Inside My Table #92 | Excerpt
Catered Affairs
’Tis the season to book caterers, so we’ve rounded up some of the city’s best. These range from the classic high-society caterers to one that is famous for its Texas ranch-style events featuring barbecue and all the fixin’s. Excellent food is a given, of course, but cuisine is only one part of the catering service. Most of these caterers can also help you with invitations, valet parking, security, tents, flowers, rentals and entertainment. Oh, and they do the dishes, too.
1. ABUSO CATERING, 713-660-6617, www.abusocatering.com. Founded by Joe Abuso in 1994, the firm was sold a few years ago, but has maintained its reputation, right down to Abuso’s signature fresh-baked gingersnaps. Concentrating on higher-end evening events, Abuso partners with historic Rockefeller Hall, which is a great setting for a fun wedding reception or business celebration for up to 300. They cater at other venues for up to 2,000.
2. A FARE EXTRAORDINAIRE, 713-527-8288, www.afehouston.com. In business since 1985, A Fare Extraordinaire caters more than 500 events each year ranging from the cozy to those that can fill a cacophonous hall. Unique among local caterers, they operate a handsome weekday lunch restaurant, Cafe Extraordinare in the Design Center on Woodway that can also be used for private evening events.
3. BAILEY CONNOR CATERING, 713-932-8335, www.baileyconnorcatering.com.– This boutique outfit provides a range of services and foods, including breakfasts, brunches, box lunches, black-tie galas and even high tea. Nearly every desired cuisine can be accommodated, and Asian items are currently popular, but a couple of long-time favorites include the baked cedar plank salmon and Maryland-style crabcakes.
4. CATERING BY CULINAIRE, 713-524-2337, www.cateringbyculinaire.com. Executive chef and owner Barbara McKnight started her company in 2000 with a focus on mid-sized private events, but it has grown to include turn-key operations for both individuals and corporate clients. She has access to the area’s top venues and owns the grand old midtown house of Judge Roy Hofheinz (the man who built the Astrodome) that can accommodate seated dinners of up to 70 and receptions of 120.
5. CITY KITCHEN CATERING, 713- 847-8004, www.citykitchencatering.com. One of the newer top-level full-service catering companies, City Kitchen is one of only a handful of approved caterers for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, one of the city’s most spectacular venues. Its customized foods, from all over the globe, can be served as hors d’oeuvres by a wait staff, from stations or in a seated dinner.
6. MICHAEL CORDÚA EVENTS, 281- 823-7810, www.cordua.com. Acceding to customer requests after his first Churrascos opened in 1989, Michael Cordúa launched a small catering side-business. It has grown into a busy full-service event-production company that provides the Latin-fusion cooking style of the Cordúa group restaurants (Americas, Artista and Amazon Grill).
7. BENNIE FERRELL CATERING, 713-968-6515, www.bennieferrellcatering.com. Perhaps the city’s oldest catering company, Bennie Ferrell Catering began in 1959. It can serve just about any social function, from a dinner for two to a convention for 10,000, and prides itself on home-cooked foods. Ferrell’s cuisine has its roots in New Orleans and traditional Southern cuisine; signature dishes include pecan-smoked beef tenderloin and marinated shrimp.
8. FRESH FOODS CATERING, 713-484-9000, www.freshfoodscatering.com. With no commercial freezer, it’s always truly fresh at this full-service catering company that has been in business for around 30 years, serving both companies and individuals with a complete range of foods, including kosher and many Asian dishes. Their Southwestern crêpes, blackened chicken empanadas and unique quesadillas featuring Granny Smith apples are signatures.
9. GOODE CO. RESTAURANTS, 713-224-6633, www.goodecompany.com. If you are looking for casual catering that is a cut (or slice) above, Goode Co. can oblige with barbecue, fajitas, hamburgers and grilled and deep-fried Gulf seafood. Barbecued meats are sliced on site, and the fajitas, burgers and fish are grilled over an open flame just before serving. Though the services from Goode Co. are limited compared other top caterers (food is only dished via the buffet line), guests won’t complain about this hometown favorite, especially when their renowned pecan pie is part of the package.
10. JACKSON AND COMPANY, 713-523-5780, www.jacksonandcompany.com. The preeminent society caterer for decades, Jackson and Company got its start in 1981, raising the bar in terms of the style in which the city’s corporate and social elites entertain. Founder/namesake Jackson Hicks sold the company to Aramark, but he remains as president and guiding spirit for the firm that can provide anything needed for an event that must impress. Though they have access to every desirable venue in town, Jackson and Company are the exclusive caterer for the impressive colonnaded Corinthian, a soaring-ceiling space downtown that can seat up to 1,000.
11. LA VILLETTE, 713-521-7550, www.lavillettecatering.com. La Villette is one of the smaller full-service operations and the only one we found that has a take-away and delivery business for prepared foods. Fully staffed events can be accommodated for parties of two to 400. Owner/executive chef Marquita Combes provides “fine international cuisine” that is made to order and even some specialties of her home country of Argentina.
12. RUTH MERIC CATERING, 713-522-1448, www.ruthmericcatering.com. Founded by Ruth Meric in 1988, the company was purchased by two former employees in early 2007. It remains a full-service provider for event-planning for corporate and social clients for groups of two to 5,000. The menu ranges from New Orleans-inspired dishes of the past to more modern creations.
13. THE STONE KITCHEN CATERING & SPECIAL EVENTS, 713-521-3500, www.stonekitchencatering.com. For 20 years, Elizabeth Stone has provided a full-service catering operation that can fill the needs of just two at home, something very special, to 6,000-plus for a corporate function. The cooking of executive chef Jose Villata is described as “gourmet American,” but the company is very flexible with its menus. Favorites include a Caprese tart and chocolate molten cake.
14. SWIFT + COMPANY, 713-526-7600, www.elizabethswiftcatering.com. Since 1987, Elizabeth Swift Copeland and staff have provided turn-key event service, including wedding consultations, invitations and gift bags. The range of foods is wide and varied, but there is a preference for seasonal, such as quail stuffed with fresh jalapeño, wrapped in bacon and grilled, a cheese souffle and rich chocolate-chunk cookies.
