All Occasions Catering Blog

We believe every table tells a story—and we love helping our clients create the perfect setting to match the moment. Whether it’s a lavish wedding, a corporate gala, or an intimate dinner, the details matter. That’s why we asked our staff to share some of their favorite table design combinations using our wide selection of china, linens, flatware, and glassware.

Tailgate season in the Midwest can be defined as any month between January and December of a given year. Peak pre-game however starts in spring, when parking lots open their gates and pickups drop their tailgates. Winter play-off football, church Christmas services, and children’s show choir performances notwithstanding, the warmer pre-parties of baseball and football season are professional grade, and we’re getting our festivity kits ready with the following helpful checklist.  

At All Occasions Catering, we’ve covered everything from catering tips to industry insights, and over the years, a few of our blogs have truly stood the test of time.

This time of year, two wolves reside within us: one craving renewal and vitality, the other longing for cozy, carefree comfort. 2025 catering trends reflect this balance, blending health-focused dishes with indulgent comfort foods.

Life is full of tasks and traditions, but how often do we stop to ask ourselves why we do them? Sometimes, we go through the motions without savoring the moments they create. What if we approached these routines with more intention and joy, rather than just doing them because we feel they have to be done?

The playlist is complete, the chimney has been swept, the mistletoe is swinging,. All in anticipation of the guest of honor, Santa Claus. But holiday festivities wouldn’t be complete without suitable libation. Sure, you could crack open a beer. But if you want it to taste like Christmas, dip into the following classics.

As we approach the end of the year, it’s natural to reflect on the past months—the milestones achieved, the challenges overcome, and the moments that brought us joy. The holiday season is the perfect time to pause, look back, and appreciate the people and experiences that have shaped our journey.

At All Occasions Catering, we practice sustainability by donating food scraps to a local hobby farm, where everyday leftovers are transformed into nutrient-rich compost or animal feed. This not only minimizes waste but also supports a small farm’s growth—creating a closed-loop system that benefits the environment and the community.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at how our exceptional team comes together to create an amazing event with All Occasions Catering.

Planning an event can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to navigating the world of catering. With so many terms and options, it’s easy to feel lost. Whether you’re organizing a wedding, corporate event, or a private party, understanding catering terminology is crucial to ensuring everything runs smoothly.

The tables are beautifully set, your glass is full, and your dish arrives impeccably presented. It’s a dining experience that seems effortless from the guest’s perspective. But behind every seamless event, there’s a team of dedicated professionals working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly.

In the whirlwind of life, everything seems to be moving at an unprecedented pace, leaving us wondering: are we keeping up? Are we pausing to grasp the momentum of change that seems to only increase with each year? Do we even have a moment to spare in our bustling lives to cherish the connections with those we hold dear? 

Our most requested summer side? It’s our signature coleslaw! This is a perfect dish to compliment any summer cookout. We NEVER share our recipes, but this one is too good to keep all to ourselves. Make it and let us know how much you loved it!

All Occasions Catering is proud to be a part of MATC’s Culinary Arts Board Committee. Owner Mark Andersen was recently asked to join the committee to contribute his knowledge and ideas gained from years of experience in the catering industry. Andersen sees this as mutually beneficial as it allows him to get a glimpse into the future of what’s “up and coming” in Milwaukee’s culinary scene.

As a catering company, it can be a challenge to generate urgency for summer party planning when we’re all still defrosting our windshields. And you know what, we get it. There are no paler thighs in Wisconsin than ours in late Winter, but nearly overnight the songbirds will be back, and if we open our windows wide enough we can hear the faint crack of a baseball bat. Summer is coming, quickly, and it’s time to get organized.

You are an excellent cook. Your friends absolutely rave about your vegetarian lasagna, and Aunt Doreen specifically requests your carrot cake at family functions. Admirable though your dishes may be, with the utmost respect, you aren’t a caterer. And even if you were, there are a good many reasons not to cook for your own event, and instead hire out the pros. Here are five of them to ponder when party planning.

