Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Nee.
Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started in the catering business purely by “accident’. I moved to Houston from Los Angeles, California, to attend medical school. I worked as a part time cater waiter to make a little extra cash while attending school. After 2 years of schooling, I decided that medicine really wasn’t the right fit for me. After I stepped out of school, the catering company I was working for offered me a job in the office. I intended to work for a year just to figure out what’s next for me. Lo and behold, 10 years later, I was a managing partner (which turned out in name only).
In April 2009, I took a sabbatical to help take care of my mother who’s health was failing. I was told while I was leaving for the East Coast that perhaps it’d be best if I don’t return. I was to be paid what I was owed and part ways. Unfortunately, that never materialized. The business went under, assets were sold, and I never recouped financially.
My mother passed away in May 2009. I felt like a lost ship, adrift with no course of direction. I returned back to Houston in September 2009; started working for a new restaurant that opened. First as a server and then as assistant manager and then manager. All the while, I had been in contact with several old corporate clients that have become friends. I asked them, if I were to open my own catering business, would they be willing to go with me and it was a resounding yes.
A good friend of mine lend me some start up capital and I was able to open business on a small scale. As word spread that I was doing my own catering company, employees from the past contacted me and wanted to come work for me. I officially started doing catering full time in October 2010 and have been very thankful to my loyal customers in helping me grow to where I am today.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to success is always paved with bumps and pot holes. I have been very lucky that majority of my catering clientele are with the performing arts and they have been quite supportive. However, when Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017, it devastated the downtown theater district and left many of my performing arts clients seeking alternate venues to perform and didn’t leave much for catering needs. It’s been a struggle but we are hopeful that once the downtown theater district reopens September 2018, it’ll be the beginning of an upward momentum.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Elegant Events and Catering by Michael – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a full service off premise catering company (we come to your house, office, venue). We specialize in American Cuisine with a slight French influence. We have a contract with the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet to offer a 3 course seated dinner to their subscription Patron members prior to the performances at the Wortham Theater. I tried to come up with menus that represent each opera or ballet. We make 95% of our food from scratch and we’ve been told we are one of the easiest company to work with. We are flexible and willing to work with clients in all aspects. We offer great tasting food that keeps our clients coming back. I tried to stay “on trend” without falling into the hype.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Houston is a very diverse city with many different ethnic groups. Houston has a great food and beverage scene and has an amazing Performing Arts organization.
Traffic is the major complaint along with what seems like never ending road construction and the huge apartment complexes that seems to sprout up within blocks of each other.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2711 Kipling St.
Houston, Texas 77098 - Website: www.eleganteventsbymichael.com
- Phone: 713-533-9318
- Email: info@eleganteventsbymichael.com
Image Credit:
Michael Nee
