We were lucky to catch up with Corwin Cowart recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Corwin, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Yes! One of our biggest selling points for our company is the fact that we cook on site- anywhere! As a caterer, it is imperative that we serve high quality cuisine, and one of the keys to success is serving food while it’s still hot. Because caterers do not always have the luxury of having a large kitchen on site, sometimes its hard to deliver quality food due to the fact that some venues simply do not have kitchens at all. Most companies will cook back at their kitchen, which results in food sitting for hours before it is served.

Our solution? We built traveling kitchens! We currently have 5 traveling kitchens, each located in a large truck, and each has their own oven, stove top, warming station, and refrigerator. No matter where we go, whether it be a park, outdoor wedding, or venue without a kitchen, we can literally serve “fresh out of the oven” food.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started out as an executive chef of a couple of country clubs and a wine bar, and after working for other companies for so long, I decided it was time to start working towards my own business. In 2010, I started working small catering jobs on the side and I was eventually given an ultimatum by the company I was working for. Essentially, I had to decide to leave my side catering jobs or quit their job, and in the end, I chose my side catering jobs. From that point on, I started Corwin’s Personal Chef and Catering Services and the company has been growing ever since.

Corwin’s Personal Chef and Catering services definitely would not be where it is today without the love and support of my family and the dedication of my team. I was lucky enough to find the right team members early on, and without them, Corwin’s Personal Chef and Catering Services wouldn’t be where it is today. I found dedicated, talented chefs and servers who created the experience we pride ourselves on- high-quality cuisine and high-quality service.

Corwin’s Personal Chef & Catering Services uses fresh ingredients and locally sourced produce. It is our goal to give you the very BEST selections. Our signature style is reflected in the exquisite food and expert coordination that we provide. We will work with you to create a menu that reflects your taste, budget and style, as well as giving you a complimentary tasting so you know exactly what you are getting!

We do our very best to make event planning as easy as possible. To do so, we have provided a list of packages and pricing, a list of hors d’oeuvres, entrees, side dishes, desserts, and a description of our services we can provide.

Any advice for managing a team?

Trust your team. There are going to be days that are hard or super busy, and its so important during those times to know when to trust your employees. If you spend the whole time micromanaging and breathing down everybody’s neck, stress is going to take over, which leads to a stressed service. If everybody is happy and relaxed, it gives off a happy, relaxed, and professional vibe during our services, which is what we want. Yes, we come to work, but we don’t have to be miserable doing so.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Definitely building relationships with fellow vendors. Because I take the time to get to know owners of venues, planners, photographers, etc, a good amount of our leads come from recommendations. People hear about us through the grapevine, and because we make sure to provide the best service we possibly can, people remember us as a caterer they can rely on and as a company that makes things go smoothly when we’re around.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.corwinscatering.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corwinscatering
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefCorwin

Image Credits
Jacques D. Productions (main image of Corwin and staff)