Setting the main stage for your dream wedding or annual conference comes down to fine tuning the details. Food, location, date, these are early decisions and generally a breeze to square away. But if you’re shooting for a va-va-voom baby shower or holiday bash with some razzmatazz, the rental options are endless to wow the crowd. 

Once you sign with All Occasions Catering, your file doesn’t lay dormant in a drawer until game day. In actuality, a flurry of work commences, ensuring your event runs on time, all the necessary supplies and ingredients are on hand, staff is scheduled, and everyone knows their individual duties. While many hands are at work, each client can expect a specific flow of personnel who step up to the plate and execute your vision.

Not every event meets the size or budget that necessitates professional catering, but every guest list deserves a knock-‘em-dead dinner. Turn your small but mighty gender reveal, your coworker’s retirement cocktail hour, and your holiday singles mixer from a beginner grade soiree to a top tier fete with a few of our insider tips. 

Do-nut be overwhelmed by the thought of making homemade donuts. It’s easier than you think! These donuts, baked instead of fried, are wonderfully moist, infused with just the right amount of pumpkin flavor. They are the perfect compliment to a hot cup of coffee, tea or cocoa on a crisp, fall morning!

Employers can benefit from embracing neurodiversity and providing accommodations for their neurodivergent employees. These individuals bring a new perspective with great strengths and capabilities.

Summer in Wisconsin goes by in the blink of an eye. But right now we’re in the sweet spot. The days are still long and warm. The smell of burgers on the grill frequently fills the air. And there are sweet corn stands on what seems like every corner. We love to cook with things that are in season, with fresh produce bursting with flavor.

If you’re a fan of grilled sweet corn, try this recipe for Grilled Mexican Street Corn – one of our all time favorites!

Party planning can be as hands-on as you want it to be. If you prefer to hang every last wreath, fold each and every napkin, and light all your own Sterno cans, you are certainly welcome to it. This list will help keep things in order, but a good partner will off-load some of the worry and a ton of the labor. Reach out today to get started on your next epic celebration. 

Break out the beach blankets, it’s limbo season. And what pairs better with sun kissed shoulders than an Independence Day, Labor Day, or regular old Saturday fiesta with friends? We’re all about good pairings here at All Occasions Catering, with summer side dishes that will make just about any of our main courses sing. 

This summer, let’s all take the time to slow down and talk to each other. We need to get back to having real conversations. It’s how we sort out problems and connect. Talk to people. Go to the show. Make that reservation. Call an old friend. Help lies in the communities we have built over time.

Food is so much fun. As chefs we are equally chemists, physicists, and artists, whose job is daydreaming new recipes into existence. What could be better than that? Well, eating those recipes, I suppose. You can do just that with any of our newly minted menu items, a sampling of which you can learn about below.

No one pre-games like the Midwest, with legendary tailgates kicking off everything from sporting events to corporate picnics to high school graduations.

All Occasions Catering is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with The Fitzgerald as their exclusive in-house caterer. We are looking forward to this partnership which will allow us to have a greater presence in the heart of Milwaukee.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t waste precious primping time worrying about your roux, or lose a perfectly lovely dress shirt to wayward saucepan splatters. Leave the wining and dining to All Occasions catering with a uniquely crafted menu arranged for just the two of you.

Looking ahead, the team at All Occasions Catering has some fresh new things in store for you. We are excited to unveil some new creations. We can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring. We are optimistic and grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead. Happy New Year, everybody!

We love a marital reception because it showcases each couple’s personality, introducing their brand to the world. Their vows, play list, location, and yes, even the meal they provide, tells their friends and family their story. Supposing you’ll soon be getting married, which dining style would be right for you?

We may not be the expert in finding “the one,” but we can guide you confidently along the path of wedding planning. Having steered many ships over decades of events, here are our recommendations to avoid choppy waters and forge ahead via smooth sailing. Enough nautical wordplay, let’s get you married. 

This butternut squash with brown butter cream sauce recipe is a perfect fall/winter dish to serve at your next family gathering or dinner party. It’s quick and easy but will be sure to impress your guests. 

