Special occasions call for special cuisine, and when an event comes and you need a meal to dazzle your guests, Jennie Cooks Catering is here to help. Jennie Cooks Catering offers a wide variety of catering options that can help you make your event just the way you want it. They have created an innovative menu for you to choose from, and use only the freshest ingredients to make your meal.
Sunday Brunch and Wedding Cupcakes are among Jennie's Specialties.
They offer organic and vegan options as well, and have a friendly staff who deliver right to your door and help with the set up. Jennie Cooks Catering changes their menu on a regular basis to keep things interesting and to integrate new ingredients, and is now serving all of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. We sat down with Jennie Cook, from Jennie Cooks Catering, to see what inspired this brand and catering service.
LA’s The Place:It is clear the you are a very diverse culinary force. Your business encompasses so many different services and offerings, where does your passion for food come from?
Jennie Cook: I was raised in the country, and everything we did revolved around food, our next meal or gathering. My family is full of great gardeners and gentlemen farmers that grew and raised their food. Getting together around the table always makes me happy.
LATP:You offer such a variety of services, from freshly prepared local food weekly drop-offs, to parties and productions. What are your most popular services, and what does Jennie Cooks catering have to offer that many people don’t know about?
JC: Our most popular bookings are either photo shoots or birthday parties – we do a few shoots every week, and one or two birthday parties as well. I just launched a new division – Plant Based Parties – a full service vegan division of Jennie Cooks!
LATP:You offer a “family style” dinner every month or so, with 4 courses for $30.00, at the store. How did the idea for the Celebration Dinners come about?
JC: My California family is a group of friends gathered from when our kids went to school together. we’re not related, but we’re thick as blood relatives. When we have a birthday or special occasion to celebrate, we eat! Naturally, as the caterer in the group, I like to offer my services at the shoppe. So we move the work tables out of the shoppe and set a table for 20. We eat and then we celebrate the guest of honors with stories of times gone by and how great they are. We all get a little misty and leave feeling really loved. I thought it would be great to offer this service to others, it’s all about sharing the love!
LATP:Aside from your many areas of expertise, what makes Jennie Cooks different from other catering companies?
JC: I am very affordable, I’m not a stickler for the rules and I work very hard to create the most sustainable service I can. I’m very flexible and we compost!
LATP: How many Sustainable Chef Classes do you offer, and what can one expect to learn from the courses?
JC: These courses are private classes for either families or individuals who need some help moving into local food sourcing. It’s a “how to” course in shopping the farmers markets – storing the food, preparing the best dishes and balancing it all.
LATP:What is a Plant Based Party and who would it most appeal to?
JC: Plant Based Parties is for all the vegans out there, or any omnivore who would like to lessen their impact on the planet at their next party. It’s for conscientious party throwers!
LATP: What is your favorite item that you offer on your menu and why?
JC: Oh my – I have to pick one? I’ll go with our double chocolate walnut cookies (vegan) I’ve been liking the sesame asparagus Parpadelle too.
LATP: Where do you come up with your combination of flavors and how do you create unique recipes for new menus?
JC:I love to dine in restaurants for inspiration. I comb through cookbooks and I love putting an idea into a google search and see what pops up. There’s no such thing as an original recipe, so I figure I’ll learn from others, and save my steps. That’s a long standing motto in food service – ” save your steps!”
LATP:Most people don’t ever get the amount of food right for the size of crowd they are entertaining. Do you have any helpful advice or rule of thumb on how to estimate the appropriate amount of food to prepare or order?
JC: When we cater, we never ever ever run out of food. That would be terrible. My advice would be to hire me, I’ll make you look really good, and all you’ll need to do is worry about your party outfit.
LATP: Jennie Cooks can prepare a delicious meal for just about any event you can think of, but when ordering with Jennie Cooks, how far in advance should an order be placed?
JC: We’re pretty flexible because we’ve been doing production work for 26 years. we like 72 hours, but have turned jobs around in 24 hours when needed. But please, don’t be that person.
LATP: You volunteer your time cooking with the children at 24th Street Elementary School in Central Los Angeles, which is the home of the Garden School How did you get involved in that program?
JC: When I closed my restaurant in 2008, I found myself with an abundance of free time. I went to the GSF fundraiser with a friend and slipped my card to the director. He called the next day and we were off and running!
LATP: What has been your inspiration for your brand of business?
JC: Good times, good food. The bounty of California. I love the hospitality business!
Jennie Cook
If you would like to have Jennie and her creative staff cater your next event, you can reach her at:
www.plantbasedparties.com
www.jenniecooks.com
Jennie Cooks Catering
3048 Fletcher Drive
Los Angeles, California 90065
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