OUR STORY
Carlo was born in Makati, Philippines, and as a toddler, moved with his parents to Southern California. He has always been interested in cooking. Influenced at an early age by his mother and grandmother (Mama Ita), he blends a unique experience in each of his signature dishes, with flavor profiles rooted in Filipino culture. Carlo has a deep love for family and enjoys introducing people to his rich heritage through food, creativity, and culinary expression.
Jennifer was also raised in Southern California, by Igorot Filipinix immigrant parents. Her passion in the hospitality “business” started at a young age... She remembers charging $0.25 per cup of coffee to aunties and uncles playing cards at family parties as a child.
Both Carlo’s and Jennifer’s upbringing were filled with family gatherings and events with the wider Filipinx and Igorot communities. After getting married in Hesperia, California, they have carried on the tradition of family parties in their Santa Clarita home, where Carlo always cooks and Jennifer bakes. At each party, Jennifer and Carlo practice what they do best, bring people together. Jennifer remembers hearing the phrase, "Calajo Mengan" at family parties, which translates to, "Come and eat" in Ibaloi, Jennifer’s family’s dialect and native tribe. They now welcome you to their table, as if you are guests in their home.
Calajo Mengan!
Carlo and Jennifer Avanceña
OUR WHY
Our children inspire us to be better everyday.
Our parents support us in everything we do.
Our family.
C O M M U N I T Y
As mission-driven advocates who specialize in hospitality operations and sales, we practice our values of supporting community through volunteerism and collaboration efforts. From our own cultural roots and career experiences, practicing humanity is our core value. To partner with a variety of social justice, human rights and cultural non-profit organizations is one way we express this core value.
Our mission is clear: to Do Business Better by advancing entrepreneurism within BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities and practice true inclusion and diversity for all organizations to pursue.
BIMAK Los Angeles was organized in 1960 by the first wave of Igorot immigrants. As an Igorot-American, Jennifer has been very involved with BIBAK Los Angeles since her youth. Her involvement included learning and performing traditional Igorot dances, attending and organizing workshops and community events. Through BIBAK Los Angeles, Jennifer’s passion for the hospitality, meeting, and event industry strengthened and devotion to community service and upliftment began. The organization’s leaders inspired her entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. Jennifer is now a board member of BIBAK Los Angeles.
L A N D A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T
Calajo Catering recognizes and acknowledges the first people of this ancestral and unceded territory of Chaguayanga that is now the City of Santa Clarita; honors their elders, past and present, and the descendants who are citizens of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. We recognize that the Tribe is still here and we are committed to lifting up their stories, culture, and community.
N I C E T O M E E T Y O U
Carlo Antonio Avanceña, CCC
Carlo is an accomplished chef who is skilled in catering, hotel management, cooking, food preparation, and the hospitality industry. Carlo was formally the Executive Sous Chef at Loews Hotels in Santa Monica, California; prior to this position, he was the Kitchen Manager at University of Southern California’s The Lab Gastropub from 2015-2016, the Chef De Cuisine at Specialty Restaurants Corporation from 2012-2015, and the Sous Chef at JW Marriott Beach Hotel & Spa’s Le Merigot Restaurant in 2012. He was also the Sous Chef, Chef De Partie, and Chef De Tournant at Hilton Worldwide and The Boulders Resort.
Carlo is a Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) through the American Culinary Federation. He was honored with winning the NACUFS in the AFC Culinary Challenge in 2016 and has published several articles in USC’s Daily Trojan. He is a graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, where he developed his cooking skills and a strong sense for business. He continues to learn and grow as a chef everyday, and has completed additional courses on employee coaching and development, leadership, and management.
Jennifer Catanes Avanceña, CMP
Jennifer has more than 20 years of professional experience in the hospitality industry, food and beverage leadership, catering, and event management. Advancing from operations to hotel management, her hospitality expertise is from work experience in a variety of Los Angeles hotels including Senior Catering Sales Manager at the former Luxe City Center Hotel and opening team member of UCLA’s Luskin Conference Center, to USC’s Radisson Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton, Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, Hilton Worldwide Hotels, and Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel at Cal Poly Pomona.
Jennifer is a Certified Meeting Professional with The Events Industry Council (EIC). She studied business administration at Pepperdine University and Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management at Johnson and Wales University. Throughout her career, she has continued her education and professional development by completing a variety of courses in sales, leadership and marketing.
Through planning and producing events of all sizes, she is an expert at developing relationships with clients, partners and colleagues. Experienced at anticipating her clients’ needs and expectations, it brings her immense joy to execute a successful event and provide her clients with an experience to remember.
In addition to hospitality, Jennifer’s passions include community and culture. As a Board of Director member with BIMAK Los Angeles and Committee Chair of the API Business Council of the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of participating in projects with the purpose of building community and sharing culture for the betterment of humanity especially in BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities.
“We value time with family and celebrating one another. This is our culture. In today's demanding world, we are providing an experience to make your next family gathering, event or celebration memorable with easy planning, delicious food and a seamless execution of your event.”
— Jennifer & Carlo Avanceña
A C C O L A D E S
Carlo Avanceña: Gold Medal USC Culinary Challenge 2016
Carlo Avanceña: Bronze Medal NACUFS Pacific Culinary Challenge 2016
Carlo Avanceña: Certified Chef De Cuisine by American Culinary Federation
Carlo Avanceña: Certificate of Appreciation from Illongo Association of Southern California
Jennifer Avanceña: Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) by Events Industry Council
Jennifer Avanceña: Honoree by Los Angeles Police Department, California Gang Task Force