Food For Thought Catering

ds. Annie, Lucas, and the whole team nailed it. We handed over our list of favorites and they turned it into a fantastic menu. Our favorite game in the lead-up was making friends guess what we were serving, because the options felt so unique and we wanted people to hear them and go "wow, how cool." Happily, the night delivered on exactly that. From the apps at cocktail hour to the late-night snacks, every single dish hit. Thank you for making our night so special (and so delicious)!

tarium), and overall made the day go seamlessly. We are so thankful to have gotten to work with her and the rest of the FFT team! 

ferred taste spicy non spicy etc .. They also had no problem with gluten free foods which was great since some of our guest had celiac  disease. The staff was outstanding with serving and clean up afterwards . Extremely professional and friendly. Great bartender for the event knew all the drinks and fast service. I highly recommend Food for Thought !

they were incredible. Obviously, the food and drinks were outstanding. It wasn't just good for "wedding food", it was amazing by any standard. But what really makes FFT stand out isn't the unbelievably delicious food, incredible drinks, or amazing service, but it's how the team operates with their client. Throughout our entire process, they were unbelievably responsive and accommodated us in any way they could. I always felt like our wedding was a priority to them. Throughout the 2 year planning process, we changed our minds on several things, and not 1 item slipped through the cracks; they were constantly on it and so organized. During the wedding tasting, they were abundantly clear on how everything would be presented, what our options were, and kept track of every change we wanted to make, even when I forgot them myself! But really, their most incredible moment was on the wedding day itself. The constantly changing weather threatened to ruin our ceremony and cocktail hour, but Lucas did everything he could to make it all happen for us. During one of the most stressful moments in the hour leading up the ceremony, Lucas was constantly calm and collected, reassuring me at every step of the way, and did absolutely anything he could to make me feel at ease. I truly felt the concern from him, and knew that he was going to do whatever it took to make my wedding happen the way I envisioned it. The weather ended up clearing with literal minutes to spare, and Lucas and his team pulled off what was nothing short of a miracle to allow us to have our ceremony and cocktail hour outside. Throughout the entire night, Lucas and his team were constantly checking in on my husband and me, making sure we had anything we could ever need. I can honestly say that my wedding planning process and my wedding day was made significantly better because we had Food for Thought as our caterer, and Lucas as our point person. I wish there was more that I could do to show my gratitude to this team. I cannot recommend FFT, Lucas, and Annie more.

miss any of the details. The food is outstanding and so is their level of professionalism. 

ginning, we knew FFT was the right vendor for us because they took our favorite foods and crafted a completely customized menu perfectly tailored to what we enjoyed and what we envisioned for the event. From there, they then worked with us to refine the menu as we kept coming up with crazy ideas. We literally emailed Anna about how we had just tasted a delicious Oreo brownie and she had it added to our desserts right away. We also wanted a very custom bar menu, and they worked with us to get us all the different brands we were looking for, going so far as to drive to Indiana to source some of them. The other aspect of their menu that made such an impact was all the interactive food stations. Everything is so creatively presented and designed. At our tasting, Anna had literally taken elements of our décor and paper goods and other motifs and woven them throughout the presentations from custom serving trays to glass designs. Everything felt intentional and thought out. Guests were constantly praising this attention to detail. Every station had some element of action to it as well, making everything feel like a unique experience. In all of this, the food was all delicious. We wish we can eat and experience it all over again. We still dream of Chef Arlene’s Guava and Cheese Empanadas. Throughout the process, Anna was extremely easy to work with and very responsive. One thing we wanted to highlight was that we wanted to be very careful with allergens. Despite the high number of dishes, Anna did a fantastic job working to highlight all the possible allergens in every item, taking the request very seriously. We also wanted to praise the service for the actual day-of catering. They had their full team there, and the professional service was fantastic from top to bottom. Our guests praised the food endlessly, and people who were planning their wedding wanted to know all the background details into our catering choice. That is just more proof that Food for Thought was the perfect caterer, and we couldn’t have asked for anything more.

cess, and everything went smoothly on the day of the event. We had iced tea, refreshments, and desserts served before/after the ceremony, and it was a lovely touch for our guests. Gunnar and the team made the final coordination easy and were a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend!

