As with any true Southerner, no matter what the occasion, the first thing we think about is “What will we have to eat?” Coming from a long line of fantastic Southern cooks, I’ve heard that phrase over and over.   Plan a great menu, and the rest will fall into place!

 

     I was blessed to have learned to cook from both my grandmothers and my mother, all tremendous ladies in the kitchen.  My kitchen is located on McGinnis Ferry Road, in the shadow of my Grandmother’s house.  Many of the dishes that I serve today are recipes that were handed down from them.  I remember the first meal I prepared all by myself, at the age of around six years old.  I worked all morning, with the support of my grandmother from another room, and for lunch (dinner to us at the time), I served all my favorite dishes.  I made fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and boiled potatoes with pimento peppers and butter.  Yum!!!  My grandparents ate like it was the grandest of buffets, but they did suggest that I try green vegetables, meat and maybe bread next time.

 

     My love for cooking and entertaining never left me as I grew up, and giving parties is still my very favorite thing to do.  After four children, and twenty-five years in the wholesale nursery business, I realized that now I could claim my time.  That same love of having parties is the reason I started Jan Webster Catering.  While planning my catering kitchen, I realized that I had no idea how to use commercial kitchen equipment or even the names of things.  I decided to attend culinary school, and graduated from Gwinnett Technical College with a degree in Culinary Arts.  The experience broadened my knowledge, not only in kitchen equipment, but especially in international foods.  My Southern Grandmas would be amazed to see me make sushi!  After my experience at GTC, I can offer my clients a wide range of dishes. 

 

      Each event I plan is different, exciting and so much fun.  My goal is to have the host and guests have as good a time as I do.  My staff starts with my mother, my daughters and my sons.   They are each accomplished in their own fields, but are open to staff parties for me evenings and on the weekends.  As a mother, my group is the pride of the company!  We try to make each guest feel comfortable, and have a wonderful experience, just as if they were at our own party.  We do enjoy ourselves, and it shows.

 

      I not only provide great food, but have a wide array of linens, china, glass wear, flat wear, decorations, props, candles, lights, and anything else needed to make an event special.  If I don’t have it, I know where to get it!  I also love providing flowers.  The food has to be good, but presentation makes an event an EVENT.  A planning meeting at my kitchen allows my clients the chance to look at everything, and choose things that work to carry out the theme that they have in mind.  I can promise a client that when I am in charge, all they have to do is show up and smile.