Editor's Note: This is part 4 in our State of the Industry 2024 series.

People on the Move

Pizza is consistently a cost-effective and convenient crowd pleaser at events

Growing up in a El Salvadoran household, zero waste wasn’t a trend, it was a part of life for Michelle Lainez. Now, as the owner of the Los Angeles catering company Chef Michelle & Company, Lainez is a strong advocate for zero waste and conscious eating. Chef Michelle & Co. provides indoor and outdoor catering and event planning for intimate dinners, grand celebrations and everything in between. The goal is creating magical environments for memorable events. “My cooking aesthetic is generally rustic. I try to use natural elements, textures and splashes of color,” she says.  Lainez's style suits today’s catering climate where people are choosing rustic hors d’oeuvres boards over pricier passed small bites to start a meal. “Maybe because it’s a voting year, but I have found that everyone is on a budget more than ever,” she says. “There has definitely been a bigger shift to buffet style service from plated dinner service.”   In the spirit of living healthy in the New Year, Lainez makes a healthy, flavor-popp...