Customer service, attention to detail and creativity have served Liz Denny well.
Denny has been in the food industry for almost 25 years and has been providing catering services to the Quad Cities area for about 20 years. “I love what we do with fine cuisine,” she said.
Denny can cater events for 50-200 people, whether it is for private parties, corporate gatherings or box lunches to go. Aside from being skilled in the art of cuisine, she finds that listening to clients’ needs is also paramount. She can provide three differently priced meal options for them after hearing what they want on the menu.
The pandemic was especially challenging for those in the food industry; however, she is grateful to her loyal customers. “I think they created work for me because they wanted to keep me going,” she said. “I had one client who usually uses us once a year, but during COVID, she used my catering four times in one year.”
And today, despite the fact that food prices have increased significantly, the demand has not slowed for her catering services. She credits loyalty from repeat customers, advertising through word of mouth and Google searches that showcase her rave reviews.
Denny is especially thrilled that the hospital chose her catering services for many of the department’s lunches.
Along with her popular specialty creations, Denny prides herself on having the best gourmet appetizers for cocktail parties. She also is proud that she has been able to retain great employees. Some have been with her for more than 10 years. She has two full-time kitchen workers and two to five caterers who work her banquets.
More than 20 years ago, Denny trained under the leadership of Chef Patrick Day at The Palace on Whiskey Row. “The chef and I bonded, so he stuck with me for two years,” she said about her on-the-job training. “He made me his sous chef,” she said.
Although appreciative for the training, she is happy not to be working the grueling hours of a restaurant that’s open every day. Now, she says she can pick her own hours, delegate tasks, and even schedule a day off.
As a kid, Denny loved to cook with her mother, Jacquie Tobin, and her grandmother, Kate Hansen. That love of cooking has stayed with her. She jokes that if someone catches her reading, it will be a cookbook.
“I have a good flair for picking out recipes in the books that will work,” she said. “I’ve always dabbled in food.”
Born and raised in New York, Denny moved to the area 32 years ago. Her husband, Gary, who owns El Charro restaurant in Chino Valley, encourages her and says her cooking is “superb.” QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
For more information, call Catering By Liz at 928-533-8107, email liz@cateringbyliz.org or visit the website at https://cateringbyliz.org.
Photos by Kay Lyons: From kebabs to brisket to seafood to vegan dishes, Liz Denny of Catering By Liz says her specialized menus have made her business a popular catering choice in the Quad Cities.