Chattanooga Catering: Events With Taste
Meet the Best Caterer for Your Chattanooga Wedding
Events With Taste’s Michelle Huffman has a love affair with food.
That’s even their company slogan.
But after chatting with Michelle about her roots (and root vegetables!), and what she’s achieved, my god- it’s true.
As a child, she would help her mother with dinner preparation. They would pluck fresh produce from their home-grown garden. Mother and daughter would wash, chop, and prepare immaculate dinners every night. Recipes were constantly clipped from Good Housekeeping. A different meal was prepared every night. There was no “Tuesday night spaghetti night” at the Huffman house. Creativity and enjoyment of the process were everything. Because of this influence, she developed a sophisticated pallet at a young age.
Michelle has been a professional chef since she was in her early 20’s. But she’s never enjoyed cooking in a restaurant. Restaurants require cooking the same thing over and over every night. There was no creativity in it. And for Michelle, creativity is what it’s all about.
A Chattanooga native, Michelle lived all over the west coast before returning home. Her motivation to start her own catering business arose out of necessity. A job loss forced her into it, but that job loss was one of the best things that ever happened to her. She’s now been a staple of the Chattanooga business community for 21 years.
Throughout her travels, she became frustrated with the perception America has of Southern Food. The cliche of fatty, greasy Southern foods needed debunking. There are so many amazing flavors born in the South. Michelle loves incorporating these into her menu.
Her favorite dish?
She loves a meal with a rich depth of flavor. A short-rib braise will do. Or a simple quality cut of seared seabass.
For Events With Taste, each Chattanooga wedding gets better than the last. She loves looking back on the last 20 years and seeing how wedding trends have evolved. Michelle pushes herself to grow with each event they undertake. Every event is different. So she does something new...every time. They incorporate creativity into the design of their food stations. Meals presentation is meticulously plated.
Events are where memories are made. Here are a few of Michelle’s favorites:
She worked once with a sweet local Chattanooga couple. The bride had a very specific vision in mind, but her groom was about as easygoing as anyone can be. Throughout the planning process, she developed a friendly relationship with this couple. During one planning meeting, they joked about how the groom would be satisfied with a big mac. With a rich sense of humor, Michelle remembered the joke on their wedding day. She had a member of her staff run to McDonald's before their reception. When he sat down at his table, the groom had a perfectly wrapped Big Mac on his plate. He ate it! And he enjoyed it! Of course, he also ate the specially planned menu as well.
Events with Taste maintains the utmost professionalism. But they also revel in the opportunity to have fun with their clients.
One of Michelle’s favorite events happened in 2020, right before the shut-down. This couple belonged to an authentic Italian family. Their wedding had no dancing. Instead, it was 3.5 hours of family-style dining. The event was completely focused on the food. The pressure was on for Michelle and her team. This family knew food. But that’s what made the experience so incredible. Michelle got to serve a room full of 100 people who knew and loved food as much as her. Compliments from this family were the ultimate praise.
Her favorite non-food-related memory?
One of her brides asked her grandmother to be the flower girl. The grandmother was elderly and walked with a walker. She went to physical therapy for months so that she could proceed down the aisle without it. When the day came… she did it. She tossed those flowers around like a magical fairy princess! There was not a dry eye in the room.
Who Should Work with Events with Taste?
Michelle loves working with clients who love food. If food isn’t a big deal to you, you may not be the right fit.
Want a BBQ dinner for your wedding? A taco bar?
If so, Events with Taste probably isn’t the right fit for you.
But if the fit isn’t right, Michelle is always happy to refer clients to other amazing Chattanooga vendors. After 21 years in the industry, she knows who does what best.
Are you the type of person who wants wedding guests to be gushing about your wedding food 15 years down the road?
If so, Michelle's team is the right fit for you.
Events With Taste tells a story with their menu. Their menus are 100% custom. Michelle won’t be able to send you an online menu… because they don’t exist. You can view sample menus from past events. She takes the time to get to know her clients. Then… she’ll write your story through food. Every menu is different for everyone. She’s done Italian spreads. Pakistani dessert menus. She’s always learning.
Michelle treasures repeat clients. Many clients have become close, personal friends who she invites to spend time at her own home.
She also loves inter-generational clients. It's not uncommon for her to cater 2-3 weddings in one family. She'll see them again for high school graduations. Intergenerational connections are so special. You get to become part of the family.
Every year she re-creates the same carrot cake cream pie sandwich cookie for a past client. That was their special wedding dessert (And honestly… a carrot cake cream pie cookie? I’m dying to try it!). Every year on their anniversary she knows to start prepping for them. on their anniversary. That was their special wedding dessert. Every year on their anniversary she re-creates this dessert for them.
What You Can Expect for Your Wedding Catering
Events With Taste is quality-motivated. They deliver a high level of service.
Despite the number of creative menus she’s invented throughout the years, Michelle is most proud of her staff. She hires her own staff and trains them herself. Some of her staff has been with her for over 10 years. That’s an achievement she puts on a high pedestal in an industry that receives a high number of turn-around.
How to Work with Events with Taste
You’ll start with a simple call or email.
Michelle will send you a questionnaire to make sure your budget aligns and that you’re a good fit.
Then, she’ll send you a food survey. It’s a 3-page document that will help familiarize her with your likes and dislikes.
Then, she’ll design a custom menu for you.
You’ll have an in-person (or Zoom, if you’re more comfortable with that!) meeting to discuss menu edits, design, and logistics.
She only hosts tastings for clients that are booked. A tasting is $100 for up to 4 people.
You’re welcome to change your menu up until 10 days before your event.