Ivan, Cathie, and the entire Gourmet Food Works team knocked it out of the park at our 9/5/15…read morewedding! We've been regular customers of the Picnic Basket (restaurant side of this business) for years and Gourmet Food Works actually catered my husband's christening years ago, so there was little doubt they'd be the best choice for our big day. That said, we were very budget conscious, so we definitely did our homework (checked with other caterers, etc.), but in the end no one compared from a price, quality, or service standpoint, and I know we made the right choice going with Gourmet Food Works! From our initial meeting with Ivan, where he answered our million questions and clearly laid out our options.. to the food tasting where he provided us with so many delicious options to choose from.. to the morning of the big day where he and his team showed up early to ensure everything was ready to go.. and finally to the day-of coordination and food service, everything was excellent and far exceeded our expectations. We had our wedding at an amazing but non-traditional location (see: Cypress Resort & Marine in Antioch) which required a bit more logistical consideration than some of the other more traditional venues out there. Ivan and his team actually went out to the site to scope things out ahead of time (on more than one occasion, I believe) to ensure what we were envisioning was feasible. There were also a number of changes and several 'special requests' we made during the process (which I know caused a lot of extra work for Ivan), and throughout everything, he was patient, responsive, and extremely helpful. Arguably most importantly, the food at our wedding was fantastic! We received a number of compliments from our guests, which of course was great to hear. It was also very nice knowing that the day was fully taken care of, as Ivan & Cathie & crew did a great job working with us and our other vendors to ensure everything went off without a hitch. We'd HIGHLY recommend having Gourmet Food Works cater your wedding or party!

We used Picnic Basket/ Gourmet Food works for our wedding last month at the Byron Colby Barn. We…read moreworked with Ivan and he did SO much more than just help us plan our menu. He was very familiar with our venue and helped with alot of the planning for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. He really made the whole process a breeze! We had some menu ideas when we arrived for the tasting, months before our wedding, but Ivan brought out samples of SO much food and we ended up picking something completely different. As the bride, I have food allergies (allergic to gluten and dairy) and Ivan was SO accommodating with all the menu choices. Alot of our guests were also GF and he made sure our buffet was all clearly marked with tons of options for everyone. We also had two vegan guests, which had their meals prepared on the side, and they raved about their dish! The day of the wedding, Ivan and his staff were very prompt, professional and smiling all night! At the end of the dinner, the food was packed up for us to take home! They also handled our cake perfectly. I would HIGHLY recommend using Gourmet Food Works for their wedding or special event!

My son turned 10 this week so we invited his buddies over for a mobile escape room followed by…read morehibachi in our garage. Eating in the garage isn't ideal in December, but figured between our space heater and the fire from hibachi it would be toasty enough for a group of 4th grade boys. We had Mr. Hibachi in the past for my husband's bday. When I looked into options I saw that Tom from Hibachi Bros was highly recommended and also a bit more affordable than Mr. Hibachi. Booked! I went back and forth with Tom via email mostly about if we would have enough space for 17 kids in our 2 car garage. I think he was a little nervous himself, but after the party said he thinks he could have fit 22 people. Good to know for next time! They spent about an hour setting everything up and they bring it all- from tables to chairs to plates/utencils..and of course delicious food. I didn't have to do a thing, but eat some pretty amazing hibachi shrimp and sides. The boys were pretty well entertained thru the 1.5 hour dinner and they kept the food coming. They were very loud, but Tom told me if they are loud it means they are having a lot of fun. So clearly they were having a blast. ;) As for food steak seemed to be the most popular option, but they had a choice of steak, chicken, shrimp or veggies. As soon as they had their last bite of food the chaos broke out so we gave them bday cake and sent them home full and sugared up. It definitely was a pricey meal for a group of kids, but they seemed to really enjoy it and it was one of the easier parties I've thrown. A few days later our garage is still a little smelly so I definitely wouldn't do this inside my house, but I'm sure it will be back to a normal smelling garage soon.

Amazing experience and totally recommend. Only reason for 4* instead of 5 is the chicken was…read moreovercooked. The filets were perfect!! The way they set up the tables and chairs was beautiful. The chef was a lot of fun!

