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🎤 How do you successfully scale a catering business without sacrificing quality or service?Join CFE News Editor-in-Chief...
10/09/2026

🎤 How do you successfully scale a catering business without sacrificing quality or service?

Join CFE News Editor-in-Chief Sara Perez Webber for a conversation with Tracy Vessillo, president of Puff 'n Stuff Catering, one of Florida’s largest catering companies.

At the Florida Restaurant Show in Orlando, they'll discuss the opportunities and challenges of growing a multi-city catering operation, sharing insights on leadership, operations and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

📅 Sunday, October 25, 2026, at noon
📍 Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
🎤 Education Theater 1145

Planning to attend? We'd love to see you there!

🎟️ Register for FREE as our guest using code SPGUEST at https://www.floridarestaurantshow.com.

CFENews | Florida Restaurant Show | Pizza Tomorrow Summit | Puff 'n Stuff Catering

Rick Rosenfield on the Lessons Behind California Pizza Kitchen 🍕Two former federal prosecutors left law in 1985 to open ...
10/07/2026

Rick Rosenfield on the Lessons Behind California Pizza Kitchen 🍕

Two former federal prosecutors left law in 1985 to open a pizza restaurant—and built a global brand. In his new book, California Pizza Kitchen co-founder Rick Rosenfield shares four decades of operational wisdom that reshaped pizza trends, mall dining and more.

In an exclusive interview with CFE News, Rosenfield breaks down:
✅ Why exotic menu items failed (and the rule California Pizza Kitchen used instead)
✅ How open-hearth kitchens put operations on stage to build guest trust
✅ Why hiring for kindness was their secret to long-term hospitality success

Read the full story! 👇

www.cfe-news.com/rick-rosenfield-on-the-lessons-behind-california-pizza-kitchen

📍 Catch Rick Rosenfield in Orlando at the Florida Restaurant Show/Pizza Tomorrow Summit!
🎙️ Live Taping of the So You Want to Run a Restaurant? Podcast
⏰ Oct. 26, 1:30–3:00 PM (Sunshine Plate Arena, Booth 879)
🎟️ Use CFE News’ code for FREE Registration ($99 value): Code SPGUEST

The Florida Restaurant Show takes place Oct. 25–27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

By Sara Perez Webber

Featuring:
Rick Rosenfield
Florida Restaurant Show
The Pizza Tomorrow Summit
California Pizza Kitchen
Back of House

CFE News | Florida Restaurant Show | Pizza Tomorrow Summit | Rick Rosenfield | California Pizza Kitchen

What actually changes when you bring Michelin discipline into a high-volume catering operation? 👨‍🍳✨According to Executi...
10/02/2026

What actually changes when you bring Michelin discipline into a high-volume catering operation? 👨‍🍳✨

According to Executive Chef Ankish Shetty, Michelin training isn’t about improvising during a 400-cover service—it’s about front-loading every single decision so improvisation is completely unnecessary.

From strict production arc discipline and temperature obsession to total role clarity, true precision means the last plate served matches the first, whether catering for 40 guests or 2,800. 🍽️📋🔥

👉 Stop making decisions under pressure. Read how Michelin kitchens lock in service prep in the full article on our website.

www.cfe-news.com/what-michelin-training-actually-changes-in-a-catering-operation

By Chef Ankish Shetty
Restaurant Associates

CFE News | Chef Ankish Shetty | Michelin Training | Kitchen Operations | Event Catering

Beverages are no longer just a side order—they’re becoming the main reason guests walk through the door. 🥤☕️🍹According t...
09/30/2026

Beverages are no longer just a side order—they’re becoming the main reason guests walk through the door. 🥤☕️🍹

According to new data from the National Restaurant Association’s 2026 Restaurant Beverage Trends report, consumers—especially Gen Z and Millennials—are making dedicated mid-afternoon trips for novelty, customization and authentic experiences. 📊

To capture this demand, operators are overhauling menus with functional drinks, wellness options, signature coffees and zero-proof cocktails. 🌿

Read the key takeaways in the full article on our website. 👇

www.cfe-news.com/beverages-move-from-add-ons-to-restaurant-growth-drivers

Featuring
National Restaurant Association

Rudy’s Hospitality Group Builds a New Model for Corporate Dining 🍽️✨How do you convince hybrid employees to swap the cou...
09/25/2026

Rudy’s Hospitality Group Builds a New Model for Corporate Dining 🍽️✨

How do you convince hybrid employees to swap the couch for the office? For Michigan-based Rudy’s Hospitality Group, the answer comes down to treating corporate cafeterias like restaurants. 🥗🧑‍🍳

“A great hospitality partner should contribute to a positive workplace culture. It should help bring people into the office willingly and create an environment where people can talk to each other,” says Jason Olinik, senior vice president of Rudy’s Hospitality Group.

Through its "Hospitality Hub" model, Rudy’s Corporate Dining serves five corporate clients and 10,000-plus daily customers across Metro Detroit by bringing micro markets, local brand partnerships and restaurant-quality dining straight to the office. 🥪🍣

Next up: taking that model beyond Detroit—and potentially across the country.

