Aug. 31, 2010 - Issue #776: The Gaslight Anthem

White gloved

Jasper Ave eatery an outgrowth of succesful catering business

On 105 Street just north of Jasper Ave there is a sign for The Butler Did It. It's likely you have walked by and never noticed it, or like many others, you have looked up and assumed the shop was nothing more than a fancy kitchen gadget store. Those who venture inside are surprised to learn they can order a designer lunch from one of Edmonton's most creative caterers.
Marianne Brown is behind The Butler mystery. She's not trained as a chef, but she has a passion for food that has motivated her into creating a colourful culinary service. The Butler Did It has been catering in Edmonton for 10 years, but the quiet spot on 105 Street has only been its home for the last five. Originally designed to give a personal touch to the catering scene in Edmonton, Brown takes an intimate approach designed for events smaller than 100 people—everything from private dinners to intimate anniversaries to divorce parties.
"There is a lot of bad party food out there," explains Brown. "I wanted to make simple yet delicious and pretty food that doesn't come served on a black tray." Her distinct serving style using creative dishes have made a mark on her clients. So many asked where she bought them from that she started making them available by selling dishes and creative kitchen and food items on site.
The Butler Did It is not average and neither are its catering prices, but there are clients throughout the city who are loyal and more than willing to pay for The Butler experience. While the recipes are simple, Brown relies on quality ingredients paired with a whimsical presentation to satisfy her patrons. One of their most popular cocktail party options is the filet mignon martini dinner in a glass. Preparing the simple yet delicious menu choices are the easy part, it's packing and unpacking all of the designer dishes that take up the most time and space.
"I have taken a few courses, but I am mainly a self-taught passionate food girl," laughs Brown. "I like to serve what I like to eat; the ingredients are common, the recipes aren't complex—I just add a bit of theatre to the mix. I use unusual dishes to make the food more interesting, it requires some heavy duty packing but it is worth it."

With the change in the economy, Brown realized that she had to adjust her business; the storefront concept for lunch became a reality. With so many people looking for lunch in the downtown core, The Butler has become a staple to a number of regular customers. Lunch orders now makes up 30 percent of The Butler's business.
"I was so focused on catering that I didn't need the walk up," explains Brown. "But sometimes we all have to modify our business and I realized that with 10 000 people working within five blocks of this location I had an opportunity to diversify and expose a new client base to our catering service by serving lunch."
For those looking for a quick bite of lunch, calling your take-out order in advance is recommended. Good food takes time, and sometimes it takes a few extra minutes when it is served on an extra pretty plate. The lunch experience is loyal to the catering The Butler Did It offers; quality ingredients which make up delicious dishes served in a whimsical way. Sometimes, food just tastes better when it looks pretty. V

Marianne Brown
The Butler Did It
10130 - 105 St, 780.455.5228
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