local flavor
Catering the Holidays By Marianne Weaver
T
he 2020 holiday season might not play out as it has in the past, but regardless of how and where families worship and celebrate, food is still a focal point. Rather than spend hours in the kitchen planning memorable meals for your family and guests, local caterers have put together menus for families large and small, completely casual to extremely elegant.
Planning Ahead for a Crowd Elegance To Simplicity in Manassas made its mark by catering a wide range of events, including military promotion and retirement ceremonies, celebrations of life, weddings, business meetings and more. Owner/chef Andrew Schneider honed his skills during his 26 years of service in the Marine Corps, while working for six different commandants. He prepared meals for Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Bob Hope, John Glenn and Marine Corps Generals Joseph Francis Dunford Jr., 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Commandant of the Marine Corps, and James Norman Mattis, former Secretary of Defense. Although his business took a hit when COVID cancelled most wedding bookings, Schneider invested his energy into creating holiday dinner menus to feed parties from 30 to 300. “Having the holiday dinner catered will allow you to focus on your guests, while still having a complete meal,” he said. Generally, he said, his holiday meal orders are very traditional: turkey, ham and pineapple, duchess potatoes, sweet potato stuffing, green beans, rolls and spring salad. But, he said, he’s also put together dinners featuring beef tenderloin and chicken marsala. “It all depends on the budget,” he said. “Once we know that, we meet with the client and come up with something special.” Schneider has catered holiday events at the British Embassy, The
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December 2020 prince william living
Although his business took a hit when COVID cancelled most wedding bookings, Schneider invested his energy into creating holiday dinner menus to feed parties from 30 to 300.
National War College of the United States at Ft. McNair, and numerous private events. Although he does not cater in-person Christmas or Christmas Eve, he said he delivers the meals ready to serve, with step-by-step instructions.
Family Dinners Prince William-based Sweet Sage caters large and small events throughout DMV. “Sweet Sage offers the traditional holiday menu but we also are able and willing to accommodate menu items that cater to the individualized customer,” said founder/owner/curator Sherise Campbell. “We offer catering before Christmas as well as on Christmas Day.” After opening presents, she said families can feast on a brunch of bananas foster French toast or shrimp and grits. For traditional
