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Top Caterers Share Tips and Strategies for Successful Outdoor Events🌳 Outdoor events have a special kind of magic.There’...
05/29/2026

Top Caterers Share Tips and Strategies for Successful Outdoor Events

🌳 Outdoor events have a special kind of magic.

There’s just something about fresh air, twinkling lights and dappled sunshine that add an enchanting aura to special occasions staged al fresco.

But for caterers, that magic comes with a lot of moving parts—and more chances for things to go awry.

📝 “An outdoor event takes a lot more than what anybody who hasn’t done it before would assume,” says Christie Altendorf, marketing and brand experience director at
D’Amico Hospitality in Minneapolis.

☀️ As the summer season gets underway, CFE News convened our Editorial Advisory Board for a wide-ranging discussion on what it really takes to execute outdoor events at a high level—from the first client conversation to the final plate.

👇 Read these catering leaders' tips and strategies in the full article on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/top-caterers-share-tips-and-strategies-for-successful-outdoor-events

By Sara Perez Webber


Featuring:
A Fare Extraordinaire
Blue Plate Catering
D'Amico Hospitality
Footers Catering
Marcia Selden Catering & Events






FIFA World Cup 2026: Tips for Capturing Lucrative Catering Opportunities⚽ The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and ...
05/27/2026

FIFA World Cup 2026: Tips for Capturing Lucrative Catering Opportunities

⚽ The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and doesn't end until July 19.

📅 For six weeks, 16 host cities across North America will host 6.5 million fans in stadiums. And tens of millions more will be cheering on their teams from offices, breweries, event spaces and living rooms across the country.

💰 Some $6.4 billion in tourist spending is coming to the U.S. during those six weeks — and nearly a third of it goes straight to food and beverage.

🤝 The easiest orders come from people and businesses you already have a relationship with, and the approach begins with one simple question: "What are you doing for the tournament?"

👇 Read all tips in the full article on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/fifa-world-cup-2026-tips-for-capturing-lucrative-catering-opportunities/

By Kelly Grogan, CRUMBS founder
Featuring:

FIFA World Cup





Maneet Chauhan knows how to win a barbecue battle. 🏆The acclaimed chef and restaurateur coached her team of pitmasters t...
05/22/2026

Maneet Chauhan knows how to win a barbecue battle. 🏆

The acclaimed chef and restaurateur coached her team of pitmasters to victory on last season's BBQ Brawl on Food Network. 👨‍🍳

Now she's back as a coach on the current season, ready to defend her winning legacy. 💪

In an exclusive interview with CFE News, Chauhan opens up about her love of live-fire cooking, the influence of Indian culinary tradition on her BBQ philosophy, and the advice she'd give to operators looking to tap into the soaring popularity of all things barbecue. 🔥

"To me, BBQ is all about perfectly cooking the meats. It can be Peruvian, Indian or the traditional BBQ—I love all of them!" ❤️

Read the full interview on our website! 👇

www.cfe-news.com/maneet-chauhan-why-bbq-is-booming-and-how-to-do-it-right

By Sara Perez Webber

Featuring
Maneet Chauhan
Chauhan Ale and Masala House
Food Network





When Zach Bryan’s "With Heaven on Tour" arrived at the University of Tulsa for a two-day run on April 3 and 4, it brough...
05/20/2026

When Zach Bryan’s "With Heaven on Tour" arrived at the University of Tulsa for a two-day run on April 3 and 4, it brought more than 22,000 attendees and a major opportunity for Sodexo’s on-campus dining team to execute at scale. 🙌

More than 5,000 cases of beverages were brought in to meet demand. Over 10 local food trucks and vendors joined the effort, alongside two grab-and-go markets and 23 open concession windows. Approximately 300 staff members supported the event. 🍔

“This is what Sodexo is all about. It’s who we are,” said Ed Daugherty, executive campus/regional director of dining. “No one person makes this happen. It takes all of us.” ❤️

The result was a well-executed, high-volume event that reflected clear coordination, steady leadership and a team that delivered together. 👏

👇 Read the full story on our website!

www.cfe-news.com/how-sodexo-delivered-large-scale-zach-bryan-concert-experience-at-the-university-of-tulsa

Featuring
Sodexo USA
The University of Tulsa





Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson spoke to a full house at F&B@Sea, an annual conference in Miami devoted to cruise food-...
05/15/2026

Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson spoke to a full house at F&B@Sea, an annual conference in Miami devoted to cruise food-and-beverage professionals. 🚢

“Every single person here has an origin food story,” Samuelsson said, noting that his own story blends being Ethiopian, American and Swedish. 🌍

“I think everyone who is in hospitality should do one contract on a cruise ship just to get to know it, because you learn so much,” he said. ⚓

For today’s operators, Samuelsson said the opportunity—and the challenge—is to remain curious. Guests are more knowledgeable than ever, thanks to food media, travel, social media and their own increasingly adventurous palates. 🌊

He also emphasized that diners are not only seeking new flavors; they are seeking stories. They want to understand where dishes come from, who made them and what traditions they carry. 📖

That storytelling, he suggested, must be rooted in respect. Whether drawing from Ethiopian, Swedish, American, Filipino, Mexican or Caribbean influences, the goal is not novelty for novelty’s sake. It is connection. 🌍

👇 Read the full article on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/marcus-samuelssons-message-to-the-cruise-fb-industry-stay-curious

By Sara Perez Webber

Featuring
Marcus Samuelsson
F&B at Sea





🍽️ Cura Hospitality’s Guest Chef Program continues to elevate the on-site dining experience for healthcare team members,...
05/13/2026

🍽️ Cura Hospitality’s Guest Chef Program continues to elevate the on-site dining experience for healthcare team members, patients and visitors across Allegheny Health Network (AHN) hospitals in Pennsylvania.

