ICA CATIE Awards

In 2004, the ICA created the CATIE Award. For the first time the events industry had an awards contest focused only on categories for the catering industry. The CATIEs – Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence – grew quickly. Open to all caterers, not just ICA members, today the CATIEs receive hundreds of entries from around the world.

Caterers compete in 15 categories including Best Signature Event and Best Signature Wedding – events totally designed and produced by a catering firm to reflect the increased role of caterers as event producers. The award’s biggest honor is Chef of the Year which has now been held by some of the top catering chefs in the world.

The award ceremony is held during the Catersource Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas and is always a showcase for the latest in catering, design and event ideas. Past CATIEs have featured a family-style lobster dinner that was both elegant and rustic, crowd-sourcing a dessert using social media, and a presentation of such “next big things” as floating dessert bars and salad libraries.

In 2010, for the 2009 CATIE Awards honoring events that occurred in that year, the ICA took the entry process online, a move that garnered more entries than ever before. This year the online entry process is open from November 1, 2010 to January 15, 2011. The 2010 CATIE Awards and Gala will be held in Las Vegas during Catersource which begins February 27, 2011.

For more information, please go to www.internationalcaterers.org