I would like to take a moment of your time to introduce you to my experience in the catering industry. In 1973 my career began when I started working in a Sicilian restaurant in Oberlin, Ohio, where I started to learn the restaurant business from dishwashing to cooking. I ventured to Atlanta, Georgia and soon after I arrived there I was employed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel for four years and gained great experience in the service industry. In 1984, just two blocks down the street there was a grander hotel being built, it was the Ritz Carlton.

The Atlanta Ritz Atlanta was the first of several Ritz Carlton Hotels that I was employed at, including the Ritz Carlton Naples, Amelia Island and Houston Texas. During the ten-year employment with the hotels, I had the opportunity to plan events with such dignitaries as President Carter, George Herbert Bush and his wife Barbara, the Prince of Saudi Arabia and countless movie stars and entertainers. I even had the pleasure becoming a member of the Chain De Rotisserie, an elite group of fine wine and food connoisseurs. One of my proudest things in my life when i had the opportunity of cooking with Julia Child and Wolfgang Puck.

Returning to Cleveland I soon picked up where I left off and joined Sammy's in the Flats as a catering manager for the next 5 years. I had the opportunity to plan weddings and fund raisers at venues like Severance Hall, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Crawford Auto Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art and The Botanical Gardens.

I moved on to The Renaissance Hotel for the next 2 -½ years, which housed the largest Ball Room between New York and Chicago. We have catered Weddings and fund raisers for upwards of 1500 guests.

I'm looking forward to the opportunity of sharing my professional experience with all of you in my new venture. At this time I can execute plated dinners from 2 –250 guests and up to 1500 for cocktail and Hors D'oeurve receptions at your home, office or off site locations.

I hope that you would consider having Catered Elegance cater your next event and please don't hesitate to give us a call to customize a special menu for you.

Sincerely,

Jay Blackford

Creator of Culinary Fantasies