Preparing delicious food comes naturally to Shelly Frala, owner of Fancy Fare Catering, LLC. She’s been winning awards for her baked goods since she was just a little girl, taking home top 4-H honors at the local and state levels.

Whether she’s making Homemade Oatmeal Rolls using her sought-after “secret family recipe,” or preparing Fancy Fare Catering’s original-recipe chicken enchiladas, Shelly sets the bar high when it comes to delighting her catering clients with personal service and remarkably tasty dishes.

No “plain white napkins” here

Shelly is serious when she says “Fancy Fare Catering is all about you.” No matter what your occasion or event, the one-on-one planning and impeccable customer service Fancy Fare provides are second only to the incredibly savory foods prepared in the Fancy Fare kitchen.

The Fancy Fare menu includes many “original recipe” dishes, such as taco soup, sirloin tips served over buttered noodles, beef stew and their always-popular chicken strips – marinated, hand-breaded and baked to golden brown perfection. Add to that Fancy Fare’s long list of specialty desserts - from black forest brownies and Oreo mousse to pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing – and the most difficult part of serving your guests will be deciding which delectable dishes to choose.

“I really like to add a personal touch when I cater special events,” Shelly said. “Whether it’s a centerpiece, special napkins or greenery, I always try to incorporate a little something special. I work with my clients to coordinate the food presentation with their decorations.”

“Drop-off” catering clients also enjoy special treatment, such as serving trays and napkins that are consistent with the occasion or the season. “Plain white napkins” are not on Fancy Fare’s menu of services.

Customer service doesn’t end when the table is cleared. As part of her ongoing quality assurance program, Shelly makes follow-up phone calls to new clients, or when she serves a new dish. “If there ever is a problem, my clients know to call me,” Shelly said.

Catering to her clients

Where many other caterers may stop, Fancy Fare takes pride in offering more. There are several areas where Shelly goes the extra mile to cater to her customers.

“I try to work with everybody in terms of their budget,” Shelly said. “That’s why I don’t put a lot of prices on my website.” Fancy Fare doesn’t confine their clients to generic menus or meals. “They tell me what they want, and I work with them to personalize their menu. They can pick and choose. It really is all about the customer.”

Shelly has even gone so far as to tweak a client’s old family recipe that had lost some of its appeal. “She didn’t like the traditional sweet potato casserole, so we created a new dish for her,” Shelly said.
 

Shelly's home-made rolls are a big hit with all her clients.

Shelly’s willingness to work with clients is one of the things that sets Fancy Fare Catering apart from other catering companies. When working with a client to plan an event, Shelly listens to what the client wants, then offers her expertise and guidance to enhance the customer’s choices.

“I pay close attention to things like the colors of the foods and making sure there aren’t too many starches,” Shelly said.

It’s not unusual for Shelly and her staff to spend more than 20 hours on a special event, from first call to clean-up. “A lot of planning goes into an event before food preparation even begins,” Shelly said.

Taking customer service a step further, Fancy Fare added rental of certain items to their menu of services. Clients can rent essentials such as warming trays, drink containers, glasses and silverware for their special events, eliminating the need to purchase items that may only be used once.

Quality is key ingredient

Fancy Fare always uses fresh ingredients, purchased locally whenever possible. In season, Shelly grows her own garden and uses vegetables hand-picked at the time of preparation.

“We use all fresh ingredients,” Shelly said. “We use fresh turkeys. Our potato dishes are made from real potatoes. We marinate and hand-bread our chicken strips, and bake them the morning of the event. Very rarely do we use any processed foods.

“Even if it means we have to make an extra trip, we use the freshest ingredients,” Shelly explained. “That’s why we ask for 48 hours notice to prepare for an event.”

Family, community are high priority

With a 17-year teaching career under her belt, it’s no surprise that Shelly is a regular supporter of the Smithville School District, where her daughter and son are students.

“I’m a sucker for just about anything the school does,” Shelly said. “I like to be involved in the community, and try to support local organizations and businesses. My husband, Lance, and I believe in getting our kids involved in school and community activities with us.”

Shelly not only uses local vendors whenever possible, she also partners with local business owners such as Meghan Godsy, owner and operator of Extreme Cakes. Shelly coordinates with Meghan when a Fancy Fare client requests a specialty decorated cake for a bridal shower, birthday or other special occasion.

Shelly’s mother, Betty Spencer, plays several important roles in the business. In addition to her “home cooking” style of food preparation – which has enhanced Fancy Fare’s list of “original recipe offerings” – Betty is a master at designing and setting up table displays and centerpieces. “I may have an idea in my head, but she can bring it to life,” Shelly said.

Sandra Toates, Betty’s cousin, also spends a lot of time in the Fancy Fare kitchen. Other staffers include three part-time delivery persons, a baker who helps out during busy times and holidays, and several employees who help out as needed. Shelly also tries to offer opportunities to area college students during the summer.

Attention to detail

Flavorful fare and satisfied clients aren’t the only areas where Fancy Fare Catering excels. Shelly, her staff, and her kitchen have met all requirements of the Clay County Health Department for training and on-site inspections. Shelly is certified in food handling at the managerial level, and each of her staff members have completed the certified food handlers class through the health department. The food preparation and storage areas are inspected by health department officials on an ongoing, regular basis.

Shelly is a member of the national catering organization, Cater Source. Through their educational materials and magazine, she keeps up on new trends and gathers new ideas for food preparation and presentation.

Licensed and insured, Fancy Fare Catering is able to provide the highest level of quality catering to each of its clients.