Chef Suzanne: A Recipe for Success

The staff of Chef Suzanne Catering is anxious to move into their own space near Windermere. Pictured here are (left to right) Brooke Reeser, Vicki Smith, Dan Burns, Chef Suzanna Rockwell, Frank Roberts and Jan Schmalbach. (Not pictured, Christy Rieman)

Chef Suzanne Rockwell is gaining renowned attention throughout Indianapolis, and she continues to grow her business. After catering for many families and corporations across Indianapolis, including famous artists and musicians at the Palladium in Carmel, she and her team are celebrating the grand opening of a new facility in the Fishers/Geist area that will offer extensive catering, a private chef division and cooking classes for all ages. This brand new setting exudes a fresh, colorful, airy feeling and is located at 9623 Windermere Blvd., next to Beautopia Spa and Dowden Family Dentistry.

“First and foremost, we are a catering kitchen,” says Suzanne Rockwell, owner and head chef of Chef Suzanne. “We’re a 95 percent scratch kitchen, which means we do all the work here. Our meal selections are never frozen, only fresh, coming straight from our kitchen, not from a can.” Chef Suzanne offers personalized catering for inbound and outbound exquisite meals that can be tailored to your individual taste, budget and style. Although this newly built facility is not an actual restaurant, it will, however, offer space to host a vast array of memorable events, such as rehearsal dinners, wedding and baby showers, corporate team-building events, club events, sport banquets, birthday parties, and anniversary parties.

Private Chef Will Flex for Personal Schedule and Dietary Guidelines

Rockwell and her team create delicious meals at your convenience for delivery or pickup. Families can set up schedules without worrying about contracts. Plus they can start and stop at any time. So, for example, if a family leaves for a vacation after having been on a schedule of receiving dinner on Mondays and Wednesdays, the schedule can simply resume upon returning.

Having a private chef at your command to design superb cuisine for your preference or special diet represents an absolute luxury. Some clients may prefer prosciutto chicken cacciatore or Mexican pizza to add zest to their menu options. Some may wish to host small dinner parties or celebrate a surprise romantic dinner just for two. Yet, others may follow a dietary plan. Chef Suzanne can accommodate you with preplanned meals from Weight Watchers to the paleo diet. Many people, such as the elderly or those with medical conditions, require certain restrictions for their diet. Don’t worry; the chef will carefully create a scrumptious concoction that not only satisfies your taste buds but also your guidelines.

Some Pacers and MLB players have indulged in the private chef service. Chef Suzanne is now serving the Indy Eleven soccer team — the first pro soccer team in Indianapolis. As for all the high school and junior high sports teams, the chef can create deluxe boxed lunches with sandwiches or wraps for those going-away games.

Cooking Classes and Recipes for All Ages

“Food is artistic and pretty,” says Rockwell, who has purposely designed her new facility with a party atmosphere where it feels light, open, upbeat and fun. The cooking classes will offer a hands-on station where participants can get into the action or just sit back and observe. Yet, everyone will get to taste the fare and take the recipe home. The classes will offer chefs on staff (not just Rockwell) with different skill levels, prices and formats to meet your needs. There will even be a Kids Cooking Camp this summer! Email suzanne@chefsuzanne.com for more information.

Need a new recipe to add to your repertoire? Check out Rockwell as she appears on WTHR Channel 13 with host Scott Swan every Monday at 12:20 p.m. where she demonstrates and shares her recipes for her 13 Minute Meals.

Movin’ on up With Incredible Taste

She may be enjoying a satisfying taste of success right now, but life for Rockwell wasn’t always so glamorous. Back in 2010, Rockwell was the general manager and executive chef at the Fox Pub & Grill when suddenly its doors closed. Recognizing that the profit margins were higher in catering versus operating a restaurant, Rockwell realized she could start her own catering business. So with the help of her fellow co-workers, she launched her catering debut at the Sterrett Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison. As the staff outgrew the kitchen, it moved to the Indian Lake Golf Club in 2012. After a year, she finally realized this wasn’t a good fit with the demands of the bureaucracy. As a result, she moved to Geist Christian Church in 2013 where she was welcomed with a kind, respectful staff. Now almost six months later, she is ready to cook and cater from her very own kitchen.

“The greatest thing about our team of chefs, director of sales Jan Schmalbach and bookkeeper Brooke Reeser is that we all have a lot of fun together,” says Rockwell, who admits that her achievement is a team effort. “We work very, very hard, but we never forget to laugh with and at each other. The company would not exist without their combined talents.”

Rockwell lives in Geist and is married to her husband, Duane Rockwell. Together they have four grown children and five grandchildren. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a business degree and enjoys giving back to the community whenever possible. In looking back on her stepping stones to success, she says, “This is so rewarding because after all the hard work, moves and hours of worries, we are finally home.”

To reach Rockwell, email her at suzanne@chefsuzanne.com or go to chefsuzanne.com for more information.

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