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Cru Catering | 1784 Harmon Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29405
843.534.2433 | info@crucatering.com | sales kit | site credits

Cru Cafe Blog The Cellar Event Inquiry Form

ABOUT
CRU CATERING

Cru Catering, a subsidiary of Your Chef, Inc., offers full-service customized catering, including in house personal chefs, meetings, receptions and private parties. More than just a catering service, Cru Catering offers access to experts and culinary authorities who assist in creating the most perfect foods for any occasion. Cru Catering Corrdinates pre-planned menus for groups from 2 to 2,000 people; everything from take-out brunch, lunch and dinners to on-site hors d’oeurves and multiple course meals.

Cru Catering | 1784 Harmon Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29405
843.534.2433 | info@crucatering.com | site credits

Click here to visit :: Cru Cafe

John Zucker
Executive Chef & Owner
Cru Catering & Cru Cafe
843.534.2433 | john@crucatering.com

"When it comes to food, I like to play the field," says John Zucker, owner of the Cru Catering and Cru Cafe. "That's what makes the combination of a catering business and a restaurant perfect for me - I can't be loyal to just one genre."

Formerly executive chef for Sonoma Cafe and Wine Bar in Charleston, today John Zucker is one of the most sought-after restaurant consultants in the Southeast. He returned to Charleston ten years ago to open Cru Catering, a full-service, customized catering company - and opened Cru Cafe, featuring upscale comfort food, eight years ago.

Zucker has served as a restaurant consultant for McCrady's Restaurant, 39 Rue de Jean and Fish, in Charleston, SC, and Nona's Italian Kitchen in Atlanta.

Zucker's background is what makes his expertise so valuable to would-be restaurateurs and restaurant-goers alike. The #1 graduate of his class from the Cordon Bleu in Paris, Zucker has twenty-five years experience in the hospitality industry. At one time or another, he has held virtually every job in a restaurant - he literally knows the business inside out.

Following graduation from the Cordon Bleu, Zucker studied under Wolfgang Puck at Spago in Las Vegas, NV, where he adopted Puck's rigid standards, "Do it right and use the best possible ingredients." From there, he became sous chef for the opening of Canoe, which was nominated "Best New Restaurant of the Year," by the James Beard Society. A long list of consulting jobs followed.

"I've coordinated catering at all the restaurants where I've worked," says Zucker, "One of my favorite things about being a chef is working directly with people - sitting down one-on-one to create a custom menu that is interesting and innovative.

Today, Zucker spends most of his time focusing on the restaurant and catering business, which feature Eclectic Modern American Cuisine (so called because of the Italian, Asian, Southern, Southwestern and Caribbean influences).

Shawn Sorenson Sous Chef shawn@crucatering.com	Chef Shawn Sorenson
	Background :: COMING SOON

Matt McDonough Sous Chef brian@crucatering.com	Matt McDonough
	Background ::COMING SOON

Brian Parkhurst Sous Chef brian@crucatering.com	Brian Parkhurst
	Background :: COMING SOON

Chad Rhodes
Catering Director

chad@crucatering.com

CHAD RHODES

Background :: COMING SOON

Jenny Early
Catering Director

jenny@crucatering.com

Jenny Early

Background ::

Jenny Early developed her love for event coordination while attending the Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality. After graduation, Jenny followed her heart to Charleston and excelled as Food & Beverage Manager at the Daniel Island Club.

In 2007, Jenny hired Cru Catering for her own wedding, and was so impressed with their creativity and energy that she developed an instant relationship with the company and joined the crew shortly after. As Catering Director with Cru, Jenny shines in her abilities and devotion to creating lasting memories for every member of every event.

Emily Fralinger
Catering Director

emily@crucatering.com

Emily Fralinger

Background ::Spending most of her life exploring the diverse cuisines of the North East, Emily fell in love with food at an early age. Realizing this, she quickly dove head first into the Hospitality Industry where she experienced the food and beverage world from the ground up. To further her education as well as to experience a cuisine unfamiliar to her own she moved to Charleston where she attended the College of Charleston. Graduating with a double major in Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management Emily knew she wanted to be involved in Charleston’s Hospitality Industry.

After four years of furthering her food and beverage experience in the Charleston area, she was introduced to Chef Zucker, and took a position as Catering Manager with Cru Catering. Fascinated by the modern cuisine, fresh ingredients, and phenomenal chefs that Cru has to offer, Emily’s love for the catering industry continues to grow daily.

Cru Catering | 1784 Harmon Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29405
843.534.2433 | info@crucatering.com | sales kit | site credits

Cru Cafe Blog The Cellar Event Inquiry Form