ing flawlessly. We’re so grateful to Annie and Lucas, who were an absolute pleasure to work with. They are extremely detailed oriented and make it easy to trust that we were in good hands. I never once felt like they didn’t have our best interest in mind. It was also important to me that my Vietnamese heritage was reflected in the menu and they came up with creative and cost effective options that wow’d our guests. We highly recommend Food for Thought to anyone who needs a professional, reliable, and talented team of creatives. 

rated, a significant number of food items ran out, and culturally important traditions were ignored. FFT has also done nothing to rectify these issues.   We wanted to have three buffet stations, traditional American, Italian, and a Sushi station. FFT suggested buffet stations with small plates, which sounded like a good idea. However, while technically there was enough food to feed everyone, the portions were not curated appropriately at all. For example, the beef tenderloin portions that were served were tiny and ended up running out, in part because they were so thin and also likely in part because the chicken offered at the station was dry (which was not the case at the tasting). The sushi roll station, which was a huge priority for us, ran out of the signature sushi rolls before we were even able to get a plate. These issues were so significant we had multiple guests complain afterwards.   The other main issue was with this company’s complete failure to respect and execute culturally traditional items.   First, we discussed multiple times that Polish cytrynowka shots were a priority. Traditionally, bottles of this liquor are placed on the tables, and we spent hours preparing custom labels for this purpose. On the day of the wedding, we find out that not only does FFT's liquor license not allow for self-service of shots, but it does not allow shots at all. This is something we had to navigate on our wedding day. While we appreciate the creative solution that FFT provided by having servers pour the liquor over ice, this was not something we should have navigated while at the reception. We would have absolutely gone with a different caterer had we known this was not something they could deliver on.   Finally, the only traditional food item we had at the wedding, which was very important to my family, was barszcz and crepes. When we had the tasting, we were served a Russian version of the dish, which includes sour cream and pieces of the beets inside the broth. We very clearly informed FFT that this was incorrect, that the dish should not have sour cream, should be a clear broth, and that we would provide a recipe.   FFT states they followed the recipe, however at the wedding, they still included crème fraiche and beets in the broth, completely ignoring those notes. While FFT did admit to the mistake with the sour cream, no other actions were taken to rectify this or any of the other issues mentioned here.   If you do choose to go with this company, please make sure you check and double-check everything they are doing so there are no surprises. I cannot re-do my wedding, but at least you may be able to save yourself the heartache.

s unsure on. From the moment we had the tasting I knew we had picked the right caterer. The day of the wedding the entire staff was so attentive & did not miss a single detail!

he food. It wasn’t just "good wedding food"—it was an incredible dining experience from start to finish. From the very beginning, the planning process felt truly lux. A huge special shoutout to Lorena and Gunnar, who made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. They didn't just give us a standard list of options; they really listened to our specific likes and dislikes to curate a perfect menu that felt uniquely us. The execution on the big day was flawless. The appetizers were incredibly creative and set the tone immediately. What really impressed us was how they handled dietary restrictions. Often, guests with restrictions get an afterthought meal, but FFT created incredible, thoughtful dishes for everyone, ensuring all our guests felt taken care of. The food production was smooth and invisible—magically appearing exactly when it was supposed to without interrupting the flow of the party. The Showstopper: We have to talk about the late-night snack—the Walking Ramen Cup. It was an absolute hit! It was so delicious that we actually had guests asking for the recipe so they could try to recreate it at home. We love FFT and cannot recommend them enough. If you want a caterer that delivers high-end service, creativity, and food that people will remember forever, look no further. Thank you, Lorena, Gunnar, and the whole team!

t tour, Diana walked us through every space we could utilize and immediately made the venue feel like a dream come to life. She project-managed every detail with such grace and precision—coordinating seamlessly with our planner, designer, and decorator. Her organization kept everything running smoothly and on time, and she made the entire process feel effortless. Food For Thought did an exceptional job handling all of our catering requests. We incorporated select Indian dishes from an external caterer while also serving Food For Thought’s appetizers and desserts, and the combination worked beautifully. Guests raved about the quality, flavor, and presentation. The appetizer station overlooking Chicago’s skyline was a stunning highlight, and the service throughout the night was attentive, polished, and truly five-star. The Adler as a venue was everything we hoped for and more. Being able to use the entire space—including the Grainger Sky Theater, which created a breathtaking intergalactic moment with its outer-space projections—made the night unforgettable. Our dinner in the main glass-encased room, with panoramic views of the Chicago skyline, left everyone speechless. Everything was flawlessly executed and felt cohesive, thoughtful, and perfectly themed. We couldn’t be more grateful to Diana and Food For Thought for making our pre-wedding reception an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

