With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to extract your inner host or hostess. Between the invites, the decorating and all of those little details, who has time for cooking? That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the most talented caterers around town, ranging from home-cooked barbecue masters to mouth-watering dessert artists. With the help of these culinary experts, your guests will be wowed, and you will be ready to sit back and enjoy the party. Cheers to that!
Chuckwagon Catering
If you want barbecue, look no further. Chuckwagon Catering’s list of menu items will have you thinking you just stepped straight into a southern kitchen. The 2012 smoking barbecue special is a favorite, giving you a choice of pulled barbecue pork or chicken and a selection of sides. Chuckwagon also offers a lengthy list of hors d’oeuvres including barbecued ribs, stuffed mushrooms with chorizo sausage shrimp with tequila lime cocktail sauce. How could you go wrong? Chuckwagon provides staffing for all catered events, along with preparation, clean up, and rentals coordination to make sure you have every detail covered. Chuckwagon can customize any menu to meet your tastes and dietary needs. 3425 Hwy. 169 N.; 763.473.7041
PRICE: $
Truffles & Tortes
No one does dessert better than Truffles & Tortes: The stunning creations are sure to wow any party in both taste and presentation. Order full-size desserts to split, or an assortment of individual and mini desserts (think tartlets and mini éclairs). The Concerto is a popular choice—a dome of milk chocolate caramel mousse, caramel cream and caramel cream sauce with a hint of fleur de sel covered in a dark chocolate glaze. And the Nirvana—the award-winning chocolate mousse with a hidden dome of crème brulee atop a milk chocolate hazelnut praline— is also a crowd-pleaser. But this time of year especially, a splurge on the red velvet or cheesecake might be in order. With the holidays right around the corner, consider seasonal options like pumpkin tarts and Christmas-themed desserts. 72 Nathan Ln. N.; 763.512.0944
PRICE: $
Town & Country Caterers
Boasting 60 years of catering experience, Town & Country Caterers can cater a party at your location of your choice or at the Reserve, the company’s state-of-the-art meeting and special event facility at Hwy. 55 and I-494, for groups up to 300 people. Town & Country provides custom-planned catering menus—everything from intimate backyard parties to large weddings and galas. With service staff as well as a full bar and beverage service, equipment and linen rentals, floral and décor items, tents, valet parking service and music and entertainment, clients don’t have to worry about the details. For the more casual get-togethers or corporate events, Town & Country offers boxed lunches, including gourmet sandwiches, wraps, salads and deli trays. 3155 Empire Ln. N.; 763.559.4461
PRICE: $–$$
We Cater to You
Committed to making each event memorable, the staff at We Cater to You caters everything from graduation open houses and corporate functions to dinner parties and wedding receptions, and can accommodate from two to 1,000 people. The local company is known for its freshly prepared foods (using ingredients from local markets whenever possible). Staff design event menus around your ideas, budget and even your personal recipes. Owner Lynn Guggemos says favorite menu items include the peppercorn-encrusted beef tenderloin and the champagne chicken breast with bubbly champagne sauce. Bar tenders and wait staff are available along with full event equipment. 10000 Hwy. 55; 763.546.9346
PRICE: $-$$$
Lunds and Byerly’s
Lunds and Byerly’s Catering helps take the stress out of entertaining by helping you arrange all the details—food, beverages, linens, staffing, you name it. Menu options are seemingly endless, including sushi, seafood, Big Bowl Chinese Express, desserts, meat and cheese platters, and more. Lunds and Byerly’s offers buffets, as well as a variety of menus designed around specific occasions (taco truck, anyone?), as well as gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan offerings. Lunds can accommodate later orders made by 9 a.m. the day prior to the event; larger orders should be placed a week in advance. Delivery is available, or pick up is just next door in St. Louis Park. 3455 Vicksburg Ln.; 952.897.9800
PRICE: $$
Peg’s Countryside Catering
Peg Rasmussen and her crew have been serving meals out of their Countryside Café for 38 years. Lucky for us, they also bring their menu on the road. Peg’s offerings range from hot entrees like chicken penne or roast beef to sandwich or party trays, boxed lunches and assorted dessert selections. Owner Peg Rasmussen will design a menu specifically for your event and offers full delivery and set-up service, noting hors d’oeuvre parties are one of her favorites. “It’s popular to have them for wedding receptions, charitable donor parties and home entertaining,” she says. “We have a good selection of hot and cold appetizers, and we are always inventing new items.” Often Rasmussen tries to pair some of the more elaborate items with appetizer stations to keep parties affordable. As for Peg’s specialties: The themed cupcakes are a must. Choose from a variety of cake and filling options topped with her famous buttercream frosting. 714 Hwy. 55, Hamel; 763.478.2101
PRICE: $$
Medina Golf & Country Club
The Medina Golf & Country Club provides personal detailed service, from booking a tour to the final billing, catering director Nancy Stauffer says. Medina Golf & Country Club boasts its own event space that can accommodate up to 300 people to celebrate any occasion, whether it’s a golf tournament, wedding holiday party or business meeting, all fully staffed by a team of bartenders, servers, valets and management to assist with any needed equipment and assure your event runs smoothly. When it comes to the cuisine, the chefs are able to prepare a variety of inventive dishes and help you create a menu that’s perfect for your occasion. Consider a barbecue buffet using the club’s charcoal grills. Stauffer recommends the filet mignon or the walleye for a special event. 400 Evergreen Rd., Medina; 763.478.4790
PRICE: $$$
Chef Ted
Caterer Ted Hallson has been cooking up delicacies for the masses for the past 16 years, providing both affordable personalized chef services and catering for large events. Hallson offers buffets, appetizer parties, elegant sit-down dinners, corporate catering and in-home chef services.
Along with his wife, Chef Jill, and sister, Chef Melody, Hallson provides planning support, set up, clean up and staffing during your event. Pricing for all types of events are based on number of guests, chef fee, food costs and service staff. Note: Clients are asked to supply their own liquor. 1161 Wayzata Blvd. E., Wayzata; 763.525.1700
PRICE: $$-$$$
Elite Epicurean
Chef Tom Reschenberg of Elite Epicurean is an expert when it comes to tasteful, customized dinner parties, providing seasonal menus tailored to his clients’ specific tastes and wishes. “We have extensive working knowledge to accommodate all special requests, especially food allergies and sensitivities,” he says. When it comes to the menu planning, don’t pass up the seared Ahi with avocado, red pepper aioli and pickled carrot on rice crackers or the warm baked goat cheese with farmer’s market beet relish. And if you’re planning a holiday party, Reschenberg says clients continually ask for the Belgian chocolate terrine square. Elite Epicurean caters parties for eight to 120 people and provides professional servers and bartenders that are accustomed to working in clients’ homes. 612.386.9129
PRICE: $$$
PRICE GUIDE
$ = up to $25 per person
$$ = up to $50 per person
$$$ = more than $50 per person
