About us
Food For Thought Catering’s Gina D’Ambrosio (Trost) has over 25 years of experience...I offer full-service party planning, including wedding coordinating, staffing, rentals, tenting and more. Testimonials available.
Preferred Caterer, Lancaster Jewish Community Center's newly appointed ballroom, Legacy, 2120 Oregon Pike, Lancaster! Off-site catering also available!
PARTNER, LANCASTER BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL
Legacy Ballroom's preferred caterer.
Visit us on the catering page at www.legacylancaster.com
I grew up in Philadelphia in a traditional Italian household with my father the bread winner and my mother the bread maker. It was in my home that I learned the importance of food, not just as a means of sustenance but as something to share with others and incorporate into celebrations of every kind. Our city garden was the perfect 'fresh' start but I longed for more 'fresh', for farms and quaint markets where local, raw ingredients would be readily available. I dreamed of owning my own business where I could incorporate such ingredients into dishes that would soothe the soul, nourish the body and stimulate the mind.
My journey for “fresh” started in Lancaster County when I became the proprietor of an authentic bed and breakfast located in the heart of Amish country, where I learned that 'local' really was everything. Travelers came to 'see and meet the locals' and to buy home grown corn and other land favorites and the locals sang their praises of their roots and why Lancaster county was the place to be, to raise a family and enjoy the simple gifts that life and the land had to offer.
Now a resident of Lancaster County (for over 21 years), surrounded by all that is scenic and natural, perched on top of a wildlife preserve, the mother of a beautiful little girl and the proud founder and owner of Food For Thought Catering, I am grateful for having conquered my quest for 'fresh'. Food For Thought Catering offers innovative cuisine, using local and pure ingredients which... show more
yield earthy, rustic and mind-smart fare.
I'm excited to be a part of the Buy Fresh Buy Local 'family', to be able to obtain useful and fresh resources to share with my clients and to support an effort that is essential in healthful living. I look forward to making a wholesome difference.
In good taste!
Gina D'Ambrosio 267-495-6677 www.foodforthoughtcateringpa.com gina@foodforthoughtcateringpa.com
PARTNER IN LANCASTER BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL
Services Used: Catering
5.0
out of 5.0
Quality of Service: (5.0/5.0)
Responsiveness: (5.0/5.0)
Professionalism: (5.0/5.0)
Value For Cost: (5.0/5.0)
Flexibility: (5.0/5.0)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT CATERING…GINA D’AMBROSIO TESTIMONIALS
My wife and I do a lot of family and business entertaining. For the past 6 years Gina has catered every single event we have held, from small luncheons to hosting almost 200 guests. Every event has been meticulously planned and executed, gone off without a hitch, including our most recent party held in the middle of a hurricane. Gina is so highly recommended that many of our friends are now using her services for their events. There is no better caterer in Lancaster! Feel free to contact me for any other questions about her remarkable services.
Glenn Usdin Lancaster PA
*Over the past few years we've had the pleasure of experiencing Gina's creativity at intimate dinner parties, cocktail parties of 60, and blow-outs of more than 200. No matter the size or budget, Gina always sets a bountiful and beautiful table that's as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Gina is an unflappable, experienced presence in the kitchen whose love of food and hospitality infuses every event. More than that, she puts a playful spin on entertaining that guarantees that your event is the one people will be talking about days after the last dish is put away!
Chris and George Veronis
Generally, my tastes are simple – I love food. I love home cooked meat and potatoes. I love a well-executed gourmet meal with ingredients I can not even pronounce, let alone spell. I love a hearty, colorful salad that relies on the natural flavors of dirt-grown, sun-ripened vegetables. I love foods that are fresh, flavorful, not too fussy and always reflective of the love of the person who prepared it. I love Gina’s food and have used her many times for catering charity events and for filling my freezer with quiches, lasagnas, soups, stews, breads and more. Of course, my simple taste should not be mistaken for simple, plain flavor. Gina’s foods wonderfully reach for extremes of sweet and sour and salty and spicy, combining the right flavors and textures. Her tomato bisque (which is out of this world and one of my favorites) has an inherent complexity of spices and ingredients that could take up an entire kitchen table. Her luxurious dishes have deep, rich flavors coaxed out by way only Gina can tell you. Many dishes are exotic to me because they are new and taste like they have been flown in from across the world. Despite my fascination with her food, I still appreciate how artistically they are presented to the lucky soul who is on the receiving end of her serving spoon. I am in absolute heaven when I sit down to eat her other-worldly dishes, reaching gustatory nirvana for little more than all the change between the cushions of my favorite chair. There has to be some sort of succinct scientific term for her abilities in the kitchen, but I don’t know it; so for lack of a better word, it is phenomenal. Daryl Ford Bloom, Esq.
