About Katie Wachtel :: Katie's Kitchen, Catering in Fairfield County, CT

A native of Westport, Katie is a born foodie, whose palate was honed at a young age through family tradition and travel. "My grandmother was an amazing baker, my mom was always entertaining, and my dad often took us on trips to Italy and Spain...my first tasting trips!" remembers Wachtel.

It was only natural to follow a culinary career.

Attending the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and completing the program in Culinary Arts, she first went on to work with acclaimed caterer Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, followed by a skill-honing stint with award-winning chef Deborah Ponzek of Aux De Lices in Greenwich.

And then, Katie was ready to strike out on her own.

Wachtel's love for all things food fuels her passion for serving up top notch culinary dishes and service. Her soul-satisfying creations utilize premium quality ingredients while providing her signature "hands-on" touch with each client and event. "When I do parties, I really love building wonderful memories for my clients with food. You can tell when everyone is enjoying what they're eating," says Wachtel, "the room comes alive; it's a wonderful feeling."

When it comes to cuisine, Wachtel offers a creative mix of tempting

dishes and gorgeous presentations.

"My signature small bites are a way that people can sample many tastes without ruining their diets," she laughs. Customer favorites include homemade flour tortilla chips, pear and Roquefort bruschetta, and mini sandwich delights such as BLT's with apple-smoked bacon and goat cheese cream. "People ask what my specialty is," she adds, "it's not one dish, but rather it's about creating new and interesting ways to turn a client's favorite food into something really amazing."

"All these wonderful experiences I had in Europe, the amazing restaurants that marked my childhood- that's what I want to give to my clients: Food and memories that they'll never forget."