About Say Ciao

  Who We Are 

Peter Leigh Gallin is executive Chef and owner of Say Ciao! Creative Catering / Columbia River Tap Room and Eatery, and is a devotee to fresh, healthy Northwest regional and International cuisine. He is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy located in San Francisco, California with a curriculum focused on classical French cooking techniques. He has worked as a chef since graduation in 1988, both as a caterer as well as both as a caterer as well as chef du cuisine at numerous restaurants. Chef Peter’s catering career started in 1990, in Hood River Oregon where he moved to pursue summer windsurfing. At that time he started his catering service and has continued to cater full time since then. He owned his own restaurant, Applewood, for 11 years, closing the doors to downsize to catering only again in 2013 and to then open his current location in Vancouver, Say Ciao! Columbia River Tap Room and Eatery.

Chef Peter’s philosophy on food is “Simplicity is elegance”. Use local ingredients when you can and give your guests approachable food in portion sizes that make for guests to feel comfortable with how they dine. Variety is always important as well; Chef Peter hopes guests will enjoy a wide array of what is offered, yet at the same time always take into account “picky” eaters. Creating almost everything from scratch is a hallmark of Say Ciao! Creative Catering. A buffet should be bountiful, and be an integral part of the occasion or celebration, as food is life! Chef Peter’s cuisine is always varied. Whether he is creating recipes from his classical French cooking background which tends to border on western Mediterranean, or taking a Pacific Rim cant to perhaps utilizing his time spent in the American Southwest for a bit of spice, one can always rely on flavorful and healthful cuisine from Chef Peter!

It’s all about the ingredients; finding the right produce, meats, cheeses, herbs and all that is out there to “play” with is what Chef Peter does. Creating new recipes on an almost daily basis keeps Say Ciao’s menus fresh, alive and always full of surprises. Be sure to check out Chef Peter’s blog for new and exciting news and recipes…

Peter is the son of an anthropologist and a sociologist and is a world traveler who has spent time living in Asia and all over North America, including the East and West Coast, the Deep South, Southwest, Midwest and Northwest. His past pursuits have included being an avid skier; 14 winters were spent in Colorado, Taos NM and Utah. Windsurfing in Hood River Oregon during the summer rounded out his year. Riding his Ducati motorcycle is his main sporting pursuit. And as he always likes to say: “Simple elegance; deliciously common ingredients.”

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  What We Do

Say Ciao is a full-service caterer able to work closely with you to ensure your wedding or event is the celebration you deserve. Whether you need catering for 6 or 600 we can arrange for every necessity; from all rentals and staffing, to cakes and desserts, alcoholic beverages, photographer and flowers, as well as the site.

Say Ciao is experienced in large formal weddings, rehearsal dinners, elegant hors d’oeuvres, small intimate repasts as well as corporate and business functions. Our menus are tailored to fit any palate and budget. Let Chef Peter Gallin and Say Ciao Catering’s trained professional staff to handle all the details to make your reception an event you and your guests will truly enjoy.

   Services We Offer

• Breakfasts and brunches – continental, full, hot and cold specialties with house baked muffins, scones and pastries
• Lunches – hot, cold, buffet and plated, box lunches
• Dinners- from fresh seafood, to locally raised lamb, options are almost unlimited with simple to elegant choices.
• Appetizers and hors d’ oeuvres – a vast array of plattered options and butler style passed – amazing hand crafted to whet any appetite
• Desserts and sweets – all made in house, from simple cookies and bars to full blown dessert buffets, we can do it all.
• Creative soups, casseroles and stews
• Beer, wine, spirits, staffing, coordination of any and all rental equipment
• Cooking classes and demonstrations
• Full staffing

   Our Tap Room

Say Ciao! offers lunch Monday ~ Friday, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, and live music most Friday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm. We are closed Saturday and Sunday, except for private events. Enjoy amazing sandwiches, quesadillas, awesome burgers, hand cut french fries, salads, Chef Peter’s unique soups, garden salads, kettle chips and our in-house baked sweets.

In addition to being open for lunch, our dining room may be used for a private event space on weekends as well as Monday and Tuesday evenings. Wine tastings, wine dinners, corporate events including hors d’ oeuvres, full plated and buffet dinners, appetizers and fine wines and beer will be offered. Email Chef Peter for info and availability!