As we ease into the holiday season, entertaining at your home can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. These local catering companies will relieve you of all the stressful hosting duties and ensure your soirée is flawless.
Terpsi Hospitality
Chef Christos Bisiotis’s passion for cooking ignited during his childhood in Greece, when he watched his grandmother in the kitchen. When he founded his catering company three years ago, he named it in her honor. This came after the pandemic halted plans to open a restaurant in New York City, leading him to help launch several Miami restaurants. After years of working for others, Bisiotis forged his own path.
Terpsi Hospitality specializes in Greek, Italian and Israeli cuisine, but “we will do whatever it takes to satisfy the client,” he says. It can handle every detail for parties of up to 300 guests, including menu design, rentals and audio/visual needs. His experience in high-stress kitchens enables him to effortlessly multitask, communicate clearly with clients and staff, and provide a fine-dining level of reliability and professionalism. Plus, hosts are guaranteed direct access to him throughout the entire process. Bisiotis prides himself on giving his clients the ability to immerse themselves in their party and then go straight to bed after the last guest has left.
PRO TIPS: Hire a cleaning service for the day. Hire a waiter who can both serve and assist with clearing empty plates and glasses.
Potions in Motion Catering
Jason Savino turned a bartending job into a full-service event company that celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year. It hosts elaborate parties with unique offerings like a live-rolling sushi station, an ice sculpture caviar bar, and a smoked bourbon station with decadent garnishes. “We try to make sure guests have a memorable experience instead of just walking away with a good fish taco—that’s the key with catering,” Savino says. “Anyone can make a good slider, but we do a kicked-up multi-level slider bar with eight different sliders and 10 types of seasoned fries.” The company also offers Glatt kosher and kosher-style menus.
The 80-person company includes chefs, florists and bakers, ensuring that every aspect of the party is handled in-house according to Savino’s high standards. Most of the holiday house parties he caters have 75 to 125 guests, but weddings and mitzvahs often exceed these head counts. Based in Boca, the company serves the tri-county area and the west coast, and it takes pride in serving nonprofits like the American Lung Association.
For Savino, whether it’s a fundraiser or a holiday party, it’s about being the caterer that people can rely on. “We truly enjoy doing it every day. Seeing guests have an incredible smile is worth more than anything.”
PRO TIP: Choose small hors d’oeuvres that can be eaten in one bite.
Ishilima
Chef Wendell Ordonez and Cynthia Betancourt are the husband-and-wife team behind this company. The powerhouse couple has more than 40 years of combined hospitality experience, bringing a high level of fine-dining service and cuisine to each event. Ordonez has worked with renowned chefs like Laurent Tourondel and Palm Beach darling Clay Conley, while Betancourt holds her advanced sommelier certification.
When the couple was forced to close their restaurant, Ishilima, two years ago, they pivoted. They combine their restaurant’s warm personality with the masterfully executed process needed for a party. As Wendell explains, “100% goes into hosting, or 100% goes into cooking, so both will suffer if you try to do both.”
Ishilima handles everything from menu selections and table rentals to garbage removal at the end of the night. Betancourt excels in her tablescapes and shares invaluable knowledge for perfectly paired wines. Ishilima thrives in intimate parties with fewer than 100 guests, where Ordonez prepares every dish.
While his passion lies in Asian fusion, the chef’s formal training enables him to create beautifully plated and decadent dishes regardless of the cuisine. The company also provides sushi boats and shareable plates, which it delivers to homes for smaller gatherings.
PRO TIPS: Communicate with your caterer to avoid surprises; be honest about your guest count.
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