The first clue that Elaine Bell Catering's 25th anniversary party was going to be something special was found in the parking lot of her south Napa business.

A white 1947 Packard Clipper with a silver swan hood ornament greeted guests at the late April anniversary fete. Nearby, a carpet-laid entryway guided guests inside, while Champagne-bearing attendants passed out flutes of bubbly.

To mark her business milestone, the caterer recently hosted a food and wine lover's feast, complete with live band, stilt walker, ice bar, and of course, food, food and more food.

Our future's so bright, we gotta wear shades," read the invite. Accompanying that theme, guests were invited to wear sunglasses handed out at the party.

Sporting flamingo pink shades with wings, a beaming Elaine Bell kissed and hugged friends, colleagues and clients.

"A lot of people hadn't seen my facility," said Bell, who moved her company headquarters from Sonoma to Napa last year.

"I wanted people to say it was the most incredible party they'd ever been to."

Opening the doors to her new 25,000 square-foot headquarters, the drinks flowed while the kitchen buzzed with more than 13 food stations serving 30 different culinary tidbits.

"It surpassed even my expectations," said Bell, of the party. "It was a blast."

It was only natural that guests be invited into Bell's 5,000 square-foot kitchen, where a small army cooked up tasty treats.

"We wanted to utilize the kitchen as the showcase it is," said Bell. "We wanted to illustrate the size of what we built here."

An estimated 1,000 guests sampled items including oysters with cucumber shallot mignonette, caviar spoons and seared scallops. Other dishes included asiago souffle potatoes, lamb tenderloin sandwiches, shitake mushroom and pea shoot saute, and giant bowls of French fries. Veggie powders sprinkled on melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes with tons of cream and butter were another standout.

Looking at the china, linens and silverware-clad table settings on display, one guest remarked, "I feel like I should get married for the heck of it."

Signs displayed at the party conveyed the scope of her business.

Elaine Bell Catering hosts more than 900 events a year, serving 93,000 guests, doing 180 weddings, and cooking up 83,000 entrees and 61,500 desserts.

Holly Krassner of Diablo Publications said she'd worked with Bell at various gala events over the years.

"This is an incredible space," said Krassner, trying some fries. "She's outdone herself as usual."

John and Mary Ross of Five Star Productions tried other kitchen delights.

"I'm here because Elaine Bell is the No. 1 caterer in Northern California and this is the finest food that your tongue could ever come in contact with," said John Ross.

A Cirque du Soleil-like stilt walker wearing a flame-like red costume towered above the crowds, playfully shaking her body to the live band Pride and Joy.

"We've been working together for 22 years. They are one of my favorites," said Bell of the band.

Nanette Humer of Salute Sante Grapeseed Oil admired Bell's state-of-the-art workspace. "This is a phenomenal show kitchen," she said.

Photographer Lowell Downey of Art and Clarity said he met Bell when she started doing weddings. "She knows how to throw a party," he said.

Vic Motto and his wife Sandra Timpson enjoyed the festivities. "We started in business the same year Elaine did," said Motto, who runs Global Wine Partners. "She catered the first party we ever did in 1982."

"We love Elaine. She's the best," said Timpson. "To be able to have this many friends in the valley is a real tribute to her."

"People keep coming back to her because they know they can trust her. She delivers," said Motto.

In a dark red- and blue-draped tent, Pride and Joy got the crowd moving, while others sampled cheese selections and seven different cupcake varieties topped with marzipan and sugared flowers. Another table was piled with fresh strawberries. An ice bar with spiral luge served up martinis.

Local caterer Melissa Teaff joined the party. "We have a passion for our work and we share our celebrations," said Teaff. "Elaine's very passionate about what she does, as am I."

Event planner Traci Steuteville of Napa Valley Celebrations said Bell "has the best parties in town."

"She's a leader and a driving force in the industry creating phenomenal events," said Steuteville.

"I want to say thank you for 25 years of happiness," said Bell. "I just love what I do and I was so touched that so many people came to my party."

Bell also gave kudos to her party planners. "I have the most incredible team of people," she said. "It was so heartwarming to have everyone come together."

While the anniversary party officially ended at 9 p.m., Bell said some partygoers stayed until the last song, closer to 11:30 p.m.

"I was one of the last to leave," she said. "It was really something."