Exceptional Catering by Kind People.
Exceptional catering might feel like magic, but’s really just what happens when experience, care, and heart come together. From running a small stand in Reading Terminal Market 40 years ago to becoming Philadelphia’s caterer, our story at 12th Street Catering isn’t just about food. It’s a story about how combining exceptional cuisine, setting, and service can turn moments into memories. We’ve served the Philadelphia region with pride and joy in equal measure over the past 4 decades, watching menus become meals and clients become friends. None of that is possible without you, the reason why we go above and beyond every day. We cook with kindness, plate with passion, and execute with expertise.So, from all of us at 12th Street — thank you. As long as there are occasions worth gathering for, we’ll stand ready to serve. Whether it’s for a big event or your Big Day, reach out to us when you want to set the table for something extraordinary—we’ll have a seat ready for you.
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With love,
Michele,
Founder & Principal
We strive to be the heartbeat of every gathering. Where food, setting, and service combine to create unforgettable experiences.
Pushing the boundaries of traditional catering takes a different approach. To create extraordinary culinary experiences, we need to do extraordinary things—the kinds of things that we’ve been doing since our founding in 1982.
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We are one family serving many. We’re always there for each other. We respond quickly, we act dependably. Unlike other catering companies, our people tend to stick with us for years, making for an uncommonly strong team that knows how to create unforgettable client experiences. Meet the people of 12th Street Catering.
Michele Leff has dedicated over 40 years to the culinary world, with the founding of 12th Street Catering as one of the most rewarding chapters of her career. Her journey began in 1982 when she opened 12th Street Cantina in Reading Terminal Market, which would become the spark that ignited her love for food and service.
Today, with a 32,000 square foot facility and a devoted team of 365 employees, 12th Street Catering creates an unmatched catering experience that features an in-house bakery, full kitchen, apiary, private garden, and menu tasting room. A graduate of Temple University, Michele continuously reinvents 12th Street Catering to meet client needs, providing high-quality, innovative cuisine for events throughout the Philadelphia region.
Michele’s mission has always been to offer love-forward cuisine that brings people together and expands what they know about good food. Today, that mission stays alive through everything 12th Street Catering does.
Catering is the gift that allows people to be present. Our work has the power to bring people together, creating memories, conversations, and common ground among us.
Love is one ingredient never in short supply at our company. To us, kindness means to listen, to care, and to go above and beyond for the people we serve.
Any trained chef can cook a meal. We believe in doing more, from applying creativity and inspiration to design cuisine for our clients that uncovers what’s possible with food.
We’re constantly inventing and executing new ways to stay ahead of the curve for a more sustainable world. The future of food depends on it.
No matter how large we grow, we owe our success to the place we call home. We’re passionate about giving back to our community through philanthropy and volunteering.
Our clients’ special moments deserve nothing less than our complete dedication. You can rely on us to always take pride in being a dependable partner who is eager to go the extra mile.
We’re a proud Philadelphia-based company that takes inspiration from and gives back to the community we call home. As part of our efforts to give back to the city that’s given us so much, 12th Street is involved in community and philanthropic initiatives close to our heart; supporting children, animals, and the environment.
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We are the only award-winning catering company in Philadelphia. It’s a core part of our everyday philosophy, influencing everything from our choice of ingredients, how we recycle & compost, the products we serve, to the organizations we partner with. Explore our commitment to sustainability here.
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Ready to get started? Fill out this form or give us a call. We’ll save a seat for you at our table.
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