Birchtree Catering is a small, woman-owned company started by Allegra Derengowski and Rasa Stirbys Benefico, two friends that met as waitresses and began their company in 2008. We focus on local sourcing, seasonal menus, and scratch cooking in our kitchen in Philadelphia, PA. Our waste is composted and recycled in our kitchen and at events, and we choose sustainable options whenever feasible.
When Birchtree began catering in 2008, we were inspired by the bounty that local farms and markets had to offer. We value the close relationships we’ve built with our local farmers, artisans, and vendors – and our clients can taste the difference! We are proud of our scratch kitchen, where much of our food — from ricotta and jams to bread and pasta — is made in house. Our dishes are made with care and from whole ingredients, guaranteeing fresh and unique seasonal flavors.
All dairy, cheeses, eggs and meats are locally sourced. Fruits, vegetables and herbs are sourced locally whenever possible, and all other produce is low or no-spray from small farms in the U.S. Our seafood has been carefully selected for sustainability and quality.
As part of our commitment to environmental responsibility, Birchtree has partnered with a commercial composter. Recycling and composting at events allows us to adhere to our one trash bag policy.
We built our brand slowly by using rental kitchens, hosting tastings in our homes, and growing relationships with vendors and farmers. Today our commissary kitchen is located inside Globe Dye Works in Frankford, Philadelphia, and we remain a small business with a dedicated staff, limited events per weekend, and a strong commitment to every client. Our team was honored to win 2015’s “Best of Philly” for Party Food, we are listed in Philadelphia’s Good Food Caterers Guide, and our food quality standards have been recognized by Grid Magazine, the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia, The Chamber of Commerce, The Knot Magazine and Philadelphia Wedding Magazine.
Where we source:
This fall we were honored to win the Chamber of Commerce ImpactPHL Award. This goes to a business
The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) is a non-profit organization founded by the City of Philadelphia and the Chamber of Commerce in 1958 to support small business and development within the city. Birchtree was lucky enough to be part of their loan program in 2016. Read about our growth journey on their blog.
In this Interview with owner Allegra Derengowski on weddingventure.com, she shares her passion for wedding catering and has a few tips for picking the right vendors and service styles for the reception.
“Early this summer, we had the honor of being welcomed onto Caitlin’s family farm – a location her and Jason knew intimately – to document them saying nice things to one another and kick off their marriage celebrating alongside close family and friends. It was the perfect summer day and between playing with their dog, to mingling with guests during cocktail hour, we would happily be apart of this type of wedding every day if we could. A modern backyard farm wedding could not be more enjoyable or fun.” -Pat Furey
We love recommending other local small businesses for all of your event needs like desserts, photography, music, design, planning, and vintage and specialty rentals. We list some of our favorites here that deliver exceptional quality, and during your planning process we can curate a list that fits your vision.
