Who's News in Catering for November 18, 2023

Hot Off the Presses

Taste Catering and Event Planning provided the catered dinner for the APEC Summit at Filoli Gardens with President Biden and Xi Jinping. 

"Congrats to the Taste Catering team for providing the catering for an event that brought together two of the three most powerful people in the world - Presidents Biden and Xi. If only Taylor Swift had been there, it would have been a trifecta," said Carl Sacks, executive director for the Leading Caterers of America (which Taste Catering is a proud member). 

Dream Yacht Worldwide, a leading sea-based vacation and global yacht charter company, has announced its new partnership with Paradise Foods, a new boat provisioning service operating on multiple islands in the Caribbean, offering a seamless experience to sailors and crews, through an innovative and user-friendly app. The app enables users to choose from a large collection of carefully curated produce, including many local products, with efficient same-day delivery directly to their boat - whether docked or at anchor. This collaboration aims to enhance the guest experience and offerings available to Dream Yacht Worldwide's travelers, elevating their sailing vacation with this easier provisioning solution, new local and personalized dining experiences and easy access to fresh groceries while on the water. 

People on the Move

Butler’s Pantry, the leading St. Louis catering and hospitality company, is thrilled to celebrate the promotion of Maggie Barton to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Maggie has been an integral part of the Butler’s Pantry team since the beginning of her career in 2009 and has steadily risen through the ranks, contributing significantly to the company's success. Since her start, she has always been skilled at adapting to the ever-changing event landscape to provide thoughtful, personalized and innovative solutions that exceed client expectations. Those skills have been instrumental in positioning Butler’s Pantry as a trusted partner for a wide range of events, from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations. During her tenure at Butler’s Pantry she has been awarded a 30 Under 30 Award (2016) from the St. Louis Business Journal, she was added to the BizBash top 500 Event Professionals list of 2021 and was most recently appointed as a member of the 2023-2024 ECEP - Elite Catering & Event Professionals Board of Directors. As CEO, she will continue to lead the company’s strategic initiatives, foster innovation and uphold the highest standards of excellence in the industry. She leads by example and truly lives out the company core values. Her presence has and will continue to make a difference in the lives of the Butler’s Pantry crew and the next generation of leaders.   

Marina del Rey Hotel, announces the appointment of Chef Garee Battad as the waterfront boutique hotel’s Executive Chef. A seasoned veteran with more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Battad will be responsible for overseeing all culinary operations for the property, including the renowned SALT Restaurant & Bar. Battad began his culinary journey at the age of 17, under the guidance of a masterful executive chef at Benihana. His interest quickly turned into a passion, leading him to attend the Art Institute of Dallas. From there, his culinary career led him to the renowned kitchens of Nobu at the Crescent Hotel, Charlie Palmer at the Joule Hotel, and the venerated mentorship of Tom Colicchio at the W Hotel. In 2009, Battad moved to Los Angeles, California to expand his culinary skills, where he worked under Gordon Ramsay at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, The Rose Café in Venice, The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach and The Aster, a hotel and members’ club in Hollywood. As Executive Chef at Marina del Rey Hotel, his goal is to create a memorable and exquisite dining experience that complements the boutique beach hotel setting and leaves guests with lasting memories of their stay. 

Accolades

Sterno, a trusted pioneer of portable food warming products for over 100 years, today announced that it was awarded TRUE® Silver certification for its manufacturing facility in Texarkana, Texas. TRUE® stands for Total Resource Use and Efficiency and is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) to help facilities define, pursue, and achieve zero waste goals while becoming more resource efficient. Sterno’s Texarkana facility is responsible for manufacturing some of the most iconic and recognizable Sterno products including both gel and wicked chafing fuel. It also manufactures liquid candles for the brand’s table lighting products, along with assembling Home Entertaining Party Packs and S’mores Makers. Sterno is the first manufacturing facility in Texas to be awarded the TRUE certification, and the first in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. Through innovative recycling programs and other eco-friendly initiatives, Sterno’s Texarkana facility diverts nearly 95% of its waste stream from landfills, qualifying the facility to receive TRUE Silver certification.