🔥 Patients and team members consistently respond with enthusiasm to the program, with participation increasing by 15–18% on Guest Chef days, as diners come specifically to experience a signature dish that isn’t typically offered on the daily menu.

🐟 The highlight of AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital’s Guest Chef menu was a beautifully seared rainbow trout, a local favorite that reflected the opening of trout season in the region.

💬 “For AHN, it breaks up the routine of daily service, fosters collaboration among chefs across the network, and introduces new, often healthier recipes that connect to local flavors and community interests,” says Brian Marsh, Cura Hospitality vice president of operations for AHN.

👉 Read the full article on our website!

www.cfe-news.com/cura-hospitalitys-guest-chef-program-highlights-hospital-culinary-talent

Featuring
Cura Hospitality
Elior North America
Allegheny Health Network





Miami Beach was buzzing even more than usual the third week of March, when leaders from 15 of North America’s most influ...
05/08/2026

Miami Beach was buzzing even more than usual the third week of March, when leaders from 15 of North America’s most influential catering companies gathered at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. 🌴

These members of Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP) were celebrating their fifth annual Symposium—a week of inspiring speakers, insight-packed sessions and memorable meals at top restaurants. 🍽️

The ECEP Trends Council convened at the conference, compiling a list of 10 catering and hospitality trends identified by these industry heavyweights. 📊

The third annual ECEP Trends Report reflects how catering’s most influential operators are reading the room—and redefining it. 🔥

👉 Read the full article and report on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/whats-on-the-table-ecep-identifies-10-catering-trends

Featuring
ecepglobal
Proof of the Pudding
M Culinary Concepts
Ridgewells Catering
Bingemansca
The Catered Affair
Vestals Catering





D’Amico Hospitality—a leading special events company based in Minneapolis—has been awarded Caterer of the Year by the In...
05/06/2026

D’Amico Hospitality—a leading special events company based in Minneapolis—has been awarded Caterer of the Year by the International Caterers Association (ICA). 🎉

With more than 30 years in the industry, D’Amico Hospitality has set the standard for award-winning catering and events in the Twin Cities. ⏳

“It reflects the growth we’ve achieved as a team and highlights the dedication we invest in every event. In a state celebrated for its warmth and hospitality, our team is committed to delivering extraordinary experiences that resonate with our clients and their guests,” said owner Paul Smith. 🏆

Since rebranding from D’Amico Catering in February 2025, D’Amico Hospitality has significantly expanded its portfolio of venue partnerships. 📈

The company is poised for future growth, with plans to further enhance its Minneapolis venue lineup this year. 🚀

👉 Read the full story on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/damico-hospitality-named-caterer-of-the-year-by-international-caterers-association

Featuring
D'Amico Hospitality
International Caterers Association





Abigail Kirsch has introduced an all-new menu focusing on spring and summer flavors to enhance upcoming weddings, corpor...
05/01/2026

Abigail Kirsch has introduced an all-new menu focusing on spring and summer flavors to enhance upcoming weddings, corporate dinners, galas and life milestones across iconic venues in New York and Connecticut. 🍽️ The new menu provides guests with a personalized approach to luxury catering through interactive and unique dishes that highlight seasonal flavors. 🍋

“When designing this menu, we wanted to deliver more than just standard fare, but to take guests on a cohesive journey with these dishes inspired by quality ingredients with their freshness at the forefront,” said Abigail Kirsch Executive Chef Peter Mamajanian. 👨‍🍳

Main courses include Sicilian Branzino with Yukon potato coins, garlicky escarole, lemon beurre blanc and Calabrian chili oil. 🐟

The Truffled Filet of Beef is complemented with cauliflower caramelized fennel purée, mushroom butter, grilled asparagus and a truffled cognac cream demi-glace. 🍄

On the butlered dessert menu, the Miso Caramel Cookie balances a salty-sweet caramel atop a lemongrass-infused shortbread. 🍪

👉 Read the full article on our website!

www.cfe-news.com/new-york-based-abigail-kirsch-introduces-spring-and-summer-catering-menus

Featuring
Abigail Kirsch
Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill
Abigail Kirsch at The Loading Dock
The Skylark






🚢✨ CFE News headed to Miami earlier this month for the 4th edition of F&B@Sea at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center—and ...
04/29/2026

🚢✨ CFE News headed to Miami earlier this month for the 4th edition of F&B@Sea at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center—and we're still buzzing! With 230+ brands and record-breaking attendance, this year's show was the biggest yet, and CFE News was proud to be a sponsor! 🎉

From cutting-edge cruise culinary trends to incredible conversations on the trade show floor, April 15–16 was packed with inspiration. 🍽️🌊

Read the full article on our website about five products that really caught our eye… 👀

https://cfe-news.com/whats-new-in-cruise-fb-5-standout-products-from-fbsea/

Featuring
F&B at Sea
Reddy Ice
MTA Distributors
Koziol
Flavour Fields
Luups

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