BY KAREN SCHWALBE
Locally grown food is on our minds every day and it is really exciting when a local business ‘gets it.’ Kathryn Hackett, owner of Cranberry Vine Catering in Pembroke, is one of our most enthusiastic members. Sourcing locally is part of her day-to-day routine for her catering business. Last spring when delivering some of our member ‘swag’ we got a chance to hear a little about her business and we liked what we heard! We circled back this fall to hear more about it.
Cranberry Vine Catering earned its name honestly – Kathryn literally catered at a cranberry bog as part of a series of Ocean Spray commercials back in October of 2012. It was so much fun that this led to more catering for film crews. Commercial shoots are long, intense days and she provides yummy, nutritious food to keep the crews going. Kathryn is the go-to caterer for film crews in the region and she knows how to work in unusual locations. Sitting in her kitchen, with her staff humming like a well-managed hive, it is easy to see how she handles 300 to 400 events per year so well. In addition to film shoots, Cranberry Vine Catering is a full-service caterer; besides the traditional weddings, funerals, holiday parties and corporate events, she also offers take out and delivery service.
Kathryn’s commitment to buying local food is apparent across all levels of her business – personal philosophy, kitchen design, menu selections, and local sourcing. It is the flavor and freshness that draws Kathryn to developing her menus around local food and she definitely thinks outside the box to get as much a “flavor punch” as she can. Corn, kale, butternut squash, cranberries are some of the most popular local flavors. Working in a from-scratch kitchen, there is ample opportunity to integrate local food at all stages of preparation and she uses as much as she can find. Her kitchen setup also allows her to store some winter crops so she can purchase in bulk directly from the farmer.
To be able to serve the freshest produce possible, Cranberry Vine Catering sources locally through numerous sources. A Sauchuk Farm CSA share in nearby Plympton brings in the freshest seasonal produce each week. Kathryn also has organic produce delivered from Sweet Georgia P’s farm in Pittsfield, VT – while not local in the traditional sense; the owners are friends and have roots and family in the Scituate area. Kathryn also buys from area farmers markets and farm stands directly.
SEMAP’s mission is to promote local food and we absolutely appreciate the businesses that support and promote local food as well. Cranberry Vine Catering’s devotion to crafting innovative dishes with local foods is gratifying and we are looking forward to seeing their next seasonal creations.
Business Details:
Cranberry Vine Catering
Kathryn Hackett
270R Washington St.
Pembroke, MA 02359
(781) 424-0653
contact@cranberryvinecatering.com
www.cranberryvinecatering.com
www.facebook.com/CranberryVineCatering