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I have had the privilege of having Gina cater several events at my home for personal, professional and charity events. Each event has been unique in that the size of event has ranged from serving a family of four to an event that could have as few as 50 or up to 150 guests. The menu has always been fresh, creative, intensely flavorful and beautifully displayed.
Gina has always been very professional and helpful in menu selections, and I love knowing she will coordinate every detail so I can proceed with other tasks involved in hosting a major event. Gina and her staff know exactly what they are doing and provide the perfect amount of service without being overbearing.
Finally, as if she hasn't already done enough, as the evening progresses and things wind down, and you finally get a chance to look around, you notice the kitchen looks as though no one had been there. You smile, have a glass of wine and finally get to enjoy the evening. Thank you Gina!
Lisa Whalen DVM
Animal Hospital of Rye
Gina has catered several events for us, for work and for family and friends. She plans exceptional menus with a range of prices, and guests always enjoy her meals!
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Eshleman
We have had the opportunity to use Gina's catering service and be invited to parties catered by Gina, and they were superb. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented. Gina and her staff were extremely helpful in making the event a success. Suggestions were given for food choices, opportunities to be creative for special needs, and fantastic staff provided. Food is one of the most important components to a successful event and Gina and her staff always deliver the best.
Dr. Lori and Mr. Matt McGowan
A glowing, true testimonial of all accounts of your professional gastronomic
talents, keen sense of food proportions and kid-glove care towards finicky clients.
Marlene Usdin
"Dear Gina,
You made a dream come true. The food was beyond our expectations. Your service was impeccable and a delight. The comments from friends and family..."this food is unbelievable". They asked me for recipes. You just don't here this at an affair; most guests can't even remember what they ate.
Bob and I would like to thank you for making the day a most memorable one. The food was definitely a big part of the ambience and you went far beyond what we could have imagined.
Thank you and please thank your staff...they were so nice to work with. Eileen and Robert Riddle"
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People were raving about the food, Gina! We will definitely be calling you again for lunch! Several persons also took your cards, so you may be getting more LGH business from them too – thanks again for everything! Allison
The party was fantastic. The food was great. Three people asked me for your salad recipe. It was a huge hit. Honestly it could not have been better. Ashley White
"Gina -
The evening was absolutely amazing. I felt like you and your team went ABOVE and BEYOND my expectations in everything you did. The feedback we received last night and are getting today is incredible - the best Maria's Table ever!
Your staff could not have been any kinder or accommodating.
Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Best,
Julie”, Planning committee for The New School fundraising event
Hi Gina,
We had a fabulous time and all of our guests seemed to as well. We had multiple compliments on the food and the room. You did an excellent job with your presentation, staffing and the quality of food. The sushi was especially a hit, as was the steak. We had leftovers last night for dinner and were able to enjoy everything again. It was a pleasure working with you and I especially appreciate your attention to detail. We put a lot of effort into planning and felt comfortable that you were on the same page as us, plus we could trust your judgment.
Thanks again and you can count on us to use as a reference.
Dr. Lorin & Mrs. Renae Hirsch
Dear Gina, The shower was such a success I can't begin to tell you. Everyone just raved over the food. There is only enough leftover for a snack tomorrow. You have really honed your craft to an ar tform. I could keep going on, but I think you get the idea. Thank you so much for all you did. Gratefully, Cindy PS. Thank goodness we have you booked for the wedding!!!
“Food for Thought Catering" catered my daughter's Bat Mitzvah and our guests continue to tell us that the food was the best catered food they have ever had-not only the quality and originality of the food, but its beautiful presentation and the attentiveness of the staff. Gina and her staff were extremely creative in customizing our event and working within our budget. As a partner in "Suite Strings" violin duo, I highly recommend "Food For Thought Catering” from both the perspective of a customer, as well as a collaborative vendor." Loni Goldstein
Jack Holden...."I agree wholeheartedly with all of the above. What more can be said?"
