Whether tasked with planning a business or work-related holiday function or simplifying a seasonal party or family gathering in your home, we have scouted your options! Here you will find the cream of the crop in local catering. Leave the food shopping, preparation, and service to one of these talented teams, and enjoy your role as consummate host!
Deborah Lowery established Ladyfingers Catering in Louisville over 30 years ago. The business has grown steadily over the years to become one of the premier caterers in the city, specializing in festivals, galas, bourbon tourism events, and award-winning international cuisine for crowds numbering as large as 7000. As so many businesses have, Ladyfingers Catering has adapted to serve individuals, families, and smaller gatherings. Growing up in New York City with a large Italian family and a Russian Jewish grandmother, Deb learned her trade alongside Italian bakers and kosher cooks. Although she initially pursued a career in commercial art and advertising, Deb continued working in restaurants, became a corporate trainer in the industry, and eventually moved to Louisville, where she opened a gourmet foods shop in Holiday Manor.
Deb’s reputation for good food and good service led to an expansion into the catering business. All Ladyfingers Catering food is homemade by multicultural chefs. Deb provides the culinary team with continuing training in top culinary destinations such as New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Cancun, and Grand Cayman. Although plated dinners and buffets are giving way to more Gourmet-to-Go curbside service this holiday season, complete parties are now available for pick up as well. Boxed family meals with no minimum are popular choices as many opt to keep celebrations simple this year.
Deb highlighted some traditional holiday dishes and exciting alternatives for these interesting times. In addition to Fresh Roasted Turkey Breast with Gravy and Carved Brown Sugar Glazed Smoked Honey Ham, Deb recommends Slow Braised Short Rib Bourguignon, wood-smoked Bourbon Peppercorn Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Peppered Prime Rib with Au Jus, or Rosemary Garlic Roasted Rack of Lamb. Kentucky Hot Brown Stuffed Chicken and Peach Chutney Glazed Stuffed Pork Loin are equally comforting and delicious. And rest assured, dishes like lasagna or brisket with kugel and latkes could not be more authentic.
To design or select your holiday menu, visit ladyfingersinc.com. Follow @LadyfingersCatering on Facebook and @ladyfingers_cateringlouisville on Instagram.
12901 Old Henry Rd #4733, Louisville, KY 40223 • (502) 245-7734 • ladyfingersinc.com
Bristol Catering started near the inception of Bristol Bar & Grille® in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville in 1977. The off-premise catering division began in 1983 with their Market Street Commissary. MAEC - Mellwood Art and Entertainment Center, the popular event and wedding venue with art studio, retail, and festival space at 1862 Mellwood Avenue, is now the home of Bristol Catering’s offices and commissary.
From this convenient location, Catering Director Emilie Pfeiffer oversees the catering office, commissary, and catering planning. Emilie works closely with the Catering Team, Culinary Team, and in-house Floral Designer to execute beautiful events with custom menu planning. “We use fresh food from local growers whenever possible.” All bread and desserts are prepared in the commissary as well. They offer full-service catering menus, customized charcuterie platters, and vegetarian options.
In addition to classic Bristol dishes such as Green Chili Wontons, Theresa’s Sweet Chili Linguine, and Hot Browns, Bristol Catering creates custom menus with foods from other cultures. They recently catered a wedding reception with Nigerian food to represent the groom’s home country. For the 2020 holiday season, and with at least 7-day advance notice, Bristol Catering offers buffet service with attendants following proper protocols and COVID-safe guidelines by wearing masks and gloves and serving buffet items directly to guests. Holiday boxed meals and bottles of wine for pick up are excellent options for couples or smaller family gatherings.
Visit bristolcatering.com for more information and sample menu lists. Be sure to follow @bristolcatering on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s cooking!
1862 Mellwood Ave. Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 584-3663 • bristolcatering.com
Since its founding in 2008, Farm to Fork Catering has helped their clients celebrate the holidays with family, friends, and employees through festive cocktail parties, elegant plated dinners, and holiday-inspired buffets for groups large and small at offices and private homes. “Of course, this year everything looks different,” says Founder and President Sherry Hurley-Magnuson. Sherry received her first cookbook when she was eight years old. Soon after, she began helping cook dinner for the family using fresh ingredients from their home garden near Kentucky Lake. Her family hosted a holiday open house every year, making this a fun and memorable time of year to share food with others.
After 15 years in the hospitality industry, Sherry moved to Louisville for a job in 2001 and gravitated to the familiarity of farmers’ markets. Before the local food movement really took off, “I started Farm to Fork in 2008 to fill a void in catering with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients,” says Sherry. Despite her lack of formal training, she began the business as a personal chef, taught cooking classes, made prepared foods for a farm store, and sold breakfast and lunch items at a farmers’ market. “Eventually, my client list grew, the jobs became larger, and Farm to Fork took on a life of its own. I joke that I am an accidental caterer and entrepreneur!”
Pivoting again to meet the needs of customers this year, Sherry has a plan for Holiday 2020. “Instead of holiday lunch buffets for offices, we’ll be shifting to individually boxed meals. Anticipating small gatherings, we are offering Holiday Dinners, including appetizers and desserts, as well as Holiday Brunch Packages that will serve 4-6.” Turn to Farm to Fork Catering for this year’s holiday gift-giving. Holiday Gift Baskets feature locally sourced items and Farm to Fork favorites like Bourbon Maple Pecan Party Mix or a Biscuit Box with their signature buttermilk biscuits with local honey, sorghum butter, and house-made jams.
