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Spain

Ham Carver in Spain

Ham carved by hand in front of the guests is one of the few things at an event people actually stop to watch. A professional carver sets up a small table, carves through the reception and plates as they go, so no queue forms; nothing like ham cut three hours earlier and covered in cling film. The knife work becomes part of the atmosphere, and the smell does the rest.

Below are the professionals and companies in the directory offering this service across Spain. Before you contact them, this page explains what the service includes, how long it lasts, who supplies the ham and what you should ask for in the quote so there are no surprises on the day.

65 catering companies · 2 cities

A ham carver seen from behind slicing an Iberian ham on its stand at an outdoor event

Ham Carver by city

Madrid (16) Malaga (6)
Stillroom

Stillroom

Madrid

5.0 (103 reviews)

Catering company specialising in cocktail, corporate, weddings, parties, gourmet and ham carver, based in Madrid.

Cocktail Corporate Weddings +3
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Catering AsturCocteleros

Catering AsturCocteleros

Gijon, Asturias

4.8 (45 reviews)

Catering company specialising in cocktail, parties, wedding planner, weddings, open bar, private chef, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, home catering, openings and industrial, based in Gijon.

Cocktail Parties Wedding Planner +9
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Paella Company

Paella Company

Madrid

4.9 (7 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, cocktail, ham carver, home catering, parties, children's parties and paella & bbq, based in Madrid.

Open Bar Cocktail Ham Carver +4
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Artigot Catering

Artigot Catering

Madrid

4.7 (335 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, open bar, brunch, gala dinners, private chef, cocktail, coffee breaks and ham carver, based in Madrid.

Weddings Open Bar Brunch +5
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Azeri Jana Catering

Azeri Jana Catering

San Sebastian, Guipúzcoa

4.7 (27 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, brunch, cocktail, ham carver, home catering and parties, based in San Sebastian.

Open Bar Brunch Cocktail +3
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Grupo Sentire

Grupo Sentire

Bollullos Par del Condado, Huelva

5.0 (2 reviews)

Catering company specialising in corporate and ham carver, based in Bollullos Par del Condado.

Corporate Ham Carver
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Catering Lucia y Joaquin

Catering Lucia y Joaquin

Madrid

4.6 (85 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, gala dinners, cocktail, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, birthdays, hen & stag, home catering, trade fairs, openings and paella & bbq, based in Madrid.

Weddings Gala Dinners Cocktail +9
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López Garabaya

López Garabaya

Campillo de Salvatierra, Salamanca

4.6 (37 reviews)

Catering company specialising in ham carver and trade fairs, based in Campillo de Salvatierra.

Ham Carver Trade Fairs
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La Gourmet P3

La Gourmet P3

La Victoria de Acentejo, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

5.0 (1 reviews)

Catering company specialising in ham carver, home catering, parties, gourmet and paella & bbq, based in La Victoria de Acentejo.

Ham Carver Home Catering Parties +2
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Catering El Puerto

El Puerto de Sta María, Cádiz

5.0 (1 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, ham carver, birthdays, hen & stag, home catering, children's parties and paella & bbq, based in El Puerto de Sta María.

Weddings Ham Carver Birthdays +4
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Todo Evento

Lebrija, Sevilla

5.0 (1 reviews)

Catering company specialising in corporate, ham carver, parties, children's parties and paella & bbq, based in Lebrija.

Corporate Ham Carver Parties +2
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Catering Gastrosur

Catering Gastrosur

Huércal de Almería, Almería

4.6 (5 reviews)

Catering company specialising in ham carver, based in Huércal de Almería.

Ham Carver
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Bodegas NOC

Bodegas NOC

Manzaneque, Toledo

4.5 (141 reviews)

Catering company specialising in weddings, gala dinners, corporate, ham carver, hen & stag and parties, based in Manzaneque.

Weddings Gala Dinners Corporate +3
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Loxisco Galicia

Loxisco Galicia

Culleredo, A Coruña

4.5 (93 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, private chef, cocktail, corporate, ham carver, home catering, openings, paella & bbq and wedding planner, based in Culleredo.

Open Bar Weddings Private Chef +7
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El Coto Ramos

El Coto Ramos

Guijuelo, Salamanca

4.3 (23 reviews)

Catering company specialising in ham carver, based in Guijuelo.

Ham Carver
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Showcooking

Showcooking

A Coruna

4.1 (93 reviews)

Catering company specialising in brunch, gala dinners, private chef, cocktail, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, home catering, parties, openings and paella & bbq, based in A Coruna.

Brunch Gala Dinners Private Chef +8
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El Farito

El Farito

Urb. Novo Santi Petri, Cádiz

4.1 (2958 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, private chef, cocktail, ham carver, home catering and paella & bbq, based in Urb. Novo Santi Petri.

Open Bar Private Chef Cocktail +3
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Restaurante Reserva JUPAMO

Restaurante Reserva JUPAMO

Villanueva del Trabuco, Málaga

3.7 (74 reviews)

Catering company specialising in open bar, weddings, cocktail, ham carver, birthdays, home catering and parties, based in Villanueva del Trabuco.

