John Calihan, founder and owner of Calihan Catering, continues to be a visionary of event development and planning. Originally an interior designer for Marshall Field's and John M. Smyth, he began to work in public relations for McCormick Place in the early 1970s. He then became a liaison for visiting dignitaries to Chicago and hosted tours in which he showed a flair for coordinating dining plans.

Working with the convention center's food service team, Calihan found himself creating innovative menus through which he soon developed a reputation for style, sensitivity and panache. After leaving McCormick Place, he became deeply involved with catering firms for whom he catered official events for Mayor Jane Byrne in her homes on the Gold Coast and in the Cabrini Green housing project.

Calihan Catering was established in 1986 and quickly developed into one of the city's top catering firms through referral. "I wanted to offer the best of both approaches: honest, creative, and delivering the best possible product served by a hand-picked staff."

Expanding to its present 20,000-square-foot location in 1998, clients include the city's most prestigious families, a host of important Chicago corporations and cultural institutions, and the City of Chicago itself. John Calihan has worked with nearly every Chicago icon — from mayors Richard J. Daley and Jane Byrne, to Phil Miller formerly of Marshall Fields and today coordinates special events with the city's doyenne of cultural affairs, Lois Weisberg.

Calihan Catering's staff of 120 not only work at the company's Goose Island headquarters, but throughout the city and suburbs at corporate foodservice locations, special events and at private parties. Professionally trained staff provides seamless service at any event. A technique called "sweep service," allows larger parties to be served without long delays between courses and expedites the serving and clearing process.

Led by a crew of function director, the wait staff — many of who have worked with Calihan for over ten years — provide unmatched and coordinated service. A fleet of discretely unmarked white trucks is available to coordinate delivery throughout the greater Chicagoland area as, well as provide any last minute requests that may arise, even during an event. By having porters who are concerned with deliveries, the waitstaff can more fully concentrate on being attentive to guests needs. This is one more way Calihan Catering is proactive in making sure events flow flawlessly every time.

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