Hidden Gems: Meet Jennifer of Jennifer Naylor, Inc – Catering and Special Events/Malibu Nectar/John Sparr Tavern

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A native Californian, I followed in my family’s footsteps to become the third generation in the restaurant business. My grandfather founded the Tiny Naylor’s chain, California’s original family-style restaurants and drive-ins. My father, Biff Naylor also began at a young age under his father and later carried on the family tradition as owner and operator of Du-par’s restaurants.

I entered the restaurant business in the 1980’s, first serving successive apprenticeships with Los Angeles chefs Roland Gibert, Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger. In 1990, I joined the restaurant team of Wolfgang Puck ultimately running his flagship restaurant Granita in Malibu. In 1996, Wolf sent me to travel through Italy for a year long immersion in Italian cuisine, first working in the heart of Umbria with Gianfranco Vissani at his Michelin two-star restaurant Vissani, and then at Dal Pescatore in Canneto sull’Oglio with Nadia Santini, the only Michelin three-star rated woman chef in all of Italy at that time. It was there that I was inspired by the Italian chefs’ creative and innovative use of traditional regional products, reduced to their simplest and purest form.

I launched my first solo venture in 2005, Jennifer Naylor Catering and Special Events, and created a niche in which to continue exploring my culinary passions while bringing a personal style of hospitality to our clients in Malibu, the Palisades and beyond. We have so enjoyed cooking for our clients, friends and guests, and are now planning some of these same families’ most special events for their next generation as well.

We recently expanded with a new Beverage Catering Company “Malibu Nectar” as a companion to the catering business, creating a seasonal cocktail program and custom menus for our clients, as well as pairing some amazing wines with our menus. We love incorporating fresh seasonal hand-picked produce from our local farmers, like our Cara Cara Spritz, the perfect welcome, or our Botanical G+T with Elderflower and Citrus, a fresh crisp cocktail to kick off the evening. Our Beverage Director is having fun with great pairings for the meal as well and fun after dinner drinks as well. It has become a great new outlet of creativity and a seamless partner to the catering company.

I have also been working on our newest endeavor, a special little neighborhood gem called John Sparr Tavern since last year in Montrose. I stumbled on this fabulous place created by two ex-Disney Imagineers with tin ceilings, a vintage bar, and a friendly waitstaff, the perfect atmosphere to grab after-work drinks with friends. Think great steaks and martinis, shrimp cocktail with Frank Sinatra playing. And of course, I had to add my grandpa Tiny Naylor’s famous Patty Melt to the menu. A little comfort is what we all need right now – come on by, hope to see you soon.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course the most difficult challenges for everyone have been the Pandemic and the LA Fires. We were able to quickly pivot during Covid to a home delivery service all throughout LA and all the way up t Santa Barbara and that really brought us closer to our clients in a moment of great need for everybody. Following the Woolsey and the Palisades and Eaton fires, we moved to feeding the firemen and their teams for several months, as well as those who had been displaced and lost their homes. I am truly proud of the resilience showed through some very tough and unexpected times which really brought us all to our knees. Watching our team help to build back with the support of our clients and vendors and community has been such a gift and some of my most special memories.

As you know, we’re big fans of Jennifer Naylor, Inc – Catering and Special Events/Malibu Nectar/John Sparr Tavern. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Jennifer Naylor Catering (JNC) specializes in Weddings and Social Events throughout the greater Los angeles area as well as Ojai, Montecito, Coachella Valley and beyond. We basically go wherever the party is! Since our team’s background was in restaurants originally, that same sensibility is brought to the dishes and the service we provide at our events.

With the addition of Malibu Nectar, we have become full-service and bring the same care to our beverage program as we do the food and service. It is that quality of ingredients we are most proud of and the care with which we prepare them for our guests.

I immediately fell in love with John Sparr Tavern, it has the same warm hospitality of my family’s restaurants I grew up with. It gives the neighborhood feel and comfort, along with the finest quality food and service – a great combo in my opinion!

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I think all restaurants and hospitality businesses can use our support now. We are doing our best to keep all we do accessible and to keep the quality and craftsmanship as well. We have increased our on-line catering menus for the holidays and love to create special menus like a great BBQ or Clam Bake for the Summer, or our famous Fried Chicken Fridays. We also would love to welcome you into John Sparr Tavern, stop on by for some neighborhood cheer!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennifernaylor.com/
• Instagram: @jennifernaylor
• Facebook: Jennifer Naylor

Image Credits
Photos 1,2,3 Michelle Beller
Photos 4,5,6,7,8 Tara Maxey