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On July 23, 2011, Burt and I had the honor of having Food For Thought Catering as a part of our daughter’s wedding reception at Lime Spring Farm in Lancaster, P.A. A friend recommended Food For Thought Catering after attending an event catered by Gina and her staff. From our first meeting with Gina and David, they focused on sharing ideas and worked to understand the type of reception Mollie wanted to create. We were able to communicate Mollie’s desire to have a beautiful, elegant wedding that included very specific food and bar selections. Beginning that day and every day thereafter, they treated us like family. Gina’s years of event planning experience is invaluable. Her approach is to understand the entire event in order to provide the best plan for your reception. Gina and David created an amazing menu with a unique presentation of the food that truly reflected the passion they have for her business and the clients they serve. Mollie wanted the food to reflect her southern heritage and the bountiful harvest of the Lancaster region. She also wanted the food service to include beautiful displays and professional service. Gina and her staff exceeded our expectations in every way. So many of our guests commented on the wonderful freshness, quality and presentation of the food! Family and friends were thrilled with the fried chicken and variety of food items at our Southern Station. David even prepared a small plate of fried okra for the bride because she mentioned it was one of her favorite foods. Mollie loved it! The Southern Station was only one part of the extensive menu they designed specifically for us. From the unique hors d’oeuvres and variety of selections on the stations to the special setup for the main bar, this event was designed specifically for us. The entire staff was wonderful all evening and took care of every guest's needs. They were hard working, friendly, and professional. Gina works very hard at coordinating her staff and addresses all of the unique aspects of the venue. Everyone works as a team and no detail is left unattended. The staff operates effectively because of Gina’s leadership and their respect for her ability to run a flawless event. A wedding is a special time for family and friends. Gina, David and the Food For Thought Catering staff are special people who don’t just work for you that day but become a part of the memories of a lifetime. We are forever grateful for the love and care they gave Mollie and Mark, our family and friends in creating such a beautiful day. Burt and Kim Shell
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I just wanted to thank you for all of your help with All-Star Night. You went above and beyond, and I am so grateful for that. I can’t even tell you how many guests were raving about the food! Everything was absolutely perfect! You are absolutely fantastic to work with--thanks for helping to make the night such a success. I absolutely loved the food, the work ethic, and everything in between of Food For Thought Catering! I will thank Phil on your behalf, and mine, too! Whenever you get the chance, I would LOVE to see the pictures! I would also love the gift certificate. I’m sure I can use it toward a future event (especially now that I’m hooked on FFTC!
Thanks again, for everything!!!
Nicole Specht | Director of Community Relations SouthEast Lancaster Health Services, Inc.
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I am the banquet manager at Legacy Ballroom. I had a task when I took on this position; it was to choose a caterer I wanted to represent our ballroom and all that Legacy stood for. I knew it was important to take on a caterer that embodied all that Legacy embodied so that we could become the perfect match. Like Legacy Ballroom, I wanted a caterer that was full service and knew the importance of bending over backwards to please their clients. I wanted a caterer that had the thought of “there are not problems, only solutions”… “nothing is too much to ask”… “we aim to please.” That is the motto of Legacy Ballroom and we had to have a “perfect marriage”…so I chose Food For Thought Catering and found all that I was hoping for. Now after almost 4 years of working with Gina D’Ambrosio, owner of Food For Thought Catering, I can tell you from experience that she is the BEST and is everything I envisioned.
When an event is catered by Food for Thought Catering, I can always be sure that things will be executed perfectly. I can be assured that clients are treated with the upmost respect and from beginning to end they are pleased with the service that Gina provides. The host/hostess is the most important aspect of the event and everything that they are “all about” will be represented. The appearance of the food/bar will be nothing less than perfect; the service staff will be professional, polite and helpful. Guests will “rave” about the delicious food for weeks after the event is over.
I hope this information is helpful to you and you will give yourself the opportunity to have the best catering experience from start to finish…Food For Thought Catering!
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