We Bring Something Different
Creative catering for people who are tired of the usual suspects
The Flavor Lab is Rochester's catering company for events where food actually matters. We don't do generic buffet lines or reheated convention center food. We create menus that people remember, and we've been doing it since 2015.
How We Got Here
Lisa and Mark bought Catering by Katherine: a small operation tucked behind a party store down Woodward Ave in Rochester. Katherine had built a solid local reputation, and our daughter's name happened to be Katherine, so we kept the name and got to work.
Over six years, we completely transformed the menu and outgrew that original reputation. The food we were creating didn't match the name anymore, and we'd outgrown the space. During 2020-2022, we moved into our new facility in the Northpointe Centre.
We launched The Flavor Lab. New name, new kitchen, same commitment to menus that actually make people talk about the food.
We opened The Flavor Lab Culinary Collective, a sister kitchen offering commercial space to food entrepreneurs. Today we support over 30 makers producing 100+ different products that ship throughout the country.
"I struggle to determine what's more satisfying: witnessing guests converse and socialize over plates of our food, or seeing our makers grow and succeed."
— Mark BidingerWhat Makes Us Different
Creative Menus
Our menu reads like a restaurant, not a banquet hall. We design dishes we'd actually want to eat at an event. Interesting preparations, quality ingredients, flavors that work together.
Honest Service Levels
We don't pretend drop-off catering requires the same work as full-service events. Five service tiers with transparent admin fees. You pay for what your event actually needs.
No Hidden Costs
Menu prices are menu prices. Service fees are clearly stated. Delivery is delivery. We bill for what we do, not what sounds good in a proposal.
Real Experience
We've done basement graduation parties and 300-person corporate events. We know which dishes travel well and which ones need to be prepped on-site. This isn't our first rodeo.
Culinary Collective
Our facility supports local food producers who need commercial kitchen space. We partner with Michigan farms, artisan bakers, and specialty producers who share our standards.
Flexible Approach
Posted menus are starting points. Want to swap proteins? Accommodate dietary restrictions? Build something completely custom? We're set up to handle it.
Ready to Talk About Your Event?
Let's figure out what makes sense for your budget, timeline, and expectations.