First, you don't have to live near Lake Bluff to use these wonderful caterers. I live in Evanston,…read moreand it worked out perfectly. I was introduced to Heller Catering's fabulous food and presentation at a surprise party for a friend. Recently, after testing food from other caterers, I chose Heller, and its proprietor, Catherine O'Meara, as the caterer for an 80-guest anniversary party. We, and most of our friends, are foodies, and I didn't want ordinary. I wanted amazing. Heller came through. (Heller also arranged for all linens, and party attendants, including bar tender and servers. The service was outstanding). We had passed hor d'oeuvres that were unique and delicious; guests were awed by the selection: Brie & Pineapple Chutney in a phyllo cup; Zucchini Fritters with roasted red pepper sauce; Grilled Shrimp Skewers, sweet & spicy peanut sauce; many other choices were available. Dinner: Plated salad: A Grilled Peach Salad; Gourmet greens, goat cheese, toasted pistachios, Red onion, blood orange dressing Buffet Grilled Tequila Lime Breast of Chicken with Roasted tomato, garlic and grilled corn relish Pasta Orecchiette: Red bell pepper, green beans, arugula, toasted pine nuts Shaved Asiago, lemon tarragon dressing Baked salmon with Artisan breads, butter Assorted Mini Desserts---all delicious Lemon Cheesecake Lavender Crème Brule (Fabulous and unusual) Caramel Nut Cups, chocolate ganache drizzle (Whoa! To die for!) Assorted Cookies, Double Chocolate Brownies They also delivered 2 Quiche Lorraine and lovely fruit platter for us to have for brunch the next day, which was Father's Day. We celebrated with my brother and family, all of whom said it was "the best quiche" they'd ever had. Just today I had a luncheon for a group of 16 friends. Again, Catherine outdid herself: a fabulous cranberry tuna salad (Dried cranberries, green onion, pecans Honey mustard mayonnaise dressing served with both mini croissants and cranberry buns; a really outstanding chopped salad of Romaine, avocado, grape tomatoes, sweet corn, red onion, cucumbers, Apple-wood smoked bacon (on the side), bleu cheese, Zesty gazpacho dressing Smoked Turkey Wraps: Baby spinach, raspberry horseradish cream cheese Honey whole wheat wraps Platter of Fresh Fruit Again, nothing but raves. I can't recommend Heller Catering highly enough.

Heller is our go-to caterers for all parties from formal New Year's Eve to anniversary parties,…read moreshowers, and rehearsal dinners. They are flexible and innovative. Catherine can provide delicious selections for gluten-free, vegetarians, and vegans.

We hired Chef Stephen for my best friend's bachelorette weekend this past summer, and it was…read morehands-down the highlight of the entire trip. The food was absolutely incredible and so thoughtfully tailored to the bride's favorite dishes (all Asian-inspired)--it truly felt personal, not generic at all. On top of that, he somehow pulled off an amazing, seamless meal in what was essentially a play kitchen at our Airbnb. Limited space, limited tools, zero stress for us. Everything just worked thanks to Stephen! Stephen is also just a genuinely kind, fun person to be around, which matters so much in a group setting like this. Could not recommend him more. We're still talking about that meal months later!!

Planning a weekend family gathering from one city to another is never easy--but discovering "Ode's…read moreof Food" and working with Stephen made the process not only manageable, but truly enjoyable. Stephen was incredibly flexible, professional, and easy to work with. We were celebrating our grandma's 90th birthday, and thanks to Stephen, a special occasion became even more memorable. He took the time to listen to our needs and requests, always responded with a positive attitude, and delivered more than we expected. His creative and delicious food preparations met everyone's needs and expectations. We honestly couldn't have picked a better person for the job. Thank you, Stephen--you were a delight to work with, and we're already looking forward to seeing you again in five years for Grandma's 95th!

I can't thank them enough! Excellent in every way. Matt and Annette make it so easy. Everything…read morewas so was fresh and delicious. Everyone raved at how yummy everything was. Don't hesitate to use this catering service. They are professionals, easy to work with, and reasonably priced.

We had a wonderful experience working with K&L Foods! We hired them to cater a party of about 50…read morepeople. Keegan was great to work with from start to finish! They were professional, prompt, courteous, and delivered exceptional quality service. The food truck was a hit at the party and everyone was RAVING about how amazing the burgers were!! We were getting showered with compliments. Hiring a food truck adds an element of uniqueness, fun, and freshness that you don't get with regular catering. We LOVED that the menu was consciously curated and included grass-fed meats and organic fixin's. It doesn't get much better than that! If you are looking to uplevel your next party or event, don't hesitate to give K&L a try. We would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat! And would love to have them back for future events. Thank you K&L for helping to make our party SO incredibly special and one-of-a-kind!

We were celebrating my friend 40th birthday party and we're looking for more unique experience…read more Chef Jonn came highly recommended. He met with us and build us a menu base on our dietary and preferences. Food was AMAZING and chef Jonn is awesome person to be around. Thank you again and we can't wait for next birthday party .

i have known chef jonn for many years and have had the pleasure to experience his enormous talents…read moreon several occasions. his attention to detail on every dish he creates is phenomenal. not only does the food taste amazing but it looks beautiful as well. truly someone who loves food and wants to share his passion with the world. i would recommend his service to anyone!

I've been craving good BBQ since moving to Kenosha, I'm so happy to find this spot. My husband and…read moreI couldn't decide what to order because the place smelled so good! I got the jerk chicken dinner with 2 sides: mac and cheese and potato salad. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and cheesy rice on the side. We also bought a small order of rib tips, we couldn't resist. We loved everything!! We can't wait to go back and try everything else.

Had Jerk Chicken at one of the feats in Highland Park amazing stuff definitely know their Chicken…read morehow to be prepared