2015 Catering & Restaurant Showcase
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2015 Catering & Restaurant
Showcase
By Shari Hockenbery, CMP
Despite the misty weather, more than 90 Kansas City event
planners and suppliers attended the 3rd annual Catering &
Restaurant Showcase on March 19 hosted by 
Johnson County Community College.
Participants enjoyed tasting a wide variety of delectable food provided by some
of the area’s most sought-after restaurants and catering companies in the
Kansas City metropolitan area. While all the vendors, who participated in the
showcase, were exceptional, a few are outlined below. The entire list can be
found at www.kcmpi.org.
In addition to the state-of-the-art culinary services of JCCC (www.jccc.edu), Stroud’s Restaurant & Bar recently opened a new facility on 135th Street in Overland Park. Same down-home fried chicken plus new catering services for large or small events (stroudsrestaurant.com). If it is Italian you crave, consider Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Overland Park. Carrabba’s caters for group and event dining for 20 or more. Visit www.carrabas.com for more information. Interested in experiencing Overland Park’s hottest new entertainment district – Prairie Fire? Think about the "strikingly" good food at Pinstripes (www.pinstripes.com), where bowling, bocce and bistro are an art form. For intimate dining, customize your event with Terrace Catering (www.terracecatering.com), which offers elegant, affordable gourmet catering for all.
An education program and cooking demonstration was also
presented by Kansas City’s own Chef Duane Daugherty (aka Mr. Doggity), who
discussed "What’s Trending 2015 Culinary
Forecast? Sustainable Foods." Attendees raved about delicious food prepared
personally by Chef Duane, including spring greens, beet and goat cheese
salad, Tuscan pork ragu with kale and pasta, as well as a healthy dessert
comprised of mixed berries, yogurt and nuts. Recipes were provided!
For the past 30 years, Chef Duane has worked as a
consultant, trainer and author in the field of environmental health and safety.
He holds degrees in risk management and human resource development. He served
as the Environment, Health and Safety Manager for the University of Kansas
Hospital, and he currently chairs the Sustainability Committee for the City of
Roeland Park. Chef Duane is also the owner of a catering business, a 
Certified Barbeque Judge and creator of the "Mr. Doggity" line of sauces and rubs, which have
been shipped from coast-to-coast and even to the troops in Afghanistan.
The 2015 Showcase closed to rave reviews about the opportunity to network with peers and taste great food. By attending as a guest or participating as a vendor, you can take advantage of all the benefits this popular event has to offer. Dates for next year’s event are already being finalized. Information will be posted soon at www.kcmpi.org.
See all the pictures from the event HERE.
