Whether preparing food for a 5,000-person gala or for an intimate dinner for two, the A Catered Affair team wants to provide every guest with a thoroughly enjoyable culinary experience. It begins with the presentation of the dish, which should set high expectations.
“Taste is of utmost importance, but there’s also a saying that we eat with our eyes, and it’s really true,” says owner Kellie Bryson, who also owns the historic manor and event center, Legacy Farms. “People need to be interested before they take a bite.”
When it comes to taste, her goal is for guests to be truly delighted with the flavor combinations and to remember the food once the plates have been cleared away. To do this, she carefully chooses all ingredients. “We make everything from scratch using fresh ingredients, never frozen, and that makes a huge difference,” says Kellie.
After being in business for 26 years, she doesn’t rest on her laurels; she pays attention to client feedback to ensure she is honoring guests’ preferences. And, since those preferences can change over time, she revises menus accordingly.
“We do custom menus to make sure we’re meeting trends and palate preferences. Right now, there’s an emphasis on food stations and small bites, such as tapas, and that’s with corporate events as well as weddings.”
Kellie says she also dresses and decorates food stations beautifully because she believes it makes the whole atmosphere more fun. Of course, the service is top-notch.
“We're never going to skimp on service,” she says. “We're always going to have really strong ratios to make sure guests are taken care of because you have to have both great food and great service.”
Along with weddings and corporate events, A Catered Affair provides catering services for many other celebrations such as birthday parties, family reunions and nonprofit galas. A party planner is also available to help guests plan the perfect gathering.