At Puff ‘n Stuff, we specialize in a different variety of cuisines. We don’t try to pigeon-hole ourselves into just one, we try to make sure there is something there for just about everyone. We work with a lot of family recipes. We have customers that come to us from time to time and have an “Aunt Erma’s Special Cookie” that they’ve done. We have a lot of ethnic dishes that people come to us for and we certainly take a lot of time to work through those things and put a special twist or special twist for them and of course we give them an opportunity to taste it in advance. [The cuisine choices] are extremely diverse; we really try to do just about everything. We have traditional American Cuisine as well as a wide variety of different ethnic cultures. We are now getting into the Kosher side of the world as well, working within Kosher cuisine as well as our Indian Brides as well. We are beginning to see a pretty big influx of indian business and we are working with that community to try and develop some great things.
Archive for the ‘Warren Dietel’ Category
Types of Cuisine Offered
Thursday, December 30th, 2010What Size Weddings Do You Cater?
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010We cater weddings of all sizes. A lot of the venues that we work with lend themselves to great, small intimate affairs, and others for large gala functions. We really pride ourselves in working with all gambits, we really don’t have a restriction or minimum guest count. A lot of the times, the smaller the group, the more important the group. WE try to look at each thing individually. Sometimes, during the year, it is not really conducive to bring very small groups in because it is exceptionally busy. But for the most part we will cater weddings of all different sizes, of all different magnitudes, of all different ethnicities, in all different reasons. We cater primarily in Orlando, Tampa, but obviously everything in between. We are going into the East Coast a tremendous amount–working into Jacksonville, FL, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and Ormond Beach.
Best Caterer Orlando | WOW Awards | Event Solutions Caterer of The Year | Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010Puff ‘n Stuff Wins Catering Professional of the Year & Best Off-Premise Catered Event | 2010 WOW Awards | Central Florida
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
This year’s Florida WOW Awards were nothing short of spectacular. The nominees were seasoned professionals exhibiting the best of show and design that amazed their clients and fellow business owners all year long.
The WOW awards themselves have won “Best Team Effort” by the ISES in their Esprit Award Show. Originally conceptualized in 2003, the WOW awards brings Florida’s planning organizations (ABC, HSMAI, ISES, MPI &NACE) together in a collaborative effort to show support and recognize the best in the business.
This year, Puff ‘n Stuff and Warren Dietel took home the awards for:
- Catering Professional of the Year
- Best Off-Premise Catered Event
We would like to give special appreciation to Christie’s Photographic for capturing this amazing night and preserving these great memories. Photographs and current news of their events can be found on their blog.
March of Dimes Burgers, Dogs & Dunking Fundraiser
Monday, March 29th, 2010Thank you so much to everyone who came out today for our Burgers, Dogs and Dunking fundraiser for the March of Dimes. The event was an even bigger success than we hoped. Your generous contributions helped our team raise over $1000 for the March of Dimes March for Babies!
Warren Dietel and Kevin Kulikowski were both great sports – even after getting dunked for the 13th, 14th and 15th time! I’m sure they’ll be staying dry for a while after this.
If you were unable to come out and would like to join our team or make a donation, please visit our March of Dimes team page.
A huge “Thank You” to our vendor partners:
Fun Planners for bringing the dunk tank.
Casino Parties Orlando for entertaining our guests with shuffle golf.
Old Fashioned Homemade Ice Cream for some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
John Unrue for the spectacular event photos.
Puff ‘n Stuff Catering at Catersource Conference
Monday, March 8th, 2010
As I write, four of our team members are attending the annual Catersource Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas! The best and the brightest of the industry come together each year to collaborate and learn from each other so that we can continually perfect our business for you, our clients!
Puff ‘n Stuff Catering owner, Warren Dietel, is sharing his knowledge with 3 different presentations this year!
- Incentive Programs that Drive Accountability
- The Operations Toolbox (presented with Kevin Kulikowski, Director of Business Operations)
- Creating a Loyalty Program for Your Business
Every year, our team comes back inspired with a wealth of new and innovative ideas. So stay tuned – there will be many new things to come! We can’t wait to see what they come back with.
