Corporate catering that feels personal — because it is.
Founder-led. Personally overseen by Lena Zakharova. Every event — the same genuine care.
From the Field
Real events. Real food.
Real care.
The gallery below shows real
High Touch events
and real care moments.
Lena responds personally — usually within the hour
Find Your Format
Find the right High Touch format
Choose the closest match. High Touch founder Lena Zakharova will shape the right menu, staffing, and care around it — personally, usually within the hour.
Our Philosophy
Human•Kind
“Always Both.”
The dot between the words is intentional. It holds two things together: humanity and kindness. Both matter. Neither works without the other. This is not a tagline. It is the operating principle behind every event we take on.
“We both came to San Francisco from countries that were at war with each other. We both arrived with almost nothing and rebuilt our lives in this city. We found each other — and recognized the same belief: that genuine care is rare, and there was room here for something completely different.”
We want to show the world that two women — one from Russia, one from Ukraine — can create peace, love, and care together, and overcome every obstacle in their way. High Touch exists because we chose to build what we wished existed.
Menu & Services
500+ internal menu possibilities across 12 cuisine worlds.
You never have to navigate it alone.
A curated sample is below. Tell us about your event, and Lena will build the right menu around your audience, format, budget, and feeling.
Why High Touch
Corporate catering done differently
Founder Lena Zakharova responds personally — within the hour
Not a team. Not a bot. Every inquiry goes directly to High Touch founder Lena Zakharova. She responds within 15–20 minutes. You are never speaking to anyone but the person who will oversee your event.
We go the extra mile when no one is watching
The laundry closet prep kitchen. The canned water at hour seven. The food that appears before you knew you needed it. That is how we operate.
30 combined years across Ukraine, Russia, and San Francisco
Before founding High Touch, Lena personally managed 45 events in six days during a single conference week — and government hospitality, 200+ person receptions. That operational depth is the foundation High Touch is built on.
AI takes care of the details. Lena takes care of you.
We use AI for event planning, timelines, and coordination. Lena makes every decision personally. Fastest proposal in SF — with a human at every step.
We bring the tasting to you
Schedule at your office or your venue. Taste the food. Talk through your event with Lena face to face. No pressure, no cost for the initial tasting.
500+ items. You never navigate a catalog.
Tell us about your event and the feeling you want. We build the right menu. Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mediterranean, California, Indian, Persian — curated specifically for you.
How It Works
From brief to flawless service — no back-and-forth required
Most clients get a tailored proposal within the hour. Here is exactly what happens after you reach out.
Send your brief
Tell us the basics: date, guest count, venue or neighborhood, and event type. Three minutes to complete. Lena acknowledges every submission personally, usually within 15–20 minutes.
Receive a curated proposal
Lena reviews your brief and sends a tailored plan — menu options, service format, staffing estimate, and pricing range. Not a template. A proposal built specifically for your event.
Refine the details together
Walk through dietary needs, timeline, setup requirements, and any venue constraints with Lena directly. Optional: schedule a personal tasting at your office or venue, at no cost.
We handle everything on the day
Setup, service, dietary labeling, line replenishment, and cleanup — all managed by the High Touch team. You focus on your guests. We handle the rest, quietly and thoroughly.
Bay Area Venues
We serve the whole Bay Area — wherever your event is, we will make it work.
We work across San Francisco and the Bay Area — office venues, historic spaces, hotel ballrooms, and anywhere with no kitchen at all. Tell us your venue and Lena will handle the logistics.
High Touch carries full liability insurance and COI documentation for every event. We handle venue insurance requirements directly.
For Executive Assistants & Ops Teams
We make the admin side easy, too.
High Touch works with corporate buyers every day. We are set up for the paperwork so you are not acting as an intermediary between catering and finance.
- ✓ Invoices, POs, and billing coordination
- ✓ Certificate of Insurance (COI) for every venue
- ✓ Vendor onboarding documents and W-9
- ✓ Flexible payment timing
- ✓ Repeat event memory — we keep your preferences on file
- ✓ Direct contact: always Lena, not a rotating support team
Get a tailored proposal
Lena responds personally, usually within the hour. Share the basics and she builds the rest.
