Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

FAC Event Caterers

The Fine Arts Center has partnered with the following caterers who are exclusively approved to provide food and beverage service for events in our facilities. Please contact one or all three for more information about their service or to request a proposal.

AMUZÉ AT THE FAC • 719.477.3777

All Amuzé chefs are trained in classical French techniques and apply regional ingredients whenever possible. Chef William Sherman, who was trained in the Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, will be joined in the kitchen by his Chef de Cuisine Kelly Shearwood, who received her culinary training at Rotherham College of Arts & Technology in England. Shearwood's experience includes eight years at the esteemed Broadmoor Resort's Penrose Room, Par Avion and The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs.

“We craft food from an artistic perspective," explains Chef Sherman. "When we consider any item on our menu, the first requirement is, it has to taste fantastic. We are very much into food architecture, the depth and the color. For us, food is art.”

THE FOOD DESIGNERS • 719.632.5414

Food Designers has been a staple in the Colorado Springs catering landscape since 1984. Andrew and Heather Darrigan bought the company in 2005. Andrew Darrigan is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York. Immediately after graduation, he worked at Bolo in Manhattan under the supervision and tutelage of nationally acclaimed chef Bobby Flay. The Gazette named Food Designers “Best Caterer” in its 2006, 2007 and 2008 Best of the Springs guides, saying, “Superb cuisine - from a simple boxed lunch to an elegant dinner party - sets this enterprise apart. And the owners make everything from scratch.”

“We are looking forward to working with the Fine Arts Center and the other two catering companies,” said Heather Darrigan. “We really wanted the opportunity to work in the best venue in town; the Fine Arts Center is such an amazing facility.”

PICNIC BASKET • 719.635.0200

Named the “Best Caterer” in Colorado Springs by the Independent for 13 straight years (1995-2007), the Picnic Basket Catering Company offers Fine Arts Center patrons three distinct menu options from its catering family: Buffalo Gals Grilling Company, featuring New West BBQ; five-star catering from Cravings, and portable feasts from Picnic Basket. The Independent wrote, “Besides the quality of food and service, (the undefeated streak) must have a lot to do with the depth of the business and a trusted staff. (Michelle Talarico and Kathy Dreiling) have created a local food dynasty. We’re the lucky subjects.”

“The three caterers selected by the Fine Arts Center offer a huge array of high quality food, service and price options,” said Michelle Talarico, co-founder of Picnic Basket. “All of us are truly passionate about this community and especially how the Fine Arts Center fits into that community.”