Close

Fall Engagement Party: Frederique & Jamie

Essential Herbs — Event Proposal   ·   Prepared for Scyler Van Der Wal

A Rooftop Engagement for Frederique & Jamie

Friday, September 25, 2026

Event
Engagement Celebration
Date
September 25, 2026
Time
6:00 PM — 9:00 PM
Service Style
Rooftop Al Fresco
Guest Count
40 Guests

An airy night meal al fresco with satiating bites.

A stunning rooftop soiree celebrating the engagement. Chef Russell has designed an evening built around grazing and movement — beginning with oysters, crudo, and a beautiful snacks table that invites guests to gather and graze, then transitioning into a gazing dinner built from late summer and early fall produce. The evening balances refinement with ease, sophisticated yet celebratory.

Late summer into autumn's turn.

September offers a unique culinary moment — the lingering sweetness of summer stone fruits and corn meet early fall's earthiness. Russell will build this menu around what's thriving at the farmers market as we transition seasons: heirloom tomatoes, fresh figs, late berries, and fall root vegetables beginning their emergence.

Menu Flow

Grazing Table — On Arrival
Gazing Dinner — Plated Courses
Dessert

Menu to be finalized based on seasonal farmers market availability and any dietary preferences. Options above are indicative of our approach.

Curated Bar & Champagne Service

House Program (Included)
Two mixed cocktails, two house wines, two house beers, still water, sparkling water.
Full Bar Service (Included)
$40 per person. Expanded selection of spirits, wines, and beers throughout service.
Champagne — Veuve Clicquot Brut (Included)
$22 per person. Premium champagne for toast or service throughout event. All remaining champagne and alcohol remain with client.

Evening flow.

6:00 PM — Guest arrival + grazing begins + Cocktails

7:00 PM — Switch table over to dinner options

8:30 PM — Dessert + coffee

9:00 PM — Service complete

10:00 PM — Clean up and pack out

Pacing is flexible based on conversation and client preference.

Full production team.

Kitchen: Head Chef (Russell), Sous Chef, Prep Chef

Floor: 2 Front of House, 1 Roaming Porter, 1 Bartender

This is a full-service production — our team manages all logistics, tableside service, beverage service, and kitchen execution so your guests experience a seamless, sophisticated evening.

Chef. Curator. Sourcing obsessive.

Russell Markus founded Essential Herbs to bring chef-led rigor to private events. Every menu is built from his understanding of what's at peak season, who grew it, and how to honor those ingredients. He approaches each event as a full production — menus are never recycled, service is never generic, and the sourcing philosophy is non-negotiable.

Russell maintains direct relationships with farmers across the Northeast. He visits farmers markets weekly, builds seasonal menus around what's abundant, and ensures every dollar spent on ingredients flows back to the people who grow them. 

Seasonal. Ethical. Direct.

All produce sourced within 250 miles of Brooklyn at peak season. Chef Russell maintains direct relationships with growers, ensuring ingredients are harvested days before the event. This approach delivers three benefits: maximum freshness and flavor, environmental integrity through minimal transportation, and fair compensation that allows farmers to maintain their teams and economies.

Complete execution.

Full Service
Rooftop Soiree $6,000.00
Food, staffing (Head Chef, Sous Chef, Prep Chef, 2 FOH, Roaming Porter, Bartender), menu design, house bar (cocktails, wine, beer, water), plating, rentals (stemware, flatware, cutlery, linens), September 25, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Pricing scales proportionally with guest count adjustments.
Gratuity (15% on Rooftop Soiree) $900.00
Beverage Upgrades
Full Bar Package $1,400.00
$40 per person × 40 guests. Expanded spirits, wines, beers beyond house program.
Veuve Clicquot Brut $880.00
$22 per person × 40 guests. Premium champagne for toast or service throughout event. All remaining champagne and alcohol remain with client.
Subtotal $9,180.00
NYC Sales Tax (8.875%) $815.28
Grand Total $9,995.28

Grand total includes all food, full staffing, full bar program, Veuve Clicquot service, service design, plating, rental coordination, and 15% service gratuity. Essential Herbs provides stemware, flatware, and cutlery for 40 confirmed guests.

All remaining beer, wine, champagne, and alcohol remain with client.

Full balance due Aug 5 to reserve the team and date. Payment in non-refundable. 

Each additional guest beyond base count: $150 pp + add-ons and fees. Client to handle A/V, candles, florals, lighting. Extended hours will require an additional fee of $1,000 per hour

Booking & Payment Terms
Full investment of $10,769.54 is required to secure the event date. This includes the Essential Herbs service ($9,995.28) and rental items ($774.26). All fees are non-refundable. Payment structure to be confirmed with Russell.

Rental Items

Event Rentals
Product Subtotal $545.50
Services $0.00
Fees & Charges $205.00
Damage Waiver Fee $21.83
Tax $1.93
Rental Total $774.26

Rental order includes: 2 × 8x30 tables, taupe natural linen, 6 cocktail table tops.

Guest Count
Confirm final guest count to finalize menu portions and beverage quantities.
Dietary Restrictions
Please share any allergies or dietary preferences. Menus are fully adaptable.
Venue & Logistics
100 Amity Street, Brooklyn. Event will take place on host's home unit rooftop, pending rain contingency plan. Confirm rooftop access, kitchen access, power/AV needs, and indoor backup space if weather requires relocation.
Rental Delivery & Pickup
Delivery: September 24, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (economy service). Pickup: September 26, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (economy service). Property maintenance team must coordinate delivery and pickup windows.