ACE Awards 2024: Last Minute Repast Reception

Exquisite Delites Catering Company was approeached to cater a last minute repast reception for 5,000 people for Televangelist Pastor Charles Stanley. With only two and-half-days to turn the event around, Exquisite Delites Catering Company had to overcome so many challenges along the way to make it happen and everyone pitched in and worked together to accomplish the goal.

The cheese table set for the 5,000-person event.

Not only did the catering company have little to no time to prep, but they also had to navigate what prep they were able to compleete with a skeleton crew, which is why children and friends were recruited to help grind 800 pounds of meat and slice and skewer 900 pounds of meat for beef satays.

All throughout the event, the Exquisite Delites Catering Company team practiced what was preached all throughout the week during Catersource + The Special Event 2023 (which inspired them to take on the event): Never say no to an event. 

"By taking this message to heart, we executed the event flawlessly, leaving  clients happy and impressed," accourding their submission. "This achievement is a testament to our tenacity, grit, and perseverance." 

Here's a look at the ACE-award winning event for Best Off-Premise Catering for companies under $2 million annual revenue.

All photos courtesy Sandra Sandra Centeno

The Exquisite Delites team plating up for the event.

The buffet table setup. 

Crackers on the cheese table.

Chef Eric Centeno and the Exquisite Delites team setting up the food table.

During the event, one of Exquisite Delites' trucks broke down at the venue, which prompted Secret Service to ask themto tow it from the venue before guests arrived.

Setting the cheese table. 

Joel Centeno (Chef Ceric Centeno's son) and his friends pitched hit at the event. Shown: they work to add freshly made marinara to chicken parmesan meatballs. 

Grandpa Gilbert (79 years old) put to work making panatta for chicken parmesan meatballs

Chef Eric Centeon's children brought their friends to help prep and skewer 20,000 beef satays.

The Exquisite Delites team begins putting out the food.

Scooping 20,000 meatballs.

Grinding 800 pounds of chicken.

Chef Eric Centeno recruited his whole family to help with set up. Shown: Centeno's sister.

Chef Eric Centeno setting the cheese table.

Chef Eric Centeno setting the cheese table.

Chef Eric Centeno's daughter preps for the event.

Grandpa Gilbert catches a bit of shut eye in the tent after a long night of prepping. 

Submissions Now Open

It's once again time to celebrate the best of the best! Submissions are now being accepted for the Catersource 2025 Achievement in Catered Events awards (ACE)!  We invite you to submit your best work from the past year. Join in the excitement and the spirit of our industry as we celebrate the hard work and exceptional accomplishments of our peers.

Awards Ceremony 2024. Photo courtesy Ivan Piedra Photography/AGNYC Productions/SpotMyPhotos

The categories for 2025 are:

To submit an entry to this year's ACE awards, please visit our awards portal at https://ace-gala.awardsplatform.com/

Important Dates

If you are interested in entering in the Gala awards instead, you can enter the Special Event 2025 Gala awards in the same online portal as the ACE awards. Catersource + The Special Event will run February 24-27 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Both the ACE and Gala awards will be presented during the conference at a to-be-determined location in Fort Lauderdale.