SPOKANE, Wash. - Four brides and grooms are set to tie the knot this weekend in the Inland Northwest but there's just one problem: there are no caterers, no food, and in some cases, no wedding cake. KHQ First brought you this story Tuesday night. KHQ Local News found local catering company, Puttin' On The Ritz, was shut down by the IRS just days before they were supposed to cater the four weddings.
Over the next several months up to 30 couples might be without a caterer.
But there is a silver lining. After hearing about our story,several local caterers, chefs and baking companies stepped up to help turn a nightmare back into that dream wedding. Inside Tina Bishop's restaurant, the Luxury Box, a group of caterers, chefs and food marketers put their heads together to salvage meals for brides-to-be that were suddenly left in the lurch.
"That's awful so, you know, I think it's something that Spokane has always been there for the community," Carol Stevens said, a Sysco marketing representative who's helping organize the weddings. "Everyone is kind of stepping up to see what we can do."
Stevens and the team are calling in any favors they can from anyone who can help. Wednesday, food already began to pour in.
"We've got some raw turkey breast that can be cooked up. We've got chickens, we've got the ham that are being donated, we have cheese coming," Stevens said.
Across town on S. Washington Street, Evan Hughes, owner of Apple Spice Junction was prepping too after he got a call from a devastated bride this week.
"It was emotional, thinking if this had happened to me how would I feel?" Hughes said. It's one of the worst things imaginable happening."
That particular bride did not want to make a comment to the media pending closure of the case but Hughes was confident he would still provide a beautiful meal.
"We'll do everything we can to make sure that her special day doesn't get ruined," he said "She'll be covered."
And as time ticks down, these good samaritans tied up loose ends so the happy couples could tie the knot.
Plenty more people have generously come forward to donate food, materials and services. We've compiled a list of all the people who contacted KHQ:
RESOURCES:
The Luxury Box Restaurant & Catering
Tina Bishop
The Luxury Box is an all-inclusive restaurant, lounge and event center that specializes in events, catering, spirits, food, and entertainment.
Tina's organizing various weddings affected by Puttin' on the Ritz including catering, menus, servers, and more.
She can be reached at 509-496-7953
http://www.theluxurybox.net/
Touch of Country Catering:
Contact Patty at (509) 999-7873 or (509) 291-3016
http://www.atouchofcountry.info/
Apple Spice Junction Catering:
Evan & Emmy Hughes
(509) 456-2162 or (509) 570-2314
evan@applespice.com
www.applespice.com/spokane.htm
Zag Dining by Sodexo:
"We cater all the events & weddings on Gonzaga's Campus as well as Bozarth and are available for outside catering as well."
Marketing Manager
Sarah Clifford
Contact Marketing Manager Sarah Clifford at (509) 313 6936 or (509) 991 2231
sarah.clifford@sodexo.com
Carolyn's Cake & Candy Supplies:
"Would be able to help with would be to supply some wedding cakes for brides that have been affected by the sudden closure of Puttin' on the Ritz. Carolyn's would donate the supplies and one of our decorating instructors, Sheri, would donate her time and skills to make and decorate cakes. Sheri also has her own sugar sculpture business and has been decorating cakes for years. The size of the cakes would not be a problem, but a specific design may need to be adjusted in order to get it done in a very short period of time. It would have to be on a case by case basis.
Contact: michele@carolyns.comcastbiz.net or Sheri Noble @ 499-3667 or sugarshacksculptures@yahoo.com
Julie Turner:
Offering services to cook for the weddings.
(208) 691-6954
If you would like to add your company or services to this list, please email dan@khq.com or q6news@khq.com.
Skip Lewis
Retired cook & bartender willing to help out with the weddings.
509-624-2401
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