By Leslie Merchant
The calendar is creeping towards the holiday season. While most folks are still trying to wrap up summer, Bayview’s Catering Department is already gearing up for the holidays.
Kelly Young, Director of Bayview Catering and Event Planning, says the time to book a holiday party is now. “There is only a short period of time in December for holiday parties, and one of the Saturdays is already taken,” she says. Of course there are Halloween and Thanksgiving to consider even before the winter season hits. The end of October may seem like a long way off, but once it comes the rest of the season follows in rapid succession.
Whatever the festivity, Bayview is ready to help hosts and hostesses make delicious decisions about what to serve their guests. Kelly says that Bayview prides itself on using local vendors and lots of organic produce to create unique bills of fare. From local smoked salmon and assorted seafoods to organic chicken chalupas, there is something for everyone available on Bayview’s themed menus. While Northwest flavors are always popular, Kelly is pleased to point out that they cater to a wide range of tastes and traditions. Local vendors include San Francisco Street Bakery, Batdorf and Bronson, and Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, to name but a few.
“It’s a party, and everybody is in a good mood,” exclaims Kelly about working with hosts and hostesses. Working directly with customers and organizing the details for a successful event gives her great joy. Kelly has been with locally-owned Bayview for 20 years, and specifically with the Catering Department for 8 years. (For more information about Bayview Catering, click here.) She has seen it all and knows how to cater to Olympia’s clientele. Holiday party givers include local doctors, the Target Warehouse, the Washington Center, and even the Mason County Fire Department.
The Catering Department is unique in that they offer off-premise catering services. The production of food comes from the deli and is then transported to the client’s venue of choice. The settings range from homes to businesses in the region. Target Warehouse celebrates the season four times with two lunches and two swing shift parties at their warehouse location. The Mason County Fire Department has their holiday party served up at Lake Cushman.
If a fully catered and staffed event is not in order, then Kelly points out that lots of their customers come in simply to pick up a few trays of prepared party food. Party sandwiches, mini macs, shrimp and oyster skewers, the list is endless. Give Kelly about a week’s notice, and they will prepare an array of holiday treats guaranteed to get everyone in the spirit of the season.
Bayview Thriftway is owned and operated by Stormans, Inc., a fourth generation family owned company. Ralph Stormans opened the first large supermarket in the Olympia area back in 1944, and Stormans, Inc. has since grown to own and operate eight associated businesses in the vicinity.
Visit Bayview Catering’s website for more information on planning a 2012 holiday party.
Bayview Catering
516 West 4th Ave.
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 357-8016