. We scheduled a tasting at their location in Lincolnwood and fell in love with their food. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Lorena, who proved to be exceedingly accommodating and was always available to answer our many questions. They coordinated with our wedding planning team directly on many discussion points which minimized the day-to-day communications and stress on our part. After our wedding, we are still hearing from guests about how the food was the best they've had at any wedding and I'd have to agree! Our Short Rib and Chicken options were nothing short of exceptional (AND WARM) and the appetizer and dessert selections were to die for! Perhaps above all else, their staff made us constantly feel cared for and not a moment went by where our guests or ourselves did not have a beverage or some delicious food in hand. For anyone who may be on the fence about catering vendors for any upcoming event, my wife and I could not recommend Food For Thought highly enough!

she was organized, thoughtful, and incredibly supportive. She walked us through schedules and timelines, anticipated needs before we even knew we had them, and stepped in whenever communication or coordination with vendors was needed. Dana was the calm in the chaos and the backbone of our entire day. She handled every detail flawlessly and made us feel so taken care of every step of the way. Our wedding truly wouldn’t have been possible without her dedication, professionalism, and heart. She is amazing, and we are endlessly grateful! If you’re lucky enough to work with Dana, you’re in the best hands imaginable.

ng the apps, dinner, desserts, and late night snacks. Our guests had so many compliments for us on the chicken and braised beef entrees. Beyond the food, the linens and chairs were beautiful and fit right into our color theme. The his and hers cocktails were delicious. We had our own personal waitress who was wonderful regularly checking to make sure we had everything we needed while at the sweetheart table. If you're not at the Adler already, we highly recommend FFT to cater your wedding. Thank you, Dana and Anabel for everything!

for my daughter’s wedding. The  food got absolutely rave reviews for its freshness, taste and presentation. The tablescapes and other decorations were beautiful and set up exactly as specified.  No detail was overlooked. Our coordinator John Van Norman was like a symphony conductor, managing at least six vendors, 24 staff and hundreds of tasks. If I have another event I will go straight to him for help! 

gs. A few things stuck out to us that helped us make the choice. Communication-Kacilynn answered all of our questions thoroughly, and in a timely manner. Enthusiasm-Kacilynn made the planning fun! It was clear that she was enthusiastic about her team which made us excited. Customization-we had a few “must haves” that we felt very confident FFT could accommodate including allergies, vegan options, and our adventurous food tastes. When we got to our tasting we knew we had made the right choice. We were met with a welcome drink and some of our favorite music playing! FFT really made us feel like VIPs. Then we tried the food and were blown away. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious! The vegan entree was not only the best vegan wedding food I’d ever had–but some of the best vegan food I’ve had! (As a 10-year vegan!) At the wedding, the service was great! All the dishes came out perfectly. Everyone raved not only about the passed apps and entrees but even the details like coffee and bread! That shows the attention to detail FFT has to their craft. Oh, and I can’t forget the late night snacks. The guests LOVED when the mini Chicago hot dogs (including a veggie option!) and patatas bravas styled waffle fries came out. It was the perfect end to a great service. I would highly recommend Food For Thought!

ng with my daughter and son-in-law was fun and delicious! FFT helped us plan a wonderful menu that made everyone happy. My friends raved about the food. Their service was outstanding. Great staff. I highly recommend FFT.

s incredible at the wedding as it was during our tasting—and remarkably, everything came out hot for all 150+ guests. If you know, you know that's incredibly hard to accomplish! The flavors were outstanding, and we received so many compliments throughout the night. A special shoutout to our FFT coordinator, Kacilynn Zimmerman, who was invaluable to the whole experience. Between the customizable food options, decor assistance, and expert recommendations, FFT truly does it all! I honestly could not recommend them enough. If you asked me now, post-wedding, who the VIP vendor was, I would say without a doubt it was Food for Thought! You will not regret it, I promise you as someone who was very anxious about picking a caterer in the beginning- they are amazing and worth it!

t and if we could work with her and her team again, we would in a heartbeat. She was the most responsive, organized, and “on-top-of-it” person that we worked with over the course of our wedding planning. Anytime we had a question or needed anything from her, she was there for us and we can’t thank her enough for how nice that was to have during all the craziness throughout the whole process. We had passed out drinks, hors d’oeuvres, plated meals, desserts, and late night snacks that we and our guests enjoyed thoroughly and everything was beautifully presented. We would definitely recommend Diana and Food For Thought to everyone!

