Home delivery replaced celebrity parties for this caterer during the pandemic — for now

Over the course of its 38-year history, Mena Catering has thrown lavish bashes for Alex Rodríguez and Jennifer López, Madonna, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the Bee Gees. One late 1990s party, for Bill Gates and Microsoft employees on the sand of Miami Beach, stretched over the length of three soccer fields and served 12,000 people.

When owner Jorge Mena describes the weddings, engagement celebrations, and corporate events that his company has arranged, he conjures images of massive ice sculptures set with caviar and champagne, orchids cascading from the ceiling, bountiful stations of sweets and canapés both beautiful and delicious.

But like nearly all businesses, Mena Catering has suffered from the coronavirus pandemic.

Every party slated after March 8 canceled. In April, the company lost three weddings; two of them, fortunately, have rescheduled. A graduation party for 300 was called off.

In better times, Mena’s agenda has been booked with as many as six parties in one day — sometimes grand affairs costing half a million dollars. But in good times and bad, for Mena the most important event is always the next one. In this case, it will be an intimate wedding for 12. A masked, gloved server will pass the freshly-cooked canapés to guests at the church.

But Mena, who survived downturns after 9/11 and during the Great Recession, remains optimistic. “Maybe some things will change. People will not want to be so tight, but the social parties will continue. Who does not want to celebrate their wedding with the family present?” he said.

For now, Mena refuses to calculate the losses, preferring to focus on creative approaches. Those include meals delivered to homes.

Each morning, Mena’s commercial kitchen is busy whipping up orders for the day. Cinco de Mayo called for a special Mexican menu; the three-course Mother’s Day meal featuring a choice of salmon Wellington or short ribs sold out well in advance. Mena shares each week’s menus on the company Instagram account, with meals priced per person, four-person minimum.

The earliest deliveries of the day go to banks and corporate offices; the afternoon deliveries go to clients’ homes in Coral Gables, Pinecrest and sometimes even Weston and Miami Beach. ”We created a delivery system with four or five drivers who each have their routes,” said Mena.

Like other food entrepreneurs, Mena has found that preparing and delivering meals for homes doesn’t cover his costs. “We have asked the vendors if we can pay less and later. Some accept it and others do not,” he said. His accountant applied for relief loans but he hasn’t received any yet. He considers himself lucky that he hasn’t had to fire any of his 20 regular employees.

Though this challenge is new, Mena has had plenty of practice preparing for the unexpected and thinking on his feet. Generators have run out gas, leaving dancers without music. Food delivery trucks have broken down. Economies have ebbed.

“I am in favor of sacrificing everything and giving your art, what you have to give, unconditionally. That has been my motto not only in business but in personal relationships,” he said.

“I never think of retiring, I am always putting my finger on the pulse of the business. I have passion and that is the key.”

This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 6:00 AM.