Eating at a Meeting

355: When Event Catering Becomes Community Care: Food that Connects & Gives Back

When you're in Philly for PCMA Convening Leaders, you don't just grab a cheesesteak and call it a day. You pay attention to the food culture, the people behind it, and the stories that shape the city. And I couldn't leave town without sitting down with one of the catering chefs doing exactly that. This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE, I'm talking with Chef Adam DeLosso, Executive Chef and COO of 12th Street Catering—and this conversation goes far beyond what's on the plate. Adam and the team at 12th Street believe great event food is about connection just as much as cuisine. Designing menus where every guest feels welcome without extra effort isn't a "nice to have" for him—it's the standard. That mindset shows up everywhere: how his team supports guests with complex dietary needs, how they approach staff training and labeling, and how they think about sustainability and responsibility. We talk about what it really means to build safe, sustainable, and inclusive food experiences into events so seamlessly that guests simply feel cared for. Adam shares the story of creating a carbon-neutral menu before the industry was ready—and why that moment still shapes how he approaches innovation today. We also dig into 12th Street's Meals With a Mission philosophy and partnerships with Trellis for Tomorrow and Philabundance, showing how catering can nourish communities, not just attendees. If you plan events, this matters. Food is where trust, risk, inclusion, and brand values all collide—and Adam offers a real-world look at how thoughtful leadership turns those moments into WOW experiences. Because when food is done with care and creativity, it doesn't just feed people. It brings them together. What does "every guest feels welcome" look like at your events?

354: Event F&B: Designing Menus That Respect People & Ingredients

Imagine sitting down at an event, ready to enjoy dessert… and realizing the kitchen can't tell you what's in it. Tracy is joined by internationally recognized vegan pastry chef, cookbook author, and culinary educator Fran Costigan to talk about what should be one of the easiest wins in event food and beverage: designing menus that respect both people and ingredients. Fran has spent decades teaching chefs—many of them in traditional kitchens—how to create plant-based desserts that are stunning, delicious, and practical to execute. And here's the truth she keeps proving: most kitchens already have what they need. What's missing is the mindset, the training, and the commitment to transparency. We dig into: •⁠ ⁠Why hotel and catering pastry teams still treat vegan (and dairy-free) desserts like a "special request" •⁠ ⁠How to build one great dessert for everyone instead of creating multiple "separate but sad" options •⁠ ⁠The real issues with hidden ingredients (hello, seasoning mixes with wheat flour) and why labeling matters •⁠ ⁠Smarter sweeteners and why "dairy-free" doesn't always mean safe •⁠ ⁠Practical swaps and techniques chefs can use right now—without reinventing their pantry •⁠ ⁠Why gluten-free isn't automatically "healthier," and what planners should understand when designing menus

353: Turning Surplus Prepared Food From Events Into Safe, Shared Meals

Last year, Les Dames NC selected Food Connection as one of three beneficiaries of our annual holiday cookie sale—and this conversation is exactly why. This is the third interview in my series spotlighting organizations that are feeding our communities with food that already exists… including food coming straight from events, catering kitchens, and conference centers. I'm sitting down with Marisha MacMorran, Executive Director of Food Connection, an Asheville-based nonprofit that rescues surplus prepared food and redistributes it to neighbors across Western North Carolina. This isn't about scraps or leftovers—it's about smoked brisket, roasted vegetables, crab cakes, veggie couscous… food that was cooked with care and deserves a second purpose. Food Connection connects those with too much food to those without enough—keeping hundreds of tons of fresh food out of landfills while delivering hundreds of thousands of heat-and-serve meals with dignity and choice. If you've ever wondered what should happen to food after an event—or how your F&B decisions can support the communities we host meetings in—this is a conversation you'll want to be part of. Because feeding people is about more than food. It's about connection, dignity, and showing up for one another. What questions do you have about rescuing surplus food from events?

352: How Event Food Can Feed Communities: The Javits Center Model

When I first toured the Javits Center rooftop farm back in October 2022, I walked past rows of lettuce, herbs, and apple trees on top of a convention center, tasted apples the chef had just brought down from the orchard, and went home with honey from the hives above the show floor. That visit completely changed how I think about what event food can do. Now I'll be talking with Yashi Dadhich, Director of Energy & Sustainability at the Javits Center, about how a convention center best known for massive trade shows is also growing tens of thousands of pounds of produce on its roof—using it first to feed attendees and staff—and then donating the surplus to help nourish their neighbors. From a one-acre rooftop farm and greenhouse to partnerships with organizations like Rethink Food and local pantries, Javits has built a food donation program that connects: � Farm-to-table menus for events � Rescued prepared food and ingredients after events � Community impact, feeding New Yorkers facing food insecurity � Sustainability goals, including waste reduction and energy savings For those of us planning meetings and events, this is a powerful blueprint for turning "leftovers" into impact—without sacrificing service, safety, or the bottom line. We'll talk about: � How their rooftop farm and kitchens are designed to reduce waste and maximize donation � What it takes to build strong food-rescue partnerships � How planners can plug into donation systems when they book a venue like Javits � Why feeding your community should be part of your event success metrics If you've ever looked at what's left on the buffet and thought, there has to be a better way, you'll want to join this conversation with Yashi and bring your questions about working with venues on food donation and rescue. What do you want to know about donating event food or partnering with venues on food rescue?

351: Anaphylaxis And Events: Why Allergy Safety Can't Be An Afterthought

When Kerry Washington recently shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she often eats in bathrooms at high-profile events because her food allergies aren't taken seriously, the allergy community felt it. And when FARE posted that clip, Jo Frost — who lives with life-threatening anaphylaxis herself — commented, "hear you and see you @kerrywashington DITTO." That one word — DITTO — carried decades of lived experience. In this episode of Eating at a Meeting LIVE, Jo and I talk about what it really means to navigate everyday life — restaurants, airplanes, school cafeterias, and event spaces — when a trace amount of nuts, shellfish, or airborne particles can shut down your body. Jo has survived more anaphylactic shocks than she's willing to count. She's been dismissed in restaurants, pushed back on by airline crews, and told "it should be fine," even when the stakes were life or death. She's also been sounding the alarm for years, insisting that ignoring anaphylaxis is as dangerous as "putting a loaded gun in my face." If you plan menus, host families, work in hospitality, or manage any food service environment, Jo's perspective is essential. Her story echoes what millions live with — and what our industry must do better. Every Guest Matters. 🩷 Every Meal Matters.