Flying Star Launches Catering Division

Flying Star is stepping up its catering game.
The locally owned café chain on Thursday announced its new catering division, an upgrade that includes an expanded catering menu and online ordering option.
Customers have been able to buy Flying Star food for events and gatherings in the past, but the new division means there is a more organized system in place to meet the demand.
“Before we just sort of did it,” CEO Jean Bernstein said. “Now we’re putting a concerted effort into it to make sure the service is flawless and the execution is consistent.”
The catering menu includes some group-friendly orders of familiar Flying Star items, like the “Graburitto Box,” a selection of miniature breakfast burritos served with salsa and chile. (A small order — designed to serve eight — costs $49.99.)
The menu also includes a variety of salad bowls with enough food for 12, and a build-your-own sandwich box packed with a selection of veggie and meat options.
Dessert choices include miniature sweets by the dozen. (An order of 12 small caramel cream puffs runs $29.99.)
The food will be prepared fresh at individual Flying Star locations, Bernstein said.
Flying Star will package the food in catering-specific containers and provide delivery.
The new division created two new jobs within the company, according to Bernstein.
“We hope to grow it, but I think it’s a nice, modest, reasonable start,” she said.
January has been a busy month for Flying Star and its sister company, Satellite Coffee.
As I reported last week, the eight-location Satellite chain is in the process of changing its look and menu. The coffeehouse at 1131 University NE is the first to be upgraded. It closed for a few days earlier this week to implement the changes.
Bernstein also has said she plans to begin franchising Satellite Coffee by the end of 2013.
“We’ve had a lot of interest in Satellite over the years, and I think it’s a great way to grow and it’s a very efficient model,” she said. “We’re making sure before we do go out there that all the details are in place, so the culture and details are as top quality as we would do it ourselves.”