Text Size: A
A
A
A
Signal Mountain residents Michele and Stephen Brouse prepar food for businesses, families and individuals through their latest business venture, Michele’s Catering & Meals to Go. Photo by Katy Mena
Marketing veteran Michele Brouse is using her seasoned sales experience to build Michele’s Catering & Meals to Go, a business she based on her true love for food and family.
“There’s a difference between knowing how to cook well and running a catering company,” said Brouse, a Signal Mountain resident who has teamed up with her family to make Michele’s Catering a success.
Dividing responsibilities accordingly, Brouse heads up the event planning, while her husband, Stephen, takes care of logistics. Her brother, accredited executive chef Jeffrey Martinez, oversees the cooking, and Karen Collins takes care of pastry chef duties.
At the head of it all, according to Brouse, is her mother, Signal Mountain artist and Latina culinary authority Olga Satterfield.
“She’s the one who taught my brother and me to have the passion for food, and she’s a gourmet cook,” said Brouse, who is 100 percent Mexican-American. “We have a love for food in the Hispanic community. It’s a big part of our family heritage.”
To contact Michele’s Catering & Meals to Go, call 227-6370 or e-mail michele.brouse@yahoo.com. Drop-in customers may also visit the Kitchen Access location to pick up meals Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information visit here.
Brouse, who moved to Signal Mountain last January with her husband, has already assembled a substantial list of local clients by cold calling on hospitals and doctors offices. Michele’s Catering quickly began to serve patrons at Erlanger hospital, Blood Assurance and Hospice of Chattanooga.
“We are caterers who do everything from down-home Southern cooking to elegant buffets, but we keep our food simple and delicious,” said Brouse, who uses local ingredients as often as possible when preparing her clean, fuss-free dishes. “We don’t want people guessing what they’re eating.”
Although her menu is varied and cusomtized to each clients’ request, she said her signature dish is authentic Tex-Mex tamales.
“They’re top quality made with fresh chilies,” said Brouse, a born and bred Texan. “(Our food) is very unique in that there are not a lot of places you can get Hispanic food that is authentic.”
At present, Michele’s Meals & Catering is operating out of Kitchen Access, located at 8174 East Brainerd Road. The business sells food to drop-in customers from that location Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brouse said large catering orders should be ordered as soon as possible to ensure maximum quality. It is preferred that the business receives notice at least 24 to 48 hours prior to the events they cater.
Michele’s Catering & Meals to Go will also go into homes and cook for individuals, families or couples, and has been known to have a violinist in tow for especially romantic occasions.
“We always make sure the customer is completely satisfied,” said Brouse.
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
Spurl
YahooMyWeb
co.mments
Ma.gnolia
De.lirio.us
blogmarks
BlinkList
NewsVine
scuttle
Fark
Shadows
Comments
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.