to Z Catering
for family. Then I realized that I could do something more with this, so I went to culinary school to start my journey of becoming the chef I am today,” explains Chef Allen. There are many A to Z’s Catering staff: Letoyia Miller, Chef Zach Schobernd and Chef Allen chefs who churn out incredible dishes create good, wholesome food, and day in and day out, but only a few we are consistent with everything have the ability to give back to we do.” the community like Chef Allen. COVID has been a constant A to Z’s Catering is proud to be presence for the past two years, heavily involved in giving back but A to Z’s was strong enough to to the community by supporting weather the storm by re-inventing a variety of fundraisers and nonthemselves by offering things profit events. “We are proud to be like ‘take n bakes’ to family style involved in all types of community dinners. Chef Allen noted that if events, and we haven’t turned down they had closed their doors because a community event yet. If you ask of COVID, then they would have us about one, we were probably been closed forever. While they involved in it,” says Chef Allen. did take a hit on profits they still When asked if the community managed to keep their business of Bloomington-Normal does going. enough to support minority owned One of the most memorable A businesses, Chef Allen answered, to Z’s Catering gigs was when they “A huge emphatic YES! I would say catered for Snoop Dogg’s ‘Naughty so they do. The support that we by Nature’ tour that stopped at receive from all over is a pleasant the Corn Crib, Normal in 2018. surprise, not only because we are “Our whole crew had free access a minority owned business but backstage, it was actually a really because we are good people – we
Snoop Dogg poses with Chef Allen. Chef Allen catered for the rapper when he was performing a show in Normal in 2018.
good, fun time! It was work for us as we did the catering, but we had backstage passes and we were on stage with him at one point. It was fun,” remembers Chef Allen. A to Z’s Catering future plans include expanding in the form of a food truck. They had one for a couple of months and it created a lot of noise in that short time. “The food truck aspect is a whole different ball game from the restaurant, and it allows you more mobility and access to more potential patrons,” says Chef Allen.
A to Z’s Catering and Parties will be hosting soul food nights every Sunday at Keg Grove Brewing Company, 712 E. Empire St., Bloomington during the f irst months of 2022.
Check out Keg Grove’s website at keggrovebrewing.com or facebook.com/ atozscateringandparties
One of Chef Allen’s favorite culinary tasks is creating beautiful fruit trays
February 2022 | Limited Magazine 7
