Hospitality is something I learned from my grandmother, my mother, my stepmother, and all of my aunts. I would spend time in each of their kitchens growing up. My parents would allow me to dress up and come to cocktail parties for the first hour. I loved all of the sparky dresses, silver trays, festive music and delicious food.
The first time I was allowed to check out a book at the library I chose a book about etiquette. I loved planning and executing events all while making things beautiful and delicious. As long as I can remember I have assisted with family reunions and celebrations. My greatest joy was and still is watching someone savor their first bite of a meal.
In 1990, one of the attorneys I had worked for asked me to be over the kitchen at Gratz Park Inn until they found a chef. This is where I met Chef Donnie Johnson and we began catering together.
Chef Donnie is the soul of our company, always artfully presenting food. Our first catering kitchen was in the back of Paul Miller Ford as we ran a small cafe for them. We outgrew that space and found a kitchen in Buckhorn Plaza and we have been there ever since.
During this time we have catered events for 2 to 17,000. We have fed all walks of life including something as simple as a boxed lunch for school aged children to elegantly plated meals for black tie galas. We have had the great opportunity to prepare dishes in fabulously equipped kitchens and in the middle of fields without any equipment. We’ve even had the enormous honor of catering the University of Kentucky 40 football suites (with forty different menus!) which has allowed us to be the most organized.
We are so blessed to share kindness and warmth through our food, hospitality, and friendship. Meet some of the faces of the DaRae and Friends Team, and see who will be helping make your event come to life.
Owner
Executive Chef
Chef
Baker
Pastry Chef
Office
Office
Accounting
Accounting
We are always looking for friendly, hard-working individuals to join the DaRae and Friends Team!
DaRae and her staff did an amazing job catering my wedding! They worked with me on the theme of the food and how it should be displayed. They bent over backwards to make my family and me happy on this special day. DaRae set up a wonderful tasting for my family and now husband. This was so helpful in solidifying our decisions on what we wanted. I will ALWAYS use DaRae and Friends Catering for any event I host in the future.
Blair
DaRae & Friends Catering is simply the best caterer in Kentucky! Everything they prepare has their unique touch, by far the best food ever and the best people you will ever meet.
Sarah
When it comes to excellence in professionalism, creativity, and food DaRae is absolutely incomparable. I have worked with her and her staff on too many occasions to count. They are simply the best. The food is absolutely amazing and the presentation is always incredible. Her staff is always so friendly and DaRae herself, well you will LOVE her. This is another vendor that I, personally, would plan my wedding day around. My absolute highest recommendation.
Angela