s delicious and they were very accommodating of any food allergies.

laints. Firstly, the food seemed to be a bit better at our tasting than at the wedding itself. My husband was quite disappointed the meat did not taste as good as the reception, while the salmon was as good as the tasting in my opinion. It is quite pricey for event catering, but it is good quality food. As well as that, the catering/event staff ended up throwing out some of our decor when they were cleaning up - which was VERY disappointing. I had paid a lot of money for the wedding cake topper, disposable cameras on each table, and other wedding related items we wanted to keep forever. Though I am not sure if this was the catering staff or venue staff. Overall, we enjoyed working with them on our wedding.

o was incredibly responsive, organized, and helpful throughout the entire process. She made everything so easy and stress-free, and her attention to detail really made our day run smoothly. Our guests are still raving about the food, and we’re so grateful for Hanna and the team for making our wedding truly magical.

how well-tended they were. We did the 2-month out coordination package and cannot recommend Anna highly enough!! She connected with our existing vendors seamlessly and even helped us with Floral & DJ recommendations (which were absolutely perfect) when we got a bit stuck in the planning process. Day of, Anna & the FFT Team effortlessly handled a surprise thunderstorm and got our ceremony moved indoors with seconds to spare. If we had to do it over, Food For Thought would be our top choice!

dly, their staff is so helpful (especially Lorena!), professional, and classy. We had some last minute changes and they were incredibly helpful in executing. The result was the absolutely perfect wedding day!

T put together a custom menu based on our preferences and vision for the night. Initially, we were skeptical of FFT because our experience with catering companies is not superb. We are huge foodies and food was a deciding factor in our decision. We were not able to try FFT’s food before committing to the contract, so it was a step of faith. But we were supremely happy with the quality, diversity of flavors, and great textures. After committing to the contract, we were able to try the entire menu a few months before the wedding and make edits and suggestions. We wanted a little bit of Asian fusion and FFT did a very good job. The appetizers were unique and received so many compliments. The main dishes were very satisfying. Overall, FFT is worth the price and booking if it is in your budget. It is truly a one-of-a-kind venue.

ng the process less stressful for myself and my (now) husband who were totally overwhelmed. From the tasting to all the details in between, Anna was a rockstar!

oth. All of the food was amazing, we received so many compliments from guests on how good everything was.

the whole way through. The tasting was a wonderful experience and made us so excited for our guests to try everything! They absolutely delivered on wedding day with excellent service and delicious food. We had many guests tell us it was the best wedding food they have ever tasted, the short rib coming in as the most popular choice. We did passed hors d'oeuvres and a plated dinner! Thank you to this team for your hard work, you can certainly rely on FFT. 🍽️✨💕

o their event planning as well. Every step of the experience was stellar from start to finish to now, even a month after the wedding. Let's start with the food. It was INCREDIBLE. Our tasting was customized to our likes and tastes and we had a difficult time narrowing it down, because it was all SO GOOD. The service, day of, was perfection. We had passed hors d'oeuvres, a perfect plated dinner, and dessert and late night PASSED THRU THE DANCE FLOOR. Iconic. FFT had excellent props to really elevate the food experience. Next, the design. Very few people care about linens and tableware as much as I do and I think they all work for FFT. We got to see all the options in house. Getting to play around and feel every tablecloth, fork, and water goblet was an amazing experience. The team also took every single one of my crazy ideas in stride. No detail was too big or too small for FFT. Finally, the PEOPLE. Kacilynn was TRULY my girl through it all. We planned this wedding for almost 2 years and she was by our side every step of the way. She really GOT me, my vision, my communication style, everything. Kaci and I were on the same page from the get go, which made wedding day an even better experience. I was truly calm because I knew she would have any issue under control. All of the staff day of was also incredible, especially our personal waiter, Diego! I can't recommend FFT enough. You seriously will not regret it. THANK YOU FFT TEAM!!

rink options, but the creativity, flexibility, and attention to detail for every single bite throughout the event was unmatched except for their impeccable service. So grateful to have such a great vendor for our special day.

and went above and beyond for specific requests. They even made kids' meals for our 4 nieces and nephews. Our tasting was one of the more fun dates we have had as a couple, place settings were beautiful, and the food/drinks were amazing at both events. Cannot recommend FFT enough!!

