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Art of Catering Food
August 10-11, 2026
Allium Rooftop by Blue Plate CateringChicago, IL
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AOCF Conference Schedule 2026

Fresh ideas, expert techniques, and real-world strategies to help chefs and caterers create unforgettable catering experiences. With this Session Scheduler, you can build your schedule in advance and access it during the show via export or with the Mobile App, once live.

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Aug 10 Monday | 8:30 am
Breakfast is Served!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Breakfast
Aug 10 Monday | 9:05 am
Catering Industry Insights: Addressing Key Challenges and Opportunities
Moderator: Robin Selden  (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Aug 10 Monday | 10:10 am
Pastry with Purpose: Savory, Sweet, and Seasonal Innovation
Speakers: Annie Pennings Edmond  (Chowgirls), Andrea Schenk  (Chowgirls)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Culinary Demo with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: International Caterers Association member
Aug 10 Monday | 10:45 am
Morning Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Aug 10 Monday | 11:00 am
Designing One-of-a-Kind Menus for Unique Events
Speakers: Karen O'Connor  (Daniel et Daniel Catering), Joanne Purnell  (Good Gracious Events)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Culinary Demo with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: International Caterers Association member
Aug 10 Monday | 12:00 pm
Lunch & Learn
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Lunch & Networking
Aug 10 Monday | 1:40 pm
The Catering Culinary Engine: Structuring Teams That Deliver
Speaker: Thach (pronounced as Ta) Tran  (Footers Catering)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: International Caterers Association member
Aug 10 Monday | 2:25 pm
Afternoon Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Aug 10 Monday | 3:35 pm
From Blueprint to Wow Factor: Executing High-Stakes, Large-Scale Off-Premise Catering
Speaker: Nina Love  (A.B.E Hospitality Group)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations
Session Includes: Discussion
Aug 11 Tuesday | 8:30 am
Breakfast is Served!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Breakfast
Aug 11 Tuesday | 9:05 am
What's in Your Larder? The Hidden Foundations of Culinary Creativity
Speaker: Richard Carter  (North Carolina Museum of Art/ Catering Works)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Techniques, Culinary Operations
Session Includes: Discussion with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: International Caterers Association member
Aug 11 Tuesday | 10:00 am
From Kitchen to Canvas: Designing Immersive Food Experiences That Guests Never Forget
Speaker: Gregory Taylor  (Chef Greg Taylor & Co.)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Operations
Aug 11 Tuesday | 10:45 am
Morning Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Aug 11 Tuesday | 11:00 am
The Hidden Kitchen: How Lean Thinking and Practice Unlocks Flow, Consistency, and Profit!
Speaker: Roy Porter  (Engage Works)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Discussion
Aug 11 Tuesday | 12:00 pm
Lunch & Learn
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Lunch & Networking
Aug 11 Tuesday | 12:55 pm
Southern Soul, Global Palate: Crafting International Hors d'Oeuvres from the American South
Speakers: Devin Brunelli  (HL Catering Company LLC), Houston Loper  (HL Catering Company)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Techniques, Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Culinary Demo with Tasting
Aug 11 Tuesday | 1:45 pm
Fire It Up: How Wood-Fired Pizza Became Our Secret Catering Weapon
Speaker: Tim Mitchell  (Mangia Catering)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Aug 11 Tuesday | 2:30 pm
Afternoon Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Aug 11 Tuesday | 3:15 pm
Menus That Perform: Lessons Learned Catering to Pro Athletes
Speaker: Robbie Wood  (Superfd Performance Nutrition)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Operations
Session Includes: Discussion
Aug 11 Tuesday | 4:10 pm
Feather + Field: Modern Butchery + Catering Scalability
Speakers: Jeremy Langemann  (Bingemans Hospitality Inc.), Adam Carroll  (Bingemans Hospitality Inc.)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Techniques, Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Culinary Demo with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: International Caterers Association member
Aug 11 Tuesday | 4:15 pm
Luxury in Layers: Elevating Comfort Food into High-Revenue Experiences
Speaker: Chris Taylor  (Chris Evans Events & Catering)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Techniques, Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Culinary Demo with Tasting