Burke caterers blend creativity and tradition for the holidays

As the holiday season approaches, Burke County’s catering scene is heating up with two local businesses offering a blend of creativity and Southern tradition.

From Chef Lara Hicks’ Southern Fusion dishes at Queen’s Catering to Kevin Isaacson’s personalized family meals and event catering at Morganton Food Company, these entrepreneurs are bringing a new level of culinary flair to holiday gatherings.

Whether it’s custom holiday feasts or unique, flavorful appetizers, these local caterers are ready to make the season even more memorable for the community.

Queen’s Catering

Chef Lara Hicks comes from a family of cooks. Hicks’ father, Ron Hicks, owned Firehouse Barbecue in Drexel. Hicks recalls running around the restaurant and serving tables as a little girl.

“He did holiday hams and turkeys every year … He built a huge smoker in our backyard. That’s what paid for our Christmas. They would do about 100 turkeys and hams,” Lara said.

Inspired by her father’s culinary background, Hicks graduated from Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte) with a Business and Culinary degree.

After graduation, Hicks returned to Morganton to pursue catering. The decision to go the catering route as opposed to restaurant owner occurred after an 11-week internship at a local restaurant.

“There’s a certain environment in the kitchen that I knew maybe wouldn’t mesh well with my particular personality type,” Hicks said, referring to the choice to cater rather than have a restaurant. “You have to have thick skin, and you have to be mindful that you might be the only woman in the kitchen.”

“I love women-owned businesses for that reason, but it just kind of taught me that perhaps the restaurant industry was not going to be something nourishing for me,” Hicks said.

Hicks elaborated on the joys of catering.

“I enjoy variety and a slower pace at some moments. Not to say that catering is not fast paced and in certain ways, but it just allows me to take my time and focus on individualizing experiences for my clients and creating custom menus for them and being able to travel … I like to change the scenery a lot,” Hicks laughed.

The name Queen’s Catering came from Hicks’ mother, grandmother, and the women in her life who have always supported her.

“Just the strong women in my life. They’re all my Queens … And having worked in the Queen City, Charlotte, I loved that city, and I loved my school and the people there,” Hicks said.

According to Hicks, 75% of her catering is heavy hors d’oeuvres. Hicks describes her culinary style as Southern Fusion.

“Of course, as a southern woman, Southern Fusion. If I’m making a taco, it might have fried chicken on it, you know, it’s always a little something different,” Hicks said.

Lara credits Linda Knollmeyer, owner of The Olive in Morganton, for the opportunity to do cooking demonstrations at the store, which developed into Tapas Tuesday five years ago.

“Having made so many friends and connections working there [The Olive] and doing my tapas there for going on five years, it’s made a wonderful little community of people for me that love to come and love to have me cater for them,” Hicks said.

During the holiday season, Hicks’ schedule is packed with weekly events. Tapas Tuesdays at The Olive, Wednesdays at the Burke Arts Council, holiday parties, and ticketed fundraiser dinners will have Hicks busy providing delicious meals this holiday season.

Morganton Food Company

In a town hungry for fresh, customized catering options, Kevin Isaacson is bringing a taste of excellence to Burke County with Morganton Food Company.

At the former Old Mimosa Bakery in Fiddler’s Run, Isaacson’s commissary kitchen offers everything from weekly family meals to special event catering with a creative flair that has earned rave reviews since opening in September.

Kevin is no stranger to the food business. While in college he worked as a server, a chef and in operations in a restaurant near the White House in Washington, D.C. He said he once served Barack and Michelle Obama.

Kevin and his wife, Laura, recently relocated to the area from Florida, as Laura’s family is from a neighboring city. Together, they run Morganton Food Company.

According to Kevin, when he arrived to Morganton, he noticed there was a lack of caterers outside of commercial restaurants.

“I’m talking about true caterers that customize events and offer a variety of cooking,” Kevin said.

“He’s always wanted to have his own food business of some sort, whether it was catering or a restaurant,” Laura said.

In addition to catering events, Morganton Food Company offers weekly family meals, with new menus posted every Friday on the company’s social media page. Customers can place pre-orders by Sunday and meals are available for pick-up every Tuesday.

“Family meals are available either hot and ready for pick-up or cooked, cooled, and ready to reheat at your convenience,” Kevin said.

The business recently reached its highest pre-order amount at 22 family meals for the week.

“We’ve been open and getting great feedback and good reviews which is the key to this business,” Kevin said.

Of the menus he’s created since the inception, Kevin said chuck roast, pork tenderloin, and Asian inspired meals have gotten the biggest reception in Burke.

When asked about his culinary style, Kevin said he takes on a creative approach.

“I customize everything. I like to speak with people and ask questions and get their feedback and their likes and dislikes,” Kevin said.

Morganton Food Company is preparing for a Christmas event in Connelly Springs next week.

After the client’s expressed desire for egg rolls, Kevin said the event will feature a buffet and egg roll station, showcasing brisket egg rolls and chicken fajita egg rolls with special sauces.

“That’s like his love language,” Laura said. “He’s always said, ‘I like to see people happy when they eat my food.’ And it’s what you will see at the events that we’ve done … You’ll see all of the plates are empty and everybody is just having a good time.”

In the near future, Kevin said the company will bid to be a potential vendor for the food program at New Dimension Charter School.

“Currently, they don’t have a food program at the charter school. It’s a public program, but because it’s public, they only get a certain amount of funding because it’s a charter school. So, they are in discussions with some federal programs for funding,” Kevin said.

Kevin is on a mission to become the go-to caterer in Morganton.

“I want to be the premier caterer,” Kevin said. “I want to have a couple of chefs that I trust that I’ve known for years, that are in the state, some local — one or the other. I would like for them to come be the chef’s hands daily and I would like to build the business.”