d experienced. The food and drinks were tasty, well-presented, and timely delivered. They were a pleasure to work with; can't thank them enough for making everything run so smoothly on the day.

ervice throughout the evening was excellent, smooth, and very professional. FFT provided a truly elevated wedding experience!

e it well knows. I never had this worry with FFT. Every single person at my wedding said the food was exquisite. Their beef shoulder is tender and cooked consistent across my guests. The risotto was heavenly. Kacilynn was amazing to work with! She was quick to respond, which is really nice when planning a big wedding! Everyone I talked to at FFT was so nice! Even their billing team! The servers were nice and joked around with my guests, which they loved. It kept the atmosphere happy. I would HIGHLY recommend FFT for any event. They are on the pricier side, but the relief of knowing that the food will be delicious, the service impeccable, and the coordination top-notch, makes it all worth it.

and it was amazing.

rts and late-night snacks, our friends and family were telling us all night (and so many times since!) that the food was the best they'd ever had at a wedding. Our guests especially loved the custom espresso martini wall, and appreciated the unique details like late-night snacks made specifically for my Chicago and my wife's Canadian roots, complete with little USA and Canada flags on toothpicks. It was truly culinary perfection, and you can't ask for anything better than that for your big day!

along with the rest of the team, did a fantastic job working with us throughout the process. The FFT team was willing to accommodate our (relatively extensive) food, bar, and rental requests leading up to the event and did perfectly on the day of the event. We got more positive reviews from our guest than we can count on the food and bar cocktails. If we have one critique, it was that the service fees on the rentals were higher than we expected and it was a little unclear why that was since they were coming from Halls. Don't let this deter you, just plan for it. In the end, if you are looking for an accommodating partner and a creative and delicious menu, we would highly recommend Food For Thought.

d to, every question answered and the food and staff service on the big night was excellent. I hope we have an occasion to use them again!

venue inside and out, which was a huge advantage for seamless setup and takedown. Everything ran smoothly, and their efficient teamwork was evident throughout the day. The custom buffet menu we designed was a delightful mix of Asian and American cuisine, and Food For Thought executed it perfectly. From our initial tasting to the final presentation, they were incredibly receptive to our feedback, making adjustments that truly enhanced the flavors for our second tasting. A special highlight was the condiments station we had set up, which allowed our guests to add their personal touch to their meals. It added an interactive and fun element that everyone enjoyed. A big shoutout to John, who was with us throughout the entire process—from planning to tasting to execution. His dedication and attention to detail were instrumental in making everything come together flawlessly. Food For Thought’s attention to detail, professionalism, and culinary expertise made our special day even more memorable. If you’re looking for a caterer who excels in both food and service, and who knows how to work seamlessly with your venue, we highly recommend Food For Thought! Photos: Lusia Studio Photography

ir approach to the tasting was an excellent experience allowing us to sample and see exactly what would be served to our guests. The food was delicious and beautifully plated for both the cocktail hour and the reception dinner. Service throughout was professional and respectful. Thank you for making the wedding such a wonderful experience for everyone!

my questions as a Type A bride. The food was incredible at the tasting we had. We ended up going with a buffet option with pasta, chicken, steak. Everything was so delicious - we received a ton of compliments on how good the food was and some of our guests even went back for seconds! I've been to a lot of weddings where the food was meh so this was so special to me! We had a late night snack of Chicago style hotdogs as well and that was a huge hit. They were an amazing catering vendor and I would book them again 10 times over!

so easy and enjoyable, from the menu tasting to helping with room design (linens, rentals, and more)! Not to mention the food and service day-of were above and beyond. THANK YOU Lorena and team, from the bottom of our hearts!!!

tional at her job. She was incredibly communicative, takes the time to truly get to know the couples she is working with and their vision, and is thoughtful in her approach. Our family often commented on how great Diana was during our planning process (tasting, walk-through, etc.). On our wedding day, things ran perfectly. In addition to the wedding planning and execution, Food for Thought has excellent food! We loved nearly everything we ate at our tasting. On our wedding day, the food was perfect and we received so many compliments from guests. The FFT staff was also incredibly professional and impeccable in their services throughout the night of our wedding. We feel so lucky and fortunate to have worked with Diana and FFT. They truly made our wedding incredible.