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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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Monday, Aug 10 | 8:15am
Blue Plate Commissary Tour
Location: Blue Plate Production Kitchen & Headquarters
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Tour
Monday, Aug 10 | 8:30am
Breakfast is Served!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Breakfast
Monday, Aug 10 | 9:05am
Catering Industry Insights: Addressing Key Challenges & Opportunities
Moderator: Robin Selden  (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering)
Panelists: Donnie Madia  (One Off Hospitality), Missy Wright Scroggins  (Blue Plate Chicago), Richard Carter  (North Carolina Museum of Art/ Catering Works), Joanne Purnell  (Good Gracious Events)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Monday, Aug 10 | 10:10am
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 10:45am
Morning Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Monday, Aug 10 | 11:00am
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 11:45am
Lunch & Learn Intro
Speaker: Matthew Wilde  (Blue Plate Chicago)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Discussion with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Monday, Aug 10 | 12:00pm
Lunch & Learn: Hot Time, Summer in the City!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Lunch & Networking
Monday, Aug 10 | 12:30pm
Blue Plate Commissary Tour
Location: Blue Plate Production Kitchen & Headquarters
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Tour
Monday, Aug 10 | 1:00pm
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 1:40pm
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 2:25pm
Afternoon Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Monday, Aug 10 | 2:40pm
Smoothie Sleuth: The Ultimate Ingredient Challenge
Speaker: Jay Varga  (The JDK Group)
Facilitator: Jason Sutton  (Footers Catering)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Discussion with Tasting
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Monday, Aug 10 | 3:05pm
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 4:00pm
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
Monday, Aug 10 | 4:50pm
Opening Reception
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Techniques
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 8:15am
Blue Plate Commissary Tour
Location: Blue Plate Production Kitchen & Headquarters
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Tour
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 8:30am
Breakfast is Served!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Breakfast
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 9:05am
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
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 10:00am
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
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 10:45am
Morning Break
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Session Includes: Networking Break
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 11:00am
Innovating the Plate: Research & Development Strategies for Modern Catering Chefs
Moderator: Robin Selden  (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering)
Panelists: Karen O'Connor  (Daniel et Daniel Catering), Jay Varga  (The JDK Group), Adam Moore  (Flashpoint Innovation), Nettie Frank  (Chef Nettie Frank)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 11:45am
Lunch & Learn Intro
Speaker: Matthew Wilde  (Blue Plate Chicago)
Location: Blue Plate/Allium Rooftop
Track: Culinary Trends
Session Includes: Discussion
Affiliated Associations: Leading Caterers of America member
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 12:00pm
Lunch & Learn: Chicago Neighborhoods, Catering Style!
Location: Blue Plate Rooftop Patio
Track: Culinary Trends, Culinary Techniques
Session Includes: Lunch & Networking
Tuesday, Aug 11 | 12:30pm
Blue Plate Commissary Tour
Location: Blue Plate Production Kitchen & Headquarters
Track: Culinary Operations, Culinary Technology
Session Includes: Tour