Some highly requested holiday menu items include Southern Style Pickled Shrimp, Country Ham on Pimento Cheese Biscuits with Pepper Jelly, KY Beer Cheese Ball rolled in Crushed Pretzels, and Cranberry Walnut Upside Down Cake. In addition to catering, Farm to Fork offers weekly meal subscriptions and personal chef services. You can also find their products at Blue Dog Bakery’s new marketplace, St. Matthews and Middletown locations of Rainbow Blossom, Bean Coffee in Germantown, and Endless Summer Coffee Shop on River Road. To place your orders, visit farmtoforkfood.com. Follow @Farm.To.Fork.Food on Facebook and @farmtoforkky on Instagram to view the latest specials and extra treats!
2425 Portland Ave, Louisville, KY 40212 • (502) 365-3276 • farmtoforkfood.com
Michaelis Events & Catering celebrated 20 years in business on March 1, 2020, and has ranked among the top caterers in Louisville for over a decade. According to President Lauren Brown, Michaelis Catering has “always offered traditional and unique menu items with upscale taste and presentation.” Lauren worked her way up through the kitchen and warehouse to Sales and Events Manager before becoming President three years ago. The full catering, events, floral, decor, and staffing business is a family affair. Lauren’s mother is the CEO, and her sister is the Director of Marketing.
For businesses and corporate gift-giving, Michaelis Events corporate gift boxes and floral department provides popular themed boxes such as sports, chocolate and relaxation gifts that can be sent to employees and clients. Visit corporateappreciation.com for gift box subscriptions and interactive gift boxes for virtual events. Coming soon in early 2021, Michaelis Events will launch Fork & Flowers online meal train concept with shipping available nationwide. With the 2020 holiday season, the Holiday Catering Menu can be customized or supplemented with heavy hors d’oeuvres, individually packaged meals, and hot boxed lunches.
Michaelis Events Holiday Catering Menu offers three main options: Traditional Holiday Menu, Michaelis Holiday Feast, and Original Holiday Buffet. The Traditional Holiday Menu has Turkey & Gravy, Honey Glazed Ham, Handmade Dressing, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, Homestyle Green Beans, Dinner Rolls & Butter. Michaelis Holiday Feast is a bit more adventurous with Pork Loin stuffed with kale & cranberry stuffing with gingersnap gravy, Whipped Sweet Potatoes with bourbon marshmallows, Spinach Salad with pomegranate, vested parmesan, citrus jewels, goat cheese, and old fashioned vinaigrette, and Sister Schubert’s® Dinner Rolls & Whipped Butter. The Original Holiday Buffet begins with Wintertime Burgoo with pimento cheese biscuits. Slowly Braised Chicken Thigh & Pork Shoulder are cooked with root vegetables and winter spice. The December Caesar is dressed with house snow white caesar dressing.
The Michaelis Events Corporate Holiday Catering Sale 2020 Special is $50 off for every 75 meals you order. For more further details, visit mymestory.com/caterong-louisville and follow @MichaelisEventsLLC on Facebook and My ME Story on LinkedIn.
13040 Eastgate Park Way Louisville, KY 40223 • (502) 243-0000 • mymestory.com/louisvilleevents
Napa River Grill’s catering services during holiday seasons past have primarily centered around offices, doctors’ offices, and pharmaceutical companies. For Holiday 2020, those holiday buffet events are not as feasible due to public health concerns. As so many catering companies are, Napa River Catering is pivoting to boxed-up buffet pans, individually boxed meals with salad, entrees, dessert, and other specific, pre-portioned items.
Napa River Grill General Manager James Rion and Catering Manager Gretchen Fields are incredibly proud of their dedication to using fresh, local ingredients. James emphasizes the creativity and thoughtfulness with which the regular and seasonal menus are created. This year’s Napa River Holiday Catering Menu consists of Beef Tenderloin or Baked Ham with Spiced Apple Chutney, Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole, Rosemary Garlic and Sage Monkey Bread Stuffing, Hasselback Gratin Potatoes with Parmesan and Gruyère, Cornbread or Baguette with Whipped Honey Butter, and Brioche Bread Pudding with Maple Caramel Glaze. Napa River Catering will also feature a take-home wine special!
In addition to the Holiday Catering Menu, plan other meals throughout the month with current standard Casual Catering Menu favorites. Classic Five Layer Lasagna layers pasta with fresh bolognese, mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta cheeses with marinara and garlic alfredo sauces. The Napa River Hot Brown smothers Creole roasted turkey breast with applewood smoked bacon, garlic alfredo sauce, Swiss cheese, Roma tomato, and toasted bread crumbs.
If you need a clean, safe, spacious venue, Napa River Grill offers free room rentals through the Holidays! “Our three private dining areas, including our Barrel Room, Vineyard Room, and Private Outdoor Patio, can accommodate both small and large groups alike and can be customized to best fit your event needs. For more information or to book today, please send an email to our Catering & Events team at [email protected]” Visit napariverlouisville.com and follow @NapaRiverGrill on Facebook and Instagram.
1211 Herr Lane, Louisville, KY 40222 • (502) 423-5822 • napariverlouisville.com
