FAQs

Pretty much anything!

• weddings

  • receptions

  • rehearsal dinners

  • day-after brunches

  • bridal showers

• corporate & nonprofit events

  • full-day meetings

  • multi-day conferences

  • holiday parties, milestone celebrations & themed launches

  • breakfast, lunch or casual networking reception deliveries

  • nonprofit galas & fundraising events

• social events

  • holiday parties

  • birthdays, anniversaries & milestone celebrations

  • graduation parties

  • baby showers

  • memorial services

  • bar/bat mitzvahs

  • over-the-top themed dinner parties

Yes! While we do not sell alcohol, we do offer Dry Hire Bar packages.

You provide the alcohol, and we handle the rest. This option gives you the full experience of a professionally run bar, with more control over your beverage selection and budget. 

Dry Hire Bar packages include:

• bar setup and bar equipment

• non-alcoholic mixers

• skilled bartenders (bartenders billed as a separate service line item on your proposal)

To make things even easier, we’ve partnered with North Loop Wine & Spirits—a local, woman-owned bottle shop—to curate a tiered list of wine, beer, and spirits to suit a range of tastes and price points. If you choose to work with them, we’ll help you select your bar menu and quantities, place your order, arrange delivery, and even facilitate returns of unopened alcohol you choose not to keep. 

The only difference between this and purchasing your alcohol directly through Food Gallery is billing—your alcohol tab will be paid directly to North Loop Wine & Spirits, as Food Gallery does not sell any alcohol 

Once your date and venue are set, we’d love to hear from you!

We book full-service events up to 18 months in advance. Many of our wedding clients book a year or more ahead, and high-demand dates like summer weekends and the holiday season fill up quickly.

For corporate events, smaller social events and catering deliveries we can often accommodate shorter timelines.

Full-service catering means we come prepared with everything needed to serve your menu beautifully.  

Included in the price of food & beverage:

• Foods & beverages, of course

• All plates & silverware suited to your selected menu

• Water glasses for table-side service 

• Cotton napkins (your choice of black or white)

• Buffet & station service equipment (chafing dishes, platters, and serving utensils)

• Buffet & station signage noting dishes and dietary accommodations (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.) 

• Minimal themed station decor and styling

• Platters & beverage napkins for tray-passed appetizers

• Non-alcoholic beverage service equipment (beverage dispensers, glass or compostable cups, beverage napkins)

• All service & kitchen equipment needed to execute your menu onsite at your chosen venue*

*Some restrictions and exceptions may apply.

Included in the price of service & culinary staff:

• 2-3 hours of setup time before guest arrival (based on event timeline and complexity) so we’re good and ready when the party starts

• Full-service hospitality throughout your event 

• 1-2 hours of tear-down time after your event ends (according to your timeline and venue requirements) 

Not included:

• Gratuity

• Speciality tabletop items (chargers, wine glasses, etc.)

• Cloth napkins in alternate fabrics, colors, or patterns

• Tabletop menus & guest place cards (we recommend using one of our trusted stationery partners for themed, customized, and/or branded event collateral)

• Table linens

  • We offer black or white lap-length cotton tablecloths for an additional charge.

  • We do not offer floor-length linens or linens in alternate fabrics, colors, or patterns, but these can be arranged through our recommended rental partners.

• Speciality tabletop, buffet, or station décor/florals

• Guest tables & chairs 

  • Many venues provide these items as part of your venue rental package. If you need additional/specialty tables or seating, please see our list of recommended event rental vendors in the Twin Cities. 

For full-service catering, our standard set of rentals is included in your food & beverage fee. [See “FAQ: What does full-service catering include?” for more details on what is covered and what isn’t.]

If you choose to work with a third-party rental company, we do not manage rental orders. However, we always collaborate with you or your planner on selections to make sure everything food-related is covered.

We can recommend quantities and advise on the types of plates, glassware, serving pieces, and utensils that will best suit your menu, bar package, and service style.

For specialty items like lounge furniture, custom linens, statement tabletop pieces, or themed décor, many clients choose to work with an event planner who typically manages those rentals and vendor relationships directly. Check out our list of our recommended event planners in the Twin Cities.

Yes! Gallery On-the-Go makes last-minute hosting easy for smaller gatherings with chef-prepared grazing boards, party platters, salads, and seasonal meal kits—beautifully presented and ready for pickup or delivery with a minimum of 2 days’ notice.

We can sometimes accommodate other requests, like weekday breakfast and lunch orders, on short timelines as well. Get in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible!

Absolutely. You’ll find plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options on our menus. If there is something specific you need, make sure to let us know.

Yes! We host monthly tastings at partner venues throughout the year. Invitations are extended during the inquiry process. 

These group events are co-sponsored by our creative partners (florals, linens, beverages, and more).

Each tasting is a four-course experience that begins with passed and displayed appetizers, moves into a family-style meal with breads, salads, entrées, and sides, and ends with a selection of desserts. We highlight a range of flavors and styles that thoughtfully accommodate major dietary needs (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan). 

While you will not taste every menu item you’ve been eyeing, the experience is designed to give you full confidence that anything you choose will be delicious!