Old Fashioneds are a Wisconsin staple, and the perfect compliment to any supper club dinner. But why wait for a special night out to enjoy this tried and true favorite. This variation on a classic drink can be made at home and enjoyed on a crisp fall night by the fire. On extra chilly nights, try it as a hot drink instead!

Like gowns, cummerbunds, and DJ set lists, wedding menu trends come and go. Cuisine of every stripe have their moment in the sun, bringing a new excitement to you as the client, and to our team as well. Entertain and delight your guests with these proven favorites this hitching season and beyond. 

There is so much joy in good company. I invite you back to the table to gather. Simply be together. Thank you all for adding to the good in my life. Please, take a minute today to call an old friend, hug a loved one, make plans! These simple things truly make life more enjoyable. Hope you all have a wonderful harvest and holiday season.

‘Help Wanted’ signs decorate just about every storefront lately, all vying for the best possible staff in this very competitive job market. The catering and dining business is no stranger to this challenge. But how do we attract great people, preserve passion, and increase tenure?

If you’re hoping for eagerness for your company party, make it a party. People will generally attend anything that feels crafted to entertain and leave a lasting memory.

A kitchen staff is a member’s only club, one whose entrée in requires culinary talent, a cool head, and a great sense of humor. In short, it ain’t for everybody. But experience in professional dining never leaves you, and you’re forever a compatriot, having served in the dinner rush trenches, survived to tell tales. 

Consider it a motivational tool during end-of-quarter crunch time. Perhaps it’s a way to break bread and toast your crew’s latest win, or to command focus and attention during a workday pow wow. Sometimes though, it’s just because. Treat your team to a custom crafted lunch, lovingly curated by your partners at All Occasions Catering.  

The cocktail crowd is a different breed. They mingle, they network, they are movers and shakers. Shakers is what we do, too; outfitting events with the custom concoctions and passables that keep folks circulating. Whether it be for business, bridal shower, fundraiser, or your organization’s annual celebration, your fete is just an expertly mixed bevvy and serving tray away.

Let’s cut to the chase. This is our formal pitch to you to join the exciting and lucrative catering biz, for which you just might be the perfect fit. Fortunately for our industry, no matter what is happening in the world, the festivities never stop. At least not for long.

This time of year the warmer months are a distant memory, buried beneath layers of permafrost. But take heart;the sun sets a little later every day now, and beach weather will be here before our pale legs are ready for it. If you, your company or organization is looking down the calendar toward your annual picnic, family reunion, or garden party, NOW is the time to get to planning. Put down the aspirin, we are here to help.

Entertaining your donors is a must in this age of fundraising, whether it be through wacky internet challenges, pleading emails, or the age old classic, the charity event. Galas of every size and theme drive dollars toward your cause, by way of community bonding, generous libations, and full stomachs. With All Occasions Catering’s help, we can leave your guests with a lasting memory, and demonstrate your function’s credibility. 

In our business, flavor and food quality are paramount, but let us not discount the impact of a beautiful presentation. If we are to wow your guests with a memorable meal, it’s only right to frame it appropriately, with the elegant dinnerware it deserves. We are thrilled to guide you toward a tablescape that exceeds your expectations, all with respect to your budget. At All Occasions Catering, sophistication is always within reach.

The dress. The flowers. The spirit of eternal love and commitment. But most importantly, The Food. Planning your wedding is a balancing act between the visions of your Pinterest board, and keeping reasonably within budget. Fortunately All Occasions Catering is excited to guide you toward a menu that satisfies both needs. Selecting the perfect sequence of courses is a cinch with our thorough array of genres, price points, and palate teasers. Let’s take a look at what we can do with three budgets and your guests’ range of appetites. 

After 20 years in the catering biz, Owner Mark Andersen has learned a thing or two about selecting, booking, and working with venues. To help bypass potential pitfalls, Mark has given us a handy list of guidelines to keep your worries at bay and the party running smoothly, or raging raucously, whichever of the two you are going for. 

You’re getting married tomorrow and your weather app is predicting thunderstorms, but your coordinator hasn’t broken a sweat. How does All Occasions Catering stay cool under pressure? We sat down with the team to dish on the final days leading up to your shindig, and how to stay calm during a frenetic time.