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Our Story

Make People Happy

Fueled by our mantra to “care more”, Blue Plate is Chicago’s most trusted catering partner. We bring 40 years of experience to every table we serve.

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Food is Only the Beginning

In the catering business, delicious food is a given. What sets us apart is the “who” and “how” that surround our food experiences. It takes a great team to make every Blue Plate moment.

Hard Work Pays Off, One Event at a Time

At Blue Plate, we spend our time doing what we love - planning, creating, and supporting exceptional events. Our team members are hand-picked consulting, culinary, and management professionals that partner with our clients to design their perfect food and service solutions.

Setting the Bar for Catering Excellence

We’ve earned numerous awards for our food, service, and presentation. But none of that would be possible without our caring and talented team, who each bring positivity and professionalism. You’ll feel this attention to detail, and you’ll keep feeling it all the way through your big event.

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Humble Beginnings

A big-hearted social worker named Jim Horan loved to cook for his friends’ parties on the weekends - and word quickly spread. With just a bite, they said you could actually taste how much he cared. Armed with a Weber grill and a van, the Blue Plate catering business was born. Forty years later, Blue Plate still runs on the mantra to “care more” and has become Chicago’s most-trusted food provider for the top venues, events, and businesses in the city.

Chicago’s Caterer

We take our commitment to Chicago seriously - from employing thousands of Chicagoans over the decades, to proudly serving as a dedicated community partner. We believe it is our obligation to educate, innovate, and create a sustainable future for our employees and clients.

Conscious Catering

Sustainability is in our DNA. As Chicago’s first Green-Certified caterer, we practice what we preach. From our state-of-the-art 80,000 square-foot facility, to composting, sourcing, and event best practices, we will continually strive to be eco-conscious in everything we do.

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Planning an event?

Contact an Event Specialist to start planning your elevated experience.

Contact an Event Specialist