CATERING BY THE FAMILY IS HELPING TO FEED THE COMMUNITY

For more than four decades, the community has been there for Catering By The Family (CBTF). Now this local catering company is here for the community. Sarina sits down with CBTF’s Executive Chef Steven Gonzalez, Jr. to share the family’s story and what they’re doing to help others during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic.

Chef Steven says, “Right now, I think is a time for the community, as well as all local businesses and business owners, to come together, work together, and overcome this. You know, you adapt and overcome. And, I think that’s what our family has done time and time again since 1976. I think at the end of all of this we’ll be okay.”

CBTF has come up with a plan to help families at this time, as the demand for groceries rises and fresh food is hard to find. Chef Steven says that they have created a special menu of family favorite meals, including lunch and dinner options, available for pick up or delivery. Many of the meals are freezer-friendly, too.

Chef Steven says that feeding the community, helping the hospitals, and helping first responders comes first. CBTF also is planning to make deliveries of free food to community organizations in need.

“You help others, and they help you back,” he said.

Since CBTF was founded, service has been a guiding philosophy for the catering company. CBTF has a history of supporting several nonprofit and community organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

CBTF made their start in the restaurant business in 1976, with the opening of The Family Sandwich Shoppe on Henderson Boulevard in Tampa. As the winner of the Tampa Tribune Cuban Sandwich Contest in 1976, 1977, and 1979, it was a popular restaurant for locals, and the family soon decided to expand into catering with sandwich trays and party platters.

By 2002, CBTF relocated to a 17,500 square foot facility on Cypress Street, where the family business continues to operate today. Now leading catering trends throughout the Bay area, Chef Steven infuses the cuisine with his signature flavors developed during his time with the Brennan Group in New Orleans. CBTF is the official caterer for more than 50 venues and events in the Tampa Bay area and Sarasota, including Gasparilla, St. Petersburg’s The Mahaffey Theater, Dade City’s Covington Farm, Tampa’s River Center, Plant City’s The Rustic Barn, and Kathleen’s Garden.