“You love what you do & you always want to do your best for people. It’s a shame there aren’t more people like you.” This from not only a client but a VENDOR … it’s so nice to be appreciated. If the general “audience” – you know – people who are at my events and enjoy Lula’s Catering ‘s food – really knew what was going on behind the scenes they would be dumbfounded. The stuff we go through… like…Your staff is supposed to BE THERE and you get a frantic phone call saying “I’m going to be REALLY. LATE.’

YOU are suffering from a torn meniscus and are relying on staff to get it done, it, being: passed appetizers for 90, dinner for 90, and dessert (personally scooped and served ice cream cones thank you very much) . Your plan was to sit in a chair and direct the event. One really must memorize the Reds schedule to work around the road closures that are preventing one from getting to one’s venue!!

Or how about…your event is on a farm in a barn with an outbuilding for a kitchen. The path from the kitchen to the barn and attached tent is a dirt one…and it’s raining cats and dogs. 60 people are expecting appetizers and dinner and I lose one of my staff to tripping and falling in the mud – hurting her back and foot. This particular woman, my most fabulous friend Donna, wakes UP looking fully coiffed, makeuped, and dressed to the nines … it was particularly hard to see her (and the tray of food she was carrying) – a drowned rat with its spoils – wallowing while we scramble to make sure no one knows…”the show must go on!”

Or how about…your rheumatoid arthritis is acting up and you’ve pulled your back out – you cannot stand up straight. You can only hobble…and your help, who can always be counted on, has a migraine. Oh yes, she showed up. She was THERE and she and I got through it - how, I’ll never know. Her ferocious optimism saves the day! Neither one of us can think straight we hurt so badly, but we still manage to laugh and get through it. The show must go on.

THEN there’s “the wreck”. I’m in an alley, staff is driving up beside me, I decided to get out of the car and open the door INTO her front right quarter panel … accident prone much? We look at each other, shrug, and “deal with it later” as the party we’re setting up for will not wait. We unload, set up, get food ready, and 1.5 hours later (thank the universe he was home) we call my fabulous husband to come deal with it. While we are passing shrimp ‘n grits he’s called the cops, gathered insurance and driver’s licenses (it doesn’t hurt that he IS a cop and knows what to do) submits a report, calls the insurance company…yes, it’s a good thing I “love what I do”. But what’s a better thing is I have people I can count on. I am so LUCKY. So JOYFUL. So THANKFUL. I guess this should be a thanksgiving newsletter, huh?!? How about walking pneumonia (the non-contagious kind)? Been there, done that. How about diverticulitis? Been there, done that.

These things have not only happened TO me. They’ve happened FOR me – my very own wedding, the caterer had a wreck on the way to the venue. I never knew about it until weeks after we came back from our honeymoon. We had such a glorious wedding day. She understood, as well, “THE SHOW MUST GO ON”!!! TIP YOUR BARTENDERS AND SERVERS, PEOPLE! You NEVER KNOW what they’re going through to be there serving you!

SCRATCH. SEASONAL. LOCAL.

Happy Father’s Day!

I miss my dad…he loved his grill and in honor of him and all other fathers we are grilling some of our Tico (Costa Rican) Chicken and serving up some fabulous sides…like our Black Eyed Susan Salad shown here - vegan and gluten free, with roasted fresh corn and peppers and loads of bright notes…perfect for a summer celebration!

About Chef Lori

Chef Lori Pierce, owner of Lula's, creates unique, boutique cuisine to impress your guests and clients in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. Our custom recipes and menus delight an intimate gathering of 10, a celebration for 100, and anything in between.

At Lula's, Love is ALWAYS our first ingredient!