For weddings and social events, if you have not yet signed a contract with Food Gallery Catering, there is a per-person fee to attend our tastings. However, if you choose to book with us, we’ll apply a credit to your final invoice.

We also occasionally invite contracted clients with larger or more complex events to attend tastings as part of our planning process.

Customization is at the heart of what we do—but it can look different depending on your needs, budget, and event scope.

It might mean:

• Adapting existing dishes to accommodate dietary needs or guest preferences.

• Adding personal touches, like a favorite dish or nostalgic dessert.

• Reimagining a current dish in a new way—say, turning a Late Night Menu favorite into a main course.

• Designing a completely bespoke menu through our Culinary Design Studio for a fully custom experience.

We offer two paths to customization:

Signature Full-Service Catering

Our Signature Full-Service experience features a curated selection of core and seasonal menus designed to delight a wide range of tastes and occasions. Most clients find everything they need within these menus—but if you have a special request, our culinary team is always happy to bring it to life.

Your sales manager will guide you in curating your event menu from our extensive offerings. If a request requires deeper coordination—such as adjusted pricing, ingredient sourcing, or special equipment—we’ll connect with our culinary team to confirm the details before moving forward. Because this process is collaborative, custom menu revisions may take up to five business days to review and finalize.

When modifications affect pricing, sourcing, or service requirements, we’ll always communicate those changes clearly so you can make informed decisions that align with your event goals and budget.

Some custom creations may include a small recipe development fee to cover additional sourcing and testing—ensuring every dish meets Food Gallery’s standards of flavor and execution.

The Culinary Design Studio

For clients seeking a high-touch, fully bespoke experience, our Culinary Design Studio offers concierge-level collaboration from concept to execution.

This experience includes:

• Chef Consultation: A creative session with our sales and culinary teams to design a menu that reflects your event’s theme, aesthetic, and story. Bring your inspiration—from mood boards and brand collaborations to signature flavors—and we’ll translate them into an unforgettable menu.

• Customized Tasting: A private tasting for you and up to three guests to experience the menu firsthand and refine final selections.

• Menu Revisions: A collaborative process to fine-tune every flavor and presentation detail until it’s exactly right.

Participation in the Culinary Design Studio is $500, which covers the added consultation, menu development, and tasting experience. For events with a food and beverage spend of $10,000 or more, this fee is waived as a courtesy—reflecting the full-service partnership we extend to our large-scale clients.

Whether you’re selecting from our signature menus or designing something entirely your own, every Food Gallery event is crafted with care, creativity, and collaboration.

Here’s what the process looks like once you reach out:

1. Inquiry: Share your event details through our inquiry form, email, or a quick call. One of our sales managers will follow up within 1-2 business days.

2. Proposal & Contract: We’ll learn your vision and build a custom proposal. A signed contract and deposit officially lock in your date.

3. Tastings (for weddings and select events): You’ll be invited to one of our group tastings.

4. Site Visit: Site visits are an important part of our planning process. They allow us to walk the space, understand the flow of the event, and gather all logistical details to ensure everything runs seamlessly. We recommend completing site visits at least three months prior to the event—though the sooner, the better.

5. Detailing Call: About 4-6 weeks before your event, we’ll hop on a call to finalize menus, rentals, staffing, and flow.

6. Sales —> Event Team Transition: While your Sales Manager is your main partner through the planning process, your event will be executed by our onsite team, led by a dedicated Event Lead who oversees every detail of operations and service from start to finish. About six weeks before your event, our operations team begins reviewing every detail to ensure logistics are on track. Two weeks out, your Event Lead takes the reins—fully briefed on your vision, priorities, and plan—to bring everything to life just as you envisioned.

7. Final Details: All final details and payments are due 10 business days before your event. This is when your Banquet Event Order (BEO) is signed—our master plan for flawless execution.

8. Event Day: Our on-site team arrives early to set up, serve with polish, and handle every detail so you can be fully present with your guests.

9. Post-Event: We’ll follow up with final billing adjustments (if any), a big thank you, and an invitation to share feedback.

So many! We are preferred partners at more than 36 venues in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area. Check out our venues list.

We hope so! It’s best to start by checking with your venue to understand their catering policies.

While some venues have exclusive contracts with caterers, many venues are open to working with other reputable caterers even if they aren’t on their list… yet. ;)

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. If you can dream it, we’ll figure out how to cook there.

We do! A travel fee applies for anything outside the metro area, but we’re always down for a road trip. 

We do! From planners to florists to photographers, here’s a list of our favorite Twin Cities event vendors.

All of our events have food and beverage minimums, which vary by day of the week and time of year. Your sales manager will confirm the minimum that applies to your date.

Labor covers the people who make your event shine—servers, bartenders, chefs, and support crew. The number of staff (and therefore the cost) depends on the size, style, and complexity of your event.

We’ll outline staffing levels and associated costs clearly in your proposal.

Your proposal will lay it all out: food and beverage, labor, rentals, event production fee (covering expenses like insurance, permitting, administrative expenses, and transportation costs), taxes, plus any facility fees your venue applies to the caterer. No mystery charges—just clear, honest numbers.

Gratuity is not automatically included. You’ll choose a gratuity when signing your Banquet Event Order (BEO), and cash tips are always welcome on-site.