On the Job

>>Whether planning lavish holiday parties, impressing in-laws with a delicious "homemade" dinner or providing lunch for the whole office, Peggy Lavigne, co-owner of Gourmet Catering & Takeout in Naples, is ready to serve. Since opening the catering company and take-out restaurant in 1991, Lavigne has handled everything from stunning five-course soirees to last-minute meals for the extended family.

What does a typical day on the job entail?

The kitchen staff and I normally open about 8 a.m. The kitchen will prepare food for storefront takeout, pick-ups and catering events on the calendar for that day. The chef does the preparation, oversees the whole cooking process and garnishes the trays— making them look good as they go out the door. The staff picks the trays up and brings them to the party. At a larger event, I would go and help with the decorating and presentation of the buffet and the decorating of the room with the linens. Throughout the day, I’m organizing rentals, linens, flowers, decorations. I don’t do the cooking; I do everything else.

What types of events do you cater?

We do everything—fundraisers, corporate events, meetings, graduations, weddings, cocktail parties, and a lot of themed parties too. I have a lot of pre-planned menus—we can do as much or as little as people need.

Does business increase during the holiday season?

I’d say in season we’re doing a party almost every day. When it gets to be Christmastime, we’re doing three to four events a day sometimes.

What types of menu items and events are popular during the holiday season?

There are a lot of cocktail parties at that time of year and pickups are also very popular—people pick up pans of lasagna and chicken Milanese (our signature item) for large groups. A lot of hot office lunches are delivered. We also have cookie trays with assorted cookies and holiday-wrapped candies.

Do you think the economic downturn will affect your holiday business?