Caterering firm brings fine dining home

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Would you like to treat your dozen or so friends to a professionally prepared gourmet dinner in your own home?

If so, then Renee Retzlaff's and Nancy Grommersch's new Extending The Table catering service is geared up to meet your needs.

"Our goal is to provide our clients -- both businesses and individuals -- with a culinary and-or entertainment experience," they said.

Among the services they will provide are gourmet, traditional and ethnic meals, either as customary sit-down dinners or as part of a theme party, as well as private cooking classes.

They can provide a five-course, sit-down meal for up to 32-40 guests, Retzlaff said. Buffet-style dinners can be put on for from 12 to 36 people.

All of this can be done at your place, or if you prefer to "eat out" with your guests, they can suggest a very comfortable and attractive location for the dinner, such as the Lind House, the Bohemian or Deutsche Strasse Bed & Breakfasts.

And, of course, they'll take care of everything except supplying alcoholic beverages.

"We don't have a license to do that, but we will recommend the kinds of things they might buy to go with the meal," Retzlaff explained.

"If you're looking for an adventure with food and friends, we recommend a 'host a murder party,' a Moroccan evening with traditional foods or perhaps a Mexican or Italian themed night of fun," they said.

Perhaps a "Gorgonzola and mushroom stuffed beef tenderloin with Merlot sauce, or perhaps a ribeye roast with Chianti pan vegetables and balsamic glaze. Or you suggest what you'd like to serve, and we'll create a meal around your choice."

For the holidays you can have a "Christmas Around the World" party, a "Swiss Fondue" or a "Caribbean beach party." Or even a traditional party spiced with exotic hors d'oeuvres.

All the customer needs to do is name the party, and Retzlaff and Grommersch take it from there.

Retzlaff and Grommersch of rural Nicollet credit their cooking club with bringing them to the point of starting the gourmet catering business.

"We were doing this in our cooking club so we decided that there might be a lot of interest out there in having these types of dinners done for them," Retzlaff explained.

Like Retzlaff, Grommersch admits that her family "had to be a guinea pig" as she tested recipes and perfected her cooking skills.

While the business is being operated out of Retzlaff's home at 110 Monument, New Ulm, the women have leased St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church's commercial kitchen for most of their food preparation.

"We're willing to travel if it isn't too far, and we can cook it in their homes," Grommersch said. Just call 507-359-2263.