Catering By The Family History
As one of Tampa Bay’s largest full-service caterers, Catering By The Family has earned a solid reputation for delivering exceptional food and service at an affordable price. Featuring high-quality and locally sourced ingredients, Catering By The Family’s chef-driven cuisine is infused by Chef Steven Gonzalez Jr.’s time in New Orleans with the Brennan Group and is leading catering trends in Tampa Bay.
From boxed lunches and buffet brunches to innovative cocktail parties and plated dinners, we work with our clients to understand their tastes and budgetary needs, and we customize our menus accordingly. With our close proximity to all areas of Tampa, relationships with local venues, and a reputation for excellence, we have what it takes to satisfy – and exceed – your expectations.
Our experience in catering and our commitment to the Tampa Bay area is proven. We made our start in the restaurant business in 1976, with the opening of The Family Sandwich Shoppe on Henderson Boulevard in Tampa. As the winner of the Tampa Tribune Cuban Sandwich Contest in 1976, 1977, and 1979, it was a popular restaurant for locals, and our family soon decided to expand into catering with sandwich trays and party platters.
By 1982, the catering operations had grown past the limits of the sandwich shop, and Catering By The Family, Inc. was established as an off-premise catering company, with the goal of providing specialty foods for any occasion and the flexibility of going to any location.
As the years passed, the Catering By The Family team acquired more knowledge of fine foods, progressing from simple event catering to areas of display cooking, floral design, and custom party planning. By 2002, we relocated to a 17,500 square foot facility on Cypress Street, where our family business continues to operate today. With a 3,500 square foot kitchen, 2000 square foot in administrative office space, and 12,000 square feet in warehouse space Catering By The Family offers Tampa Bay the optimum in technological advances for an exceptional catering experience.
From the start, Catering By The Family has always focused on the family, but the word “family” doesn’t just refer to the founders and the company’s long-standing traditions. It is symbolic of how we run our business. From the days of the Sandwich Shoppe to today, we have treated our employees like part of the family. Owner Steven Gonzalez, Sr. is always present and always working alongside the staff, whether that means providing an extra hand in the kitchen or assisting at an event.
Catering By The Family now employs a full-time staff of 25 professionally trained chefs, event managers, and kitchen and wait staff, complemented by 75 to 100 part-time event staff who work to prepare and serve clients. The kitchen is led by Chef Steven Gonzalez, Jr.