Catering the Time Away
Monday, February 1st, 2010
It’s happened again. It seems like we were just preparing for the 2009 Holiday Season, and “pow,” today is already February 1st, 2010 – amazing. People often say time can “stand still” or they need to “save time,” but time keeps moving. In the catering business, it is amazing how it passes so quickly.
From an operations perspective, we’re already beginning to focus on summer and holiday business. We’re busy inventorying linens, purchasing new color offerings, looking at new and stylish serviceware, and adding fresh menu items while also focusing on creatively reinventing some traditional ones.
In just over a month, I will be speaking at the Catersource Conference in Las Vegas with Puff ‘n Stuff Catering’s Owner, Warren Dietel. We’ll be showcasing our process for executing the perfect event. Every year, we attend to see the upcoming catering trends first-hand so we can continually “wow” our clients, whether the event is big or small.
This year is off to a busy start and we are looking forward to the challenges that brings! I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year and look forward to the opportunity to assist in creating your special event!
At Your Service,
Kevin Kulikowski, Director of Business Operations
Celebrating 30 Years Serving Central Florida!
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
This year will mark the Puff ‘n Stuff Catering 30-year Anniversary. Since 1980, we have been Orlando’s premier catering and full-service event planning company and are now the largest of our kind in Florida. We’ve achieved this status largely in part to one word: Innovation. It’s what drives our business and our team members—evidenced in everything from our Special Event Planners and expert Chefs to our state-of-the-art facility.
But if you’ve ever wondered where it all began, and a more commonly asked question–how we got our name, here’s a short history:
In 1971, Puff ‘N’ Stuff (sans Catering) opened as a puff pastry shop in San Fernando, Trinidad, owned by three friends who thought they’d put their baking skills to good use: Yuklan Laing, Gwyneth Pogson, and Susie Dietel. Because they specialized in puff pastries, and created some other “stuff” too (cakes & breads), the name Puff ‘N’ Stuff was a natural fit.
When Susie and her husband, Glenn, moved to Florida in 1978, they wanted to bring a piece of home with them. So in 1980, they opened Puff ‘N’ Stuff here in Orlando, Florida. The pastry shop quickly grew into something more, and they were cooking up full meals and providing catering services in no time.
In 2003, their son, Warren Dietel, had a vision for the company, so he purchased the company from his parents and immediately set out to grow Central Florida’s premier catering operation into a full-service event planning company. He updated the brand, added “Catering” to the company name, and grew the business over 250% in 3 years. Puff ‘n Stuff Catering is now recognized as a national leader in our industry.
So for you, “Puff ‘n Stuff” may invoke thoughts of a TV show or a head shop. But for us, it is a legacy, an evolution, and an inspiration.
Passionately Perfecting Life’s Celebrations for 30 years!
Retaining Your Talent in Economic Hardships
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Many believe people are a company’s greatest asset, but I believe the culture created by the people working for you is your greatest asset. Culture defines who you are and aids in making hiring decisions. With the right culture, you can cultivate skills and encourage employee loyalty, and in the end, your business will come through stronger and much more efficient than before.
Though it is impossible to guarantee that your great employees will stay through the hardships, there are some measures you can take the greatly increase your chances.
Clearly define your Mission, Vision, and Values. Make sure you have developed a picture of today, tomorrow and what governs your decisions. An employee that understands where you are, where you’re going, and why, feels much more secure in their future.
Develop an Ownership Mentality. Empower your staff to give suggestions and ideas – from part time server to the Director of Sales. When your staff walks through your building or an event, you want them to think “How can I make this better? Can we do this more efficiently?” And reward these ideas. With a little encouragement, you’d be amazed at some of the things your employees at all levels think of.
Encourage Team Building & Communication. Send out a monthly newsletter. Announce birthdays, positive client feedback and new employees. As an off-premise caterer, many of our employees rarely step foot into the building, but they are valued too. Have your staff vote for an employee of the month, and reward that employee, even if it’s just a designated parking spot or a $20 gift card to Starbucks.
When your employees feel valued, when they feel like it’s their company too, they’ll work with you to create solutions and will understand that though things may be hard right now, they will get better.
As my good friend Simon T. Bailey says, “Losers look at what they are going through. Champions look at what we are going to do.” And it is your responsibility to create a culture of Champions.
Warren Dietel, Owner/President