Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Rewarding Job: Gerri Ledbetter, catering manager for Talk of the Town, displays a basket of strawberries and grapes, one of the many food items the catering company offers to its clients.
Busy WG caterers always have plenty on their plate
By Jim Aquino
When Gerri Ledbetter first joined Willow Glen's Talk of the Town catering service and cafe more than four years ago, she was a hotel restaurant manager who was growing bored with her job.
"My brother was working here at Talk of the Town. They needed some part-time help, so I would come in on my days off," says Ledbetter, currently Talk of the Town's catering manager. "It's a hard job, but it has its moments, like when people compliment you on the food and the presentation. It makes you feel good." Ledbetter admits that she's exhausted and is about to go home for a late-afternoon nap, but is ready to tackle the catering orders for the next day.
Talk of the Town's owner, Lynn Knee, and her sister began the business in 1990 as Breakfast Express. Since then, the business has evolved from a breakfast delivery service to a full-time catering service and restaurant.
"Lynn started it and got it rolling for about the first seven or eight years. Since then, Gerri has really taken over and given Lynn time to develop another business, a small jewelry manufacturing company," says Chris Hopson, Talk of the Town's general manager. "Gerri makes it happen. She's an all-around great caterer. Gerri makes unbelievable food. She makes all the people very happy. When they call, Gerri is who they want to talk to. She absolutely takes care of them from start to finish."
Talk of the Town's corporate clients have ranged from Silicon Valley companies like Apple Computer and Foundry Networks to local radio stations like KSJO-FM. On Talk of the Town's website (www.talkofthetowncatering.com), Kim Vestal, the longtime morning DJ for the newly defunct KARA-FM, praises the business for its food and presentation.
Out of all the events she caters, Ledbetter likes weddings the most--she says that they allow her to be her most creative and elaborate.
Ledbetter and her staff work between 10 and 12 hours a day and often finish in the late afternoon. On days when catering events are of a larger scale, the staff has to continue working until the late evening. Ledbetter explains that preparations for the next day's orders may also keep her and her staff working late.
"But not everything can be prepared in advance, because you want to make it as fresh as you can," says Ledbetter.
Hopson enjoys the catering business. "When the job's over, it's always nice to have people telling you, 'Man, that was great.' There's not a lot of professions where you get that kind of feedback."
Talk of the Town, 898 Lincoln Ave. Open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 408.294.2121 or visit www.talkofthetowncatering.com.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
