Catered ★ Arts ★ Through ★ Innovative ★ Excellence

Announing our 2026 finalists....

The CATIE Awards honor excellence in catering across culinary execution, event design, innovation, and guest experience. This year’s finalists represent outstanding work from catering professionals across the industry. Winners will be revealed at the ICA Social + CATIE Awards during Catersource in Los Angeles, including the announcement of the 2026 ICA Caterer of the Year.

Best Appetizer

• “Beef Tequeños”, Catering by Design (CO)
• “The Mosaic – A Study of Earth’s Bounty”, TGIS Catering Services, Inc.
• “Puzzle Salad”, Revel Catering & Events

Best Buffet or Action Station

• “1950’s TV Dinner”, Constellation Culinary Group
• “Mozzarella Bar”, Schaffer
• “Pop Goes the Rice”, Talk of the Town Catering & Special Events

Best Catered Event

• “The Alchemy of Obsidian”, The JDK Group
• “Unmasked, Inside Twenty Years of Creativity, Craft, and Flavor”, Eat Well
• “Twilight to First Light: A Progressive Dinner”, Catering by Michael’s, Inc.

Best Catered Wedding

• “Black-Tie on the Back Forty”, Hamby Catering & Events
• “LA Iconic: Love & Indulgence”, Good Gracious! Events
• “Under the Glass Grandeur”, Catering by Design (CO)

Best Dessert

• “Cherry Chai Ornament & Gingerbread Cloche”, Design Cuisine
• “Choose Your Own Dessert Experience”, Footers Catering
• “Obsidian & Berry Entremet”, The JDK Group

Innovative Mixology (Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic)

• “Coke Float”, Proof of the Pudding
• “Japanese Old Fashioned”, Good Gracious! Events
• “Rosemary Pineapple Shrub”, Schaffer

Best Hors d’oeuvre

• “Crab and Corn Lollipop”, Abigail Kirsch
• “Gravlax Stack”, Proof of the Pudding

Best Small Plate

“Surf & Turf”, Catering by Design (CO)

Chef of the Year

• David Anderson, Catering by Design (CO)
• Hunter X. Hunt, The LUX Group

Caterer of the Year

The 2026 ICA Caterer of the Year will be revealed live at the CATIE Awards!