At 12th Street Catering, great ideas often begin in unexpected places.
About a year ago, Founder Michele Leff attended a dinner party where a simple summer vegetable tart made a lasting impression. The dish was vibrant, seasonal, and proof that vegetables could be every bit as exciting as a traditional entrée. Inspired by that experience, Michele brought the idea back to the culinary team and challenged them to explore what a fully vegetable-forward menu could look like.
Enter Chef Rob Hirdt, 12th Street Catering's Innovation Chef.
Known for pushing creative boundaries and developing menus that surprise and delight guests, Chef Rob took that single spark of inspiration and transformed it into a thoughtfully curated summer menu that celebrates the season's freshest flavors.
The result is one of the most unique offerings in 12th Street Catering's menu portfolio: an entirely vegetarian menu designed to showcase the beauty of seasonal produce.
While many catering menus are built around a protein-centered entrée, Chef Rob saw an opportunity to flip the script and let vegetables take center stage.
The menu was thoughtfully crafted to deliver the same depth of flavor, visual appeal, and guest satisfaction that clients expect from 12th Street Catering while highlighting the abundance of ingredients available during the summer months.
Perfect for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, garden parties, and social celebrations, this menu offers a fresh and unexpected dining experience for guests.
One of the standout features of the menu is Chef Rob's use of ingredients sourced from the 12th Street Catering garden.
Fresh herbs and seasonal produce harvested from our garden bring an added layer of freshness and authenticity to the menu. By incorporating ingredients grown on-site, Chef Rob was able to capture the essence of summer while showcasing the flavors that thrive during the season.
This garden-to-table approach reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and creating memorable culinary experiences.
Every great menu has a story.
Join Chef Rob Hirdt as he walks through the inspiration, ingredients, and creativity behind 12th Street Catering's new Summer Vegetable Menu. From herbs harvested in our garden to unique touches like pickled grapes, Chef Rob shares what makes this seasonal offering one of our most innovative menus yet.
Plus, get an up-close look at the dishes that are bringing summer flavors to life.
▶ Watch Chef Rob's Summer Vegetable Menu Reel on Instagram
Goat Cheese, Puff Pastry, Summer Herbs
The dish that inspired it all. Flaky puff pastry is layered with seasonal vegetables, creamy goat cheese, and fresh herbs for a dish that is both elegant and comforting.
Heirloom Tomatoes, Balsamic Glaze, Thyme
A savory twist on the classic French tart featuring colorful heirloom tomatoes, sweet balsamic glaze, and fragrant thyme.
Bright, crisp, and packed with flavor, these house-made pickled vegetables add texture and balance to the menu.
Red Onions & Citrus Vinaigrette
A refreshing combination of crisp fennel, citrus, and red onion tossed in a light vinaigrette.
Lime Vinaigrette
Sweet watermelon, creamy feta, and fresh mint come together in a dish that tastes like summer in every bite.
One of the menu's most talked-about elements is Chef Rob's use of pickled grapes.
The unexpected ingredient adds a bright pop of acidity and sweetness, creating a flavor profile that surprises guests and elevates the overall dining experience. It's a perfect example of Chef Rob's innovative approach to menu development—taking familiar ingredients and transforming them into something memorable.
Seasonal ingredients have always played an important role in 12th Street Catering's culinary philosophy. By embracing what is fresh, local, and abundant, Chef Rob created a menu that captures the spirit of summer while offering guests a unique and flavorful experience.
Whether served at a wedding reception, corporate gathering, nonprofit event, or private celebration, this all-vegetarian menu demonstrates that vegetables can be every bit as satisfying, sophisticated, and memorable as traditional catering fare.
We're excited to share this fresh seasonal offering with our clients and look forward to bringing the flavors of summer to events throughout the season.
Yes. 12th Street Catering offers a variety of vegetarian and plant-forward menu options for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit galas, social gatherings, and private celebrations. Chef Rob Hirdt's Summer Vegetable Menu is one of our newest seasonal offerings designed to showcase fresh, flavorful ingredients.
The menu was inspired by a summer vegetable tart that Founder Michele Leff enjoyed at a dinner party. That experience sparked the idea for Chef Rob Hirdt to create an entire menu centered around seasonal vegetables and garden-fresh ingredients.
The menu includes:
Whenever possible, our culinary team incorporates locally sourced and seasonal ingredients into menu development. This menu also features herbs and ingredients grown in the 12th Street Catering garden.
Pickled grapes are fresh grapes preserved in a lightly acidic brine, creating a unique combination of sweet and tangy flavors. Chef Rob Hirdt incorporated them into this menu to add an unexpected culinary element that guests won't soon forget.
Absolutely. Today's event guests increasingly appreciate plant-forward dining options that are fresh, seasonal, and thoughtfully prepared. A vegetarian menu can provide a unique culinary experience while accommodating a variety of dietary preferences.
Yes. The 12th Street Catering team can customize menu offerings based on your event type, guest preferences, dietary needs, and seasonal ingredient availability.
Chef Rob Hirdt shares the inspiration behind the menu, his approach to seasonal ingredients, and how the 12th Street Catering garden influenced the dishes in a behind-the-scenes Instagram reel. Watch the video to hear directly from Chef Rob and get an up-close look at the menu's fresh summer flavors.
