Idea Book: Sodexo at the Hollywood Bowl, ACE Winner, Catering West, Under 2 Million

The Achievement in Catering & Events (ACE) awards honor those who have worked tirelessly to keep their clients thrilled and their companies on the cutting edge. Each year, caterers and event planners from around the globe submit their best work from the past year in hopes of being recognized as the best in the industry. Catersource’s annual awards show, also including the ICA CATIE awards, took place in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace on February 19, 2018.

Each company submitted two events for ACE consideration. Here is a look at the two events that elevated Sodexo at the Hollywood Bowl in the category of Catering West, Under $2 Million in revenue.

ONE: Los Angeles Philharmonic Press Preview Event

This event highlighted, said Julia Taylor, Senior Marketing Manager, two of the company’s key core values: advancement and creativity. “The Press Preview event brought to life what can happen when an inventive, leading-edge culinary talent joins forces with a 50-year leader in the contract food service industry,” continued Taylor. This event sets the tone for the entire season by showcasing some of the latest and greatest items that are new to the different menu across the Hollywood Bowl grounds.

True to Sodexo’s company mission of sustainability, the menus featured locally sourced products and a surplus of local specialties to surprise and delight guests attending events at the Hollywood Bowl.

This event took place on the stage of the infamous shell, where countless legendary artists have performed on. Those are some big shoes to fill, but Sodexo did just fine. Here’s a look.

Photos courtesy of the caterer

Grilled flatbread with broccoli, burrata, and bagna cauda; and with roasted tomato, gruyere, black olive, and lemon

Hummus variety from a Moroccan station

Sweet Shop station featuring carrot cake and also chocolate cake from Larder Baking Company

Chef Suzanne Goins’ Soju cocktail was wildly successful

TWO: Los Angeles Philharmonic Camrose Garden Event

The Camrose event fused delicious pairings from the Sodexo Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine team, led by Chef Suzanne Goin and Wine Director, Caroline Styne with the natural, green beauty of Camrose Park. This event invited social influencers, local media, bloggers, and sponsors to casually sample bite-size tastes in an expansive outdoor picnic area. 

The biggest challenge with this event is that the park is located a little further down the street from the Hollywood Bowl’s property, noted senior Marketing Manager Julia Taylor. “This posed new trials for the team as it is not conveniently located near the kitchen.

“Another challenge that our team was able to avoid due to their detailed plan was that guests began showing up much earlier than they were expected. Our team quickly acknowledged this and worked together efficiently to make sure guests were greeted with beverages and food without noticing any issues.”

Photos courtesy of the caterer

Roasted cauliflower tacos from the LA Street Tacos station contained crispy cauliflower, cumin vinaigrette, mizuna, and crema served on tostada bites. Other tacos included carne asada and pollo asada

Lobster rolls were accompanied by an heirloom tomato salad and also shaved summer squash with Meyer lemon vinaigrette

The Moroccan Feast included chicken tangine with apricots, saffron couscous, almonds, and harissa; grilled flatbreads with beet and chickpea hummus; and spiced carrot salad

Sodexo at the Hollywood Bowl accepting the ACE award at catersource 2018, with emcee Ken Barrett-Sweet (right)

Click here for information about Catersource and the Art of Catering Food 2019.