CATERING TO DIVERSITY (CONTINUED)
(Video, Left) 24 Carrots Catering & Events volunteered their time to make and distribute 3,000 meals during LA Strong, a relief event coordinated by World Central Kitchen in response to the Los Angeles wildfires. Video courtesy 24 Carrots Catering & Events; (Right) Beyond preparing meals in their facility, the 24 Carrots Catering & Evetns team showed up on the ground, setting up food stations and distributing every meal themselve during the LA Strong event. Photo courtesy 24 Carrots Catering & Events
Lines, which delivered meals to first responders and hospitals; BellaRu Catering took it upon itself to provide meals to a homeless shelter to help feed people who were sheltering in place within local hotels; and Proof of the Pudding activated more than seven mobile kitchens (through the relief division of its business Pop-Up Emergency Management Services) to service those affected by the pandemic throughout the Navajo Nation. “The human spirit is so determined and resilient,” says Lee Anderson (Sugar Beach Events*, which provided meals in the aftermath of the Maui fires in 2023). “I had no idea so many people would pull together to help during a disaster. It was eye opening in the challenging world of today to see so much love poured into relief efforts.” Relief through comfort In disaster-stricken areas, caterers aren’t serving high-end hors
d'oeuvres or managing luxury banquets. Instead, they’re providing warm, nutritious, and readily available meals that are safe, filling, and appropriate for vulnerable populations. It’s important to prioritize high- quality, home-style meals because for many first responders, a hot meal may be their only true moment of relief, so offerings should focus on comfort, nourishment, and variety. "We tend to provide calorie-heavy meals since these folks are working around the clock to get disaster situations under control,” says Vessillo. “In these situations, many folks are looking for comfort food.” • Hot breakfasts: Classic, hearty options like scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, biscuits with gravy, cheesy grits, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit cups, and coffee (lots of hot coffee for the long days and cold temperatures). • Boxed lunches: Quick, filling, and diverse selections such as roasted turkey and cheddar sandwiches, Italian subs, croissant club
sandwiches, cookies, fruit cups, granola bars, and chips. • Hot dinners: Home-style comfort meals like herb-roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, oven-roasted turkey with gravy, beef and vegetable stew with cornbread, or lasagna. When planning your menu, it’s important to assess key factors such as location, timing, available resources, and utilities to craft a menu that is both high-quality and logistically feasible. Think about a scalable, versatile menu that can easily be adjusted depending on available ingredients and fluctuating demand. Consider dishes that can be made in bulk with minimal equipment and that transport well, such as stews, protein bowls, or sandwiches. Additionally, consider dishes that can be modified if there are leftovers. For example, if you make meatloaf, you can turn it into meatloaf sandwiches or crumble it and add it to pasta or use it in stuffed peppers the next day.
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SPRING 2025 ■ CATERSOURCE
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