Libbie makes each event personal,
delicious and memorable
Hooman Soratpour is the founding Partner and GM of Libbie Events. His journey in the hospitality industry began when Hooman moved to Germany as a political asylum seeker in 1984, where he began working in restaurants. After moving to America in 1988, Hooman worked in a variety of roles at restaurants like California Cafe in Los Gatos and Stanford Park Hotel. His first exposure to catering was with Delectables Catering Inc., which served clients like Apple and too many Bay Area firms to list.
By the early 2000s, Hooman had become Director of Beverage Catering at the Tech Museum in San Jose. He also managed the operations for a number of cafes and restaurants at Stanford and several dining locations for a company called Just Catering. During this time, he developed a reputation for reliable service, catering events across Stanford, including those for the Hoover Institute, the Center for Economic Research, and the Stanford School of Medicine. Hooman has channeled his deep cultural love of food and entertaining into a successful career that has spanned two continents
After 2021 Hooman teamed up with his partner Helena and started Libbie Events. With Hooman’s industry knowledge and reputation Libbie has quickly gained traction as an approved vendor for Stanford’s School of Medicine, handling events like the Summer Institute and various department mixers.
Today, Libbie Events is known for its emphasis on planning, resourcefulness and delicious food, delivering seamless events with a focus on quality and attention to detail off sight, and providing a mixed use event space in house at its headquarters on The Alameda in San Jose. Varied cuisine, flowers, lights, music, set up whatever the venue needs, Hooman prides himself on his versatility and ability to tailor events that exceed client’s expectation. His decades of experience help ensure every event is executed smoothly, prioritizing quality over volume to avoid overcommitting and providing clients with a truly personalized experience.
Helena Steele is a visionary entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in hospitality, culinary innovation, and bespoke design. As co-founder of Libbie Events, Inc., she brings an unwavering passion for crafting unforgettable experiences to every celebration.
Together with partner Hooman Soratpour, Helena launched Libbie Events in 2024. The company operates from inspiring spaces in San Jose at 1020 The Alameda, Suite C.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 1992 when she founded Golden Gate Kitchens, a highly regarded kitchen design firm celebrated for timeless, high-end custom cabinetry and internationally published, award-winning projects. Helena designs at her showroom at 125 Main Street in downtown Los Altos.
In the restaurant world, Helena co-founded and designed MetroVino in Portland’s Pearl District. Under the culinary direction of her son Todd Steele, the restaurant earned a place on OpenTable’s Top 50 Wine Lists, an Eater Portland Restaurant of the Year nomination, and James Beard recognition before closing in 2013. One of MetroVino’s coolest claims to fame? It served as a filming location for the TNT series **Leverage** (2008–2012), a clever heist drama starring Timothy Hutton and Gina Bellman. The restaurant’s stylish interior, designed and furnished by Helena, and exterior shots were used in episodes where characters dined or schemed in upscale Portland settings—perfect for the show’s Pacific Northwest backdrop.
Today, through Libbie Events, Helena and Hooman Soratpour continue to redefine modern event curation, blending meticulous design, flawless execution, and genuine joy in every detail.
Her legacy is one of connection—transforming spaces into stories that linger long after the last toast.