Open Bar Weddings Cocktail +4
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Jardines de Uleta

Jardines de Uleta

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava

Catering company specialising in open bar, brunch, cocktail, coffee breaks, corporate, ham carver, birthdays and openings, based in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Open Bar Brunch Cocktail +5
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What the service includes

A professional ham carver arrives with their own kit and sets up in a surprisingly small space. The service normally includes:

  • A carving table with skirting, a professional ham holder and good lighting.
  • Their own knives and sharpening steel, and the skill to use them.
  • Plating: small plates, paper cones or wooden boards, depending on how the rest of the food is served.
  • The carving itself for the agreed time, plus vacuum-packing whatever is left at the end.

The ham can be supplied by the carver or by you. Both are common and both change the final price, so it has to be decided before asking for quotes. If the carver supplies it, they will usually ask how many guests you expect and recommend a piece that fits the event.

Thin slices of freshly carved Iberian ham on a ceramic plate, beside the ham stand and carving knife

Service formats: reception, cocktail or show-cooking

A ham carver fits most events, but the way the service is set up changes with the format of the party:

  • Reception or welcome cocktail. The carver works during the first hour or two, while guests arrive and have a drink. This is the most common option for weddings and corporate events.
  • Standing cocktail throughout. The carver keeps working for the whole event, serving small portions as guests walk past. Ideal for product launches, fairs and gallery openings.
  • Show-cooking. The carver becomes part of the entertainment, with a small demonstration of knife technique and a longer explanation about the ham. Works well for private dinners and premium events.
  • Fairs and markets. The carver works in a stand with a counter, selling portions by the plate or by the cone.

Tell the carver which format you have in mind when asking for the quote: it decides the hours, the equipment and the plating.

How long it lasts and where it goes

Carving is booked by the hour and almost always coincides with the reception or the welcome cocktail. One to two hours is the most common length, but longer events can be covered with breaks or with a second piece.

When you book, agree on:

  • Start and finish times, and the cost of extending if the party runs longer than planned.
  • How many pieces will be opened and what happens to the remaining ham afterwards.
  • Where the table goes: visible but out of the waiters' route, with a power socket nearby for the light.
  • If the event is outdoors, whether there is shade. Ham on a table in the sun is ruined in minutes.

The carver needs about two metres of space, a solid table and step-free access. At a wedding, the usual place is near the bar or at the entrance of the terrace; at a corporate event, next to the catering point.

Hands carving a leg of ham with a long knife on its wooden stand, set on a linen tablecloth

What you pay for (and what the quote should show)

The quote has two parts worth seeing separately: the service (the carver's hours, equipment and travel) and the product, if they supply the piece. An acorn-fed ibérico ham and a grain-fed shoulder are not the same money, so ask the quote to state exactly which piece is included.

Carving is usually charged per hour of service, and the price changes with the day of the week, the season and the distance the carver has to travel. Saturdays in wedding season are the most expensive, and the least expensive slots are weekday mornings.

Quotes are usually presented without VAT. Catering services are taxed at 10%; if only the product is invoiced the rate can differ, so ask for it itemised. Three or four weeks ahead is plenty, except on Saturdays in wedding season.

How to ask for a quote without surprises

To compare offers from different carvers, send the same information to all of them. This avoids quotes that look alike but include different things.

  • The date, the city and the venue (including whether it has a power socket and shade).
  • The type of event and the format: reception, cocktail, show-cooking or fair.
  • The number of guests and the time window you want covered.
  • Whether you want the carver to supply the ham or you will buy it yourself.
  • Any extra needs: a second carver, a different plating, or a piece with a specific origin.

Ask for the quote in writing, with the number of hours, the piece included and the total with and without VAT. A verbal agreement is not enough for a wedding.

Mistakes to avoid when booking a ham carver

The most common mistake is assuming the carver brings the ham. Some do, some do not, and the difference in the final price is large. Always confirm it in writing.

The second mistake is placing the table in the middle of the service route. Guests will stop to watch, waiters need to pass, and the result is a bottleneck. Choose a visible spot that is out of the way.

Also avoid leaving the ham question for the last minute. A good carver is booked early, especially for Saturdays in wedding season; leave it late and you will end up with whoever is left.

Frequently asked questions

Does the ham carver supply the ham or do I?

Both are normal. If they supply it, you choose the piece and grade together and it goes inside the quote; if you supply it, they charge only for the carving. Decide it when you ask for the quote: it is the biggest difference between two offers that look alike.

How long does a professional ham carver work at an event?

It is booked by the hour and usually matches the reception: one to two hours for most weddings and corporate events. If the event runs long it can be extended, but agree beforehand what each extra hour costs and whether there is time to open another piece.

What does the ham carver need to set up at the venue?

Very little: a couple of metres somewhere visible, out of the waiters' path, and a socket nearby for the table light. Outdoors, shade. If the event is at a country estate with no vehicle access, say so: the table, the holder and the ham are not easy to carry up on foot.

How many guests does one leg of ham serve when carved at the event?

It depends on the weight of the piece and how it is served. A carver will calculate it when you book: tell them the number of guests and they will recommend the right size. As a guide, a standard leg gives far more portions when carved thin for a cocktail than when served as a generous plate.

Where should the ham carver be placed at a wedding or party?

In a visible but not obstructive spot: near the bar, at the entrance of the terrace or next to the catering point. Guests should be able to watch without blocking the waiters. Avoid direct sun and make sure there is a socket for the light.

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