September 27, 2016

Leading Caterers of America

September 27, 2016

Leading Caterers of America

Leading Caterers of America is an exclusive group of caterers, considered to be at the highest level of service and knowledge in North America. Catersource magazine, a catering industry professional’s leading B2B publication, is in charge of the selection process to become a part of this group. Besides being a leader in their respective market, a member of the Leading Caterers of America must also be a trendsetter. They contribute, in some way, useful knowledge gained by following industry best practices and pioneering new trends to the rest of the catering industry.  Catering by Michaels is honored to be a member of the Leading Caterers of America.

Here’s exactly what it means to be a member of this truly prestigious group.

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We’re sad to see it go, but the summer is almost over. Now, it’s time for beautiful fall which will shortly lead to what’s sure to be another cold winter in Chicago. But we’re not letting inevitability get us down! Instead, we choose to focus on the fun side of fall and winter — holiday parties. But we get a lot of customers who come to us hoping to really spice things up. The fact is, most holiday parties suck. But yours doesn’t have to. Be the office hero, and give this list to your boss or whoever’s in charge of your holiday work party.

Here are 5 holiday work party ideas that don’t suck.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

The best part about white elephant gift exchanges are that nobody knows what to expect. Instead of picking something out for a specific person (who you may not know well enough to adequately gift), everyone who wants to participate brings something fun. It’s easy for anyone to participate – the budget is set at a low monetary amount across the board (usually $10-20). Brit.co put together a massive list of white elephant ideas if you’re running low and need inspiration.

Costume or Fancy Theme Party

If you work in a casual environment, it can be nice to dress up. One of our favorite tips on the holiday work party ideas that don’t suck list is encouraging people to dress up nice. Or wear costumes! Either way, it gives everyone the chance to see their coworkers in a new light. Bonus points if you get a photobooth – those pictures will get shared all over social media and hold a special place on people’s desks.

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August 30, 2016

Catering for Education at Chicago Area Schools

August 30, 2016

Catering for Education at Chicago Area Schools

Did you know that Catering by Michaels handles a wide scope of events for many prestigious schools in the Chicago area? Some of these schools include Northwestern, Columbia, Roosevelt, University of Chicago, and also K-12 schools like Niles West and Glenbrook North.

Our catering services include full service and delivery for homecoming, reunions, departmental meetings, and more.

We chatted with Shannon Sherwood and Meredyth Brook, who both work with our educational partners at Catering by Michaels, to get their insights on catering for Chicago area schools.

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August 2, 2016

Bring Employees Together with Corporate Picnics

August 2, 2016

Bring Employees Together with Corporate Picnics

Chicago and it’s neighboring areas provide many exciting opportunities for companies looking for different ways to bring employees together – specifically, team outings. While the standard go-to may point to a White Sox outing or group day at Six Flags Great America, we challenge you to consider something a little more low key. Catering By Michaels is helping Chicagoland companies bring employees together with corporate picnics.

Here’s why corporate picnics are so much better than the aforementioned alternatives.

Food brings people together

Pop corn and hamburger/hot dog stations

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July 26, 2016

Lollapalooza VIP Catering

July 26, 2016

Lollapalooza VIP Catering

It’s festival season in Chicago and our favorite music festival, Lollapalooza, is right around the corner! We’ve been privileged to take part in catering Lollapalooza for the VIP & Platinum Lounges for the past 6 years. In the spirit of this upcoming event, we’d love to share the positive impact we’ve had in our previous involvements with the festival.

For those of you not familiar with this popular festival, here are some impressive Lollapalooza facts by the numbers:

• Over 160,000 fans in attendance over 3 days (this year it will be 4 days!)
• 130+ performing musical artists (both emerging and world famous)
• 115 acres within Grant Park and multiple stages spread out to take advantage of the space
• 25+ years of continued excellence

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