash potato short rib bar. with all of the Little extras that go with it( Bacon crispy, onions, red peppers, Parmesan cheese) And delicious hot prosciutto flatbread pizzas and mushroom flatbreads. The bar was set up beautifully and the staff had generous pours flowing. Champagne, wine, beautiful cosmopolitan cocktails in the most gorgeous glasses. If You are in need of an outstanding catering company- " thank goodness it's Sophia" is the company you need to call.
Thiago N.
Feb 03, 2022
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So this review is from a former employee and a client (kind of). I use to work for TGIS when I was in college. They were always good to me, they were super flexible before being flexible was cool. I was paid well too. All of this was like 10 years ago. Anyway, I recommended them for my cousins wedding. The wedding was a bit far off so I wasn't sure if TGIS would even be able to cater the wedding. Luckily it wasn't an issue.
The reception ran extremely late into the evening, we didn't have any issues what so ever. Of course I didn't recognize anyone there including the gal in charge. I was a bit nervous because I had made the recommendation for the catering. Thanks for pulling it off, thanks for an amazing dinner and set up. Everything was awesome.
The reception ran extremely late into the evening, we didn't have any issues what so ever. Of course I didn't recognize anyone there including the gal in charge. I was a bit nervous because I had made the recommendation for the catering. Thanks for pulling it off, thanks for an amazing dinner and set up. Everything was awesome.
D. Ha
Dec 03, 2021
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Was there recently attending my sister's wedding. Beautiful place, spacious indoor and outdoor. Great food and service
Matt L.
Jun 28, 2021
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Used TGIS to cater our wedding on 6/18/21 and our rehearsal dinner at our wedding venue the night before. Experience from start to finish for over a year was excellent. Great communication from Jeremy Smith from the get go. He answered all of our questions and happily made multiple revisions to our original quote with no hesitation. The food and staff for both events was fantastic. Had many comments from our guests about the quality.
We had steaks at the wedding and they were all perfectly cooked (very difficult to do at scale). I don't plan on having another wedding, but sure know who to call if I do. I would absolutely recommend this vendor to cater an event of any size.
We had steaks at the wedding and they were all perfectly cooked (very difficult to do at scale). I don't plan on having another wedding, but sure know who to call if I do. I would absolutely recommend this vendor to cater an event of any size.
