Events

What types of events do you cater?

From boardroom lunches to lavish weddings, backyard birthday bashes to grand opening ceremonies, we cater everything. Anywhere. Anyhow. On a boat, in a barn, at a rustic campsite — we love an adventure.

Do you cater small parties?

Yes, indeed. If you’re looking for grazing platters, check out Chowgirls By-the-Box for easy online ordering. Have something more elaborate in mind, say a dinner party? Try Chowgirls Classic for our most popular offerings or Chowgirls Concepts for customized menus and service.

Do you travel outside of the Twin Cities?

We sure do! Travel fees and accommodations apply. Ask your Event Specialist for more details.

Food

Can you accommodate special dietary needs?

Absolutely. We've long specialized in offering vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free menu selections. As you explore our menus, you’ll see dietary notations throughout.

Beyond those notations, we understand that people may have requests for cultural considerations, allergens, and other needs. Let us know what your guests' needs are and we’ll let you know what we can do. We take special care with allergens, though we cannot guarantee an environment that is entirely allergen-free.

Do you take special requests? I’d like to feature a family recipe at my wedding.

You betcha! If you want to venture beyond our Chowgirls Classic menus with a customized menu, we’ll accommodate your special request through our Chowgirls Concepts line. The sky’s the limit with this catering service as we personalize every detail to your specification.

Are all of your ingredients local and organic?

On average (50%) of our ingredients are sourced locally or regionally. We source organic as well, using guidelines from Environmental Working Group to prioritize our requirements for pesticide-free produce. We also support farmers who use organic practices, though they may not be certified organic. Here are some of the tools we use to guide our sourcing of ingredients.

Why are your menus organized by season?

We believe in treasuring the freshest flavors and supporting local farms as much as possible. We find that seasonal fruits and vegetables are more fresh in flavor and precious in presentation. Seasonal ingredients reflect the regional crops, and because out-of-season produce travels from far reaches of the world, our commitment decreases environmental impact. Take a look at our seasonal sourcing guide to learn more.

Service

Do you offer bar service and staff?

For sure! Check out our bar menu in our Libations section of the website and one of our event specialists will be happy to schedule bartenders for your event.

How many servers do you schedule for an event?

To ensure the highest standards of service, we look at the needs of each event and consider the complexity of the menu and the venue when we schedule our staff.

What venues do you cater at?

We’re proud to be on the preferred list of dozens of venues throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Find a full list in our Planning section here. If you know of a venue that’s not on our list, we’d love to learn more about it.

Will you help with rental orders?

Yes, there are a few ways to approach equipment rental. Chowgirls offers an inventory of stylish essential rental items, such as plates, flatware, and glassware. For a broader selection as well as items like linens, decor, lighting, tables, and chairs, we will refer you to one of our vendor partners. We can advise you on your order, or for an additional fee, we will place the order on your behalf.

Do you offer no-waste events?

Oh yeah! We can say with confidence that Chowgirls is the most environmentally conscious caterer in town. We compost and recycle at our headquarters and out on-site at events. We love partnering with clients who share these values.

Money, Honey

What is the operations charge? Is it a tip or gratuity?

Good question. It’s different from gratuity. It’s an industry standard in catering. This fee helps cover the cost of the operations, such as warehouse staff, vehicle insurance, and administrative expenses — the many moving parts necessary to facilitate the complex logistics of catering.

How much should I tip?

This is totally at your discretion. Generally, our clients offer a percentage of the food total or $50-$200 per staff person working an event. Your Event Specialist can let you know how many team members to expect on site.

What is your price per guest?

Costs per guest vary depending on the guest count, the menu you select, the type of service you select, the venue, and your rental needs. For the average Chowgirls Classic event, a dinner will cost $100-125 per guest, including staff. If you talk with one of our event specialists, they’ll help you break down all the expenses so you can have a clear picture of your final total.

Can I pay electronically?

We’ve recently added this service. When it’s time to pay your bill, your Event Specialist will provide you with more information.