Diane Reiter, January 2007
Quad Community Press, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
When Jody and Bryan Hamilton received a Christmas card after their December 29th wedding, they were a little surprised when they saw what was written inside. The card had come from one of their wedding guests, and included with a brief holiday greeting was a lengthier message applauding the dinner that Vincenzo Catering had prepared for their reception.
“It was from a friend of my dad’s,” said Jody. “He said it was hands down, the best reception food he’d ever had - and he sent us a card just to let us know that.”
Owners of Vincenzo Catering, Tracie Charpentier and Toni Fedorchak hear this often. And word about Vincenzo’s has spread like wildfire, tripling their business in 2006.
Launched 16 years ago, Vincenzo Catering has built a business based on ingenuity, unparalleled cuisine, and wholehearted dedication to their clients. From a small party of 40, to a grandiose event for over 2000 guests, Vincenzo handles the dining details from start to finish, adding their signature touches to each event.
Vincenzo creates delectable wedding cakes and a complete made-from-scratch menu ranging from appetizers to a complete dinner. “If there was something special I wanted for my reception, they found a way to do it," Jody said.
Jody’s father, Greg Gruffman, a retired St. Paul firefighter, was extremely pleased with Vincenzo, as well. “The best part of planning the wedding was that they let us try everything before Jody and Bryan made the decision about their reception dinner,” he said. “They ended up wanting something different, so Vincenzo made something special, just for them.”
He added, “We also ran into some problems with the hall Jody had wanted. Vincenzo really calmed her down and they helped her find a new place for the reception. They really smoothed out all of the rough areas.”
When prompted about her overall experience with Vincenzo’s Jody said, “Planning my reception was stress-free. I knew if I ran into a problem with anything that I could call Tracie and Toni and they’d handle it for me. And they’re all about fairness.” She added, “They were the one appointment that Bryan wanted to go to – and he wanted to go back again and again because he loved their food.”
“We really put our hearts into what we do,” says Tracie. “We never take the easy way out and we make sure everything is the absolute best quality. Our food rocks.”
“She’s not just bragging, “ Toni added. “It really does!”
Diane Reiter, October 2006
Quad Community Press, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Vincenzo Catering was born in an average suburban kitchen nearly 16 years ago with a wedding cake how-to video and a great deal of determination. When Tracie Charpentier completed her “beginner cake,” she revealed an elaborate four-tier wedding cake that rivaled those found in even the most illustrious bakeries.
“She wanted to make my wedding cake. That’s all it took for her,” says Toni Fedorchak, Tracie’s sister and recipient of that cake.
After that first cake was pulled from the oven, there was no stopping Tracie. Over the years, her outstanding knack and creativity have propelled a catering business based on superb quality, service, and an incredible amount of imagination.
Initially, Tracie's Mom, assisted in the day-to-day operation of Vincenzo but when she retired two years ago, Tracie’s sister, Toni, stepped up to the dinner plate, adding to the outstanding reputation for which Vincenzo is known.
Tracie and Toni know that no two parties or special occasions are alike and each one requires individual consideration. They cater a variety of events including anniversary, corporate lunches, funerals, weddings, dinner parties, showers, and more. Vincenzo insures a worry-free experience, always striving to make certain the food provided is as memorable as the event itself.
“We have a lot of menu options and a great customer rapport. We can make just about anything and everything is made from scratch,” says Tracie. With everything from hot/cold menus, vegetarian menus, fabulous dessert tables, elegant sit-down dinners, hors d’oeuvres, and wedding cakes, the entertainment possibilities are endless.
As they gear up for the approaching holiday season, they remind people to book events early to insure their desired party date. And Vincenzo always makes parties easier by providing everything necessary to insure a hassle-free experience for hosts and attendees.
Ask about their party room, perfect for crowd of up to 50 guests, as well as their Christmas Cookie Day, a popular make-and-take event for those wishing to leave the holiday baking worry to Vincenzo.
Vincenzo Catering takes a great deal of pride in their business. They know that hard work and doing what they love is the most important way to be successful and happy.