Read the full story on our website. 👇

www.cfe-news.com/rudys-hospitality-group-builds-a-new-model-for-corporate-dining

By Sara Perez Webber

Featuring:
Rudy’s Hospitality Group
rudyshospitality.com
Rudy's Prime Steakhouse

Tomato Showcase Dinner at The Chef’s Garden 🌿At the Culinary Vegetable Institute (CVI) at The Chef’s Garden in Milan, Oh...
09/23/2026

Tomato Showcase Dinner at The Chef’s Garden 🌿

At the Culinary Vegetable Institute (CVI) at The Chef’s Garden in Milan, Ohio, summer’s most iconic ingredient took center stage. 🍅

Executive Chef Jamie Simpson and team, along with guest chefs Tony Dee and Patrick McElroy, collaborated on a menu for one of the farm’s most anticipated showcases.

Joined by co-owner Farmer Lee Jones, they turned a seasonal staple into an immersive culinary event that explored tomatoes at every stage of growth—from heirloom tartlettes to white gazpacho and dry-aged lamb pomodoro. 🍽️

Read the full article for the menu highlights and key takeaway tips every event planner needs to know! 👇

www.cfe-news.com/event-spotlight-tomato-showcase-dinner-at-the-chefs-garden

Venue:
The Chef's Garden

Featuring:
Farmer Lee Jones

Culinary Vegetable Institute at The Chef's Garden



Photographer:

🎓🍽️ What is Gen Z looking for in food and beverage this fall?Chartwells Higher Education has identified five campus dini...
09/18/2026

🎓🍽️ What is Gen Z looking for in food and beverage this fall?

Chartwells Higher Education has identified five campus dining trends that reflect the tastes, habits and priorities of today’s college-age consumers—from new approaches to snacking and wellness to changing beverage preferences and an increased focus on texture.

👉 Scroll through the slides to see all five trends, then read the full story on CFE News:

https://cfe-news.com/from-grazing-to-fibermaxxing-chartwells-top-5-campus-food-trends/

09/16/2026

Grilled Shrimp Risotto from Deborah Miller Catering & Events 🍤🌽

This seasonal dish was developed by Director of Culinary Samuel Kim at Deborah Miller Catering & Events in partnership with Ease Hospitality.

New York-based Deborah Miller Catering is the catering partner for Ease Hospitality, which manages two meetings-and-events facilities in midtown Manhattan. Deborah Miller Catering creates unique menus for Ease, based on their clients’ needs and their own culinary philosophies. 🍽️

Watch Chef Samuel Kim as he prepares this corn and shrimp risotto. Every ingredient and technique is thoughtfully chosen to create a dish that feels just right for the season. ✨

👉 Get the full RECIPE at the link below!

www.cfe-news.com/grilled-shrimp-risotto-from-deborah-miller-catering-events

Featuring
Deborah Miller Catering & Events
Ease Hospitality

Video by Olga Volgina
QNY Creative
Ease Hospitality

Have a food or drink recipe you’d love to share with the CFE News community?

📩 DM us or email Editor-in-Chief Sara Perez Webber at [email protected]

We’d love to feature you and your creation! ✍️

Are Google Ads still worth it for caterers? 📈💻The short answer: Yes—but the playbook is changing.To find out what's work...
09/11/2026

Are Google Ads still worth it for caterers? 📈💻

The short answer: Yes—but the playbook is changing.

To find out what's working now, we heard from three members of ECEP (Elite Catering + Event Professionals):

👉 Jeff Ware, Catering by Michaels
👉 Taylor Donato, M Culinary Concepts
👉 Santiago Diaz, Combined Caterers/Best Impressions Caterers

From measuring the leads that actually matter and adjusting spend to match demand, to deciding between agency and in-house management, their approaches show how paid search is evolving.

And there’s an even bigger question ahead: 🤖 What happens to Google Ads as AI changes the way customers search?

Read the full article for 5 practical takeaways from the conversation.

https://cfe-news.com/google-ads-strategies-whats-working-for-three-ecep-caterers/

Featuring:
ecepglobal
Catering by Michaels
M Culinary Concepts
Best Impressions Caterers

09/09/2026

Puff ’n Stuff Catering Expands to South Florida

One of Florida’s leading full-service catering and event companies is growing! Puff ’n Stuff has expanded into Greater Miami with a new commissary kitchen in Coral Gables and CIA-trained Chef Dewey LoSasso leading South Florida culinary operations. 👨‍🍳🌴

Known for pairing chef-driven menus with polished service and large-scale operational expertise, Puff ’n Stuff’s new location boosts production capacity while maintaining the high-touch feel of a boutique partner. ✨

CFE News Editor-in-Chief Sara Perez Webber will sit down with Puff ’n Stuff President Tracy Vessillo at the Florida Restaurant Show for the session “Scaling Hospitality: Lessons from One of Florida’s Largest Caterers.”

They'll discuss the company’s growth, operations, evolving menu and presentation trends, and how changing client expectations are reshaping the catering business. 💡

📅 Florida Restaurant Show: Oct. 25–27
📍 Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
🎙️ Session Date & Time: Oct. 25 at 12 pm

Read the full article for more details on the Miami expansion and Chef LoSasso’s culinary background! 🥂👇

www.cfe-news.com/puff-n-stuff-catering-expands-to-south-florida

Featuring
Puff 'n Stuff Catering
Florida Restaurant Show
ecepglobal

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60 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 900
Tempe, AZ
85281

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