What Clients Remember
Real people. Real events. Real care.
“I’ve worked with Lena for 2.5 years across multiple events for different clients, and I keep coming back to her for a reason. What sets Lena apart isn’t just her execution — it’s her instinct for what a production actually needs, including things you didn’t know to ask for. Seven hours into a long event, she’ll appear with a plate of food and a knowing smile. When a venue had no prep kitchen, she made it work out of a laundry closet. When a hot day caught us without enough water to drink, she had canned beverages in people’s hands before I’d even finished flagging the problem. She finds the way, every time. I’ve recommended Lena to others in my field without hesitation, and every single one of them has come back grateful.”
“I cannot say enough nice things about Lena, her team and her food. They catered for our conference and we simply couldn’t believe it was their first time doing a big event on their own. Every meal was healthy, delicious, and presented beautifully. Their guest service was exceptional. The team truly went the extra mile every day — bringing food and refreshments without being asked when they noticed someone was tired. We all felt like we were in the presence of friends and family around their team.”
“I honestly don’t even know where to begin. High Touch Catering completely changed my understanding of what catering can feel like. They didn’t just provide food for Human Tech Week — they became part of the energy, the atmosphere, and honestly the heart of the event. Your guests will rave about the food, but even more importantly, they will remember the feeling this team creates.”
“Lena Team absolutely crushed it! The food was so fresh and delicious, and you can genuinely tell how much care they put into everything. Not only was everything amazing, but the team was also incredibly sweet and kind the entire time. Highly recommend!!”
“High Touch Catering absolutely crushed it with this bowl!! Super fresh, vibrant, and delicious — packed with crisp greens, juicy tomatoes, tender veggies, and perfectly seasoned protein. Healthy never tasted this good. Excellent quality and attention to detail.”
“Amazing service! Personable with a VIP touch. Everything from food to presentation is high quality. Love Lena!”
“Caterers for the Human+Tech conference. Fresh ingredients, artfully crafted food, great service!”
The Founders
The people behind every High Touch event
Lena Zakharova
Former high-performance coach and motivational speaker, Lena rose from server to Senior Manager in SF in record time, personally executing thousands of events — including 45 events in six days during a single conference week before founding High Touch. She curates every proposal, responds to every inquiry, and is personally present at every High Touch event.
“Food is how we say: you matter.”
Chef Elena Fedchenko
16+ years of professional experience. Youngest head chef in a chain of pizzerias at 19. Ran children’s nutrition for an entire city. Recognized personally by the Ukrainian President. Became sous-chef in the US within two years of arriving — despite not yet being fluent in English. She leads every kitchen with the same discipline and warmth she has carried since she was 16.
“True professionalism is understood in any language.”
The High Touch Family
The people who bring Lena and Elena's care into the room.
Lena Zakharova personally selects every crew member — people who share the same belief that genuine care is the whole point, not a side effect. Every event. Every time.
Stories & Events
From the field
Event recaps, food stories, and behind-the-scenes from High Touch events across San Francisco.
🎉 Event Recap
Human Tech Week 2026 — Shift+Alt with Nichol Bradford
A full day of hospitality at Hibernia SF. Grazing stations, passed bites, and recharge moments — High Touch served 800+ guests on the first day of Human Tech Week 2026.
Read the story →
🍳 Behind the Scenes
The Hibernia Grazing Table — How We Build a Signature Display
From the first ingredient to 200 guests grazing — a behind-the-scenes look at the process, the thinking, and the care that goes into a High Touch spread.
Read more →
▶ Team Moment
Most People See the Food. We See This.
The team huddle before doors open. The moment that sets the tone for everything that follows.
Full story →Common Questions
Everything you need to know before you reach out
Still have questions? Lena responds personally within the hour.
Book a personal tasting with Lena.
We come to you — your office, your venue, or our kitchen. Taste the food. Talk through your event. No pressure, no cost for the initial tasting.
Schedule a Tasting →Ready to Start?
Tell us about your event.
Lena responds personally, usually within the hour. Share what you know — she builds the rest.
Guest count · Date · Venue or neighborhood · Service style · Budget range