The Catering Gourmets

d really made sure everything was perfect.

a heartbeat!

onderful. If you have the time, talk to her about her story, from being a teacher who loved to cook to following her dream of opening her own catering business. She is a charming person who was friendly, professional, and caring throughout the entire process. We had a fall wedding, so we wanted dinner to be rustic, but very high quality. We did not want to eat food that tasted like it had been mass catered for a corporate event, but rather like it was homemade by your grandma (your grandma who was a crazy good chef, that is). Janet's food hit all of these notes. The ingredients were fresh, the flavors were balanced, and the presentation was beautiful. I'm telling you, this is not typical wedding food. At the tasting, Janet took special care to hear what our vision was. She offered suggestions and made adjustments until she was sure we were happy. We were so impressed by the food, but were concerned that this homemade quality would be difficult to replicate on a larger scale. We had 150 guests that night, but the quality was just as high at our wedding as it was in her little kitchen. Seriously, at some points, as the bride, I was concerned the food had stolen the spotlight on my special day! ;) Janet's staff was awesome to work with. They smiled at everyone as they served them, were flexible when our timeline was pushed back (because of another, not so wonderful, vendor), and seemed to genuinely enjoy being a part of our day. One last thing to mention in this review: the cost. The Catering Gourmets are so reasonable. People were FLOORED when I told them what we paid. Of all the decisions I made for my wedding (except which guy I was marrying), this was the best.

and Janet made a little bit of everything for my party of 5 to taste (and leave stuffed!). They were very professional at our wedding while controlling the buffet line, clearing everyone's plates, packaging all the leftovers and cutting the cake. We received SO many compliments on how fresh and delicious the food was, and our families were able to enjoy the leftovers for quite some time! They were also the most affordable caterer I found in the area, and Janet was very thorough when going through the details the week of the wedding so my mind was always at ease. Including all the taxes and fees, the meal cost very reasonable per person for a salad, 2 kinds of meats, 2 sides, a dinner roll, and sheet cakes for all the guests. You can't beat that price for that quality of food! I highly recommend The Catering Gourmets if you want your guests to be impressed! Thanks again Janet and Jerry! :)

salad, the moist chicken cutlets, buttermilk biscuits, grilled pork tenderloin, and the au gratin potatoes. We had 3 staff members who served everything including pouring water and they also cleaned up after everyone and wrapped up the leftovers. Janet went over a timeline with us and gave us suggestions. Overall, they were genuine and friendly and a really great company. They also provide on site grilling, which we chose not to do. I would recommend The Catering Gourmets to anybody for any event looking to cater. I would definitely hire them again.

n what she felt would work for our theme. We paid a little extra for onsite grilling and it was totally worth it. Our wedding guests came from a variety of backgrounds, but Janet's food pleased them all. People went on and on about how great it was and at least a dozen guests wanted her contact information. If you want great food prepared by great people - look no further.

They navigated around an outdoor ceremony without so much as a peep, set up smokers and grills,cooked ribs, smoked chicken, and three sides during a torrential downpour, all of this, mind you, was done exactly to our expected time table for 180 guests. On to the food: my husband is a rib enthusiast and confidently said they were some of the best ribs he has ever had; our guests felt the same way. Cooked on site and in batches, buffet-style made sure each guest got the juiciest and tastiest ribs. The BBQ Chicken was tender and properly rounded out their "Texas Two-Step" option. The side options(au gratin potatoes, orzo salad, and carrots) were all hits. We have some pretty honest friends and family, especially after a few beers, and every single word about the food was positive. We can honestly say that from the twelve weddings we have been to this year at country clubs, banquet halls, yachts, and Chicago-area restaurants, the Catering Gourmets tasted the best. After going through the wedding process and seeing where money and time go to, the food is hands down one of the most important aspects of the day. Our band rocked, the venue was perfect, and we had the best food. Without the food, it would not have been close to the same. And for the price, you're nuts not to give them a call. Thank you Janet and the Catering Gourmets for helping to make our wedding day perfect!