Vestals Wrapped: a year of gathering, growth, and moments with your favorite Texas caterer
If our 2025 had a soundtrack, it would be the clink of glassware, the hum of a full dining room, and the unanimous “you have to try this” whispered across every table we catered.
This year, we hit new highs at Vestals Catering — from opening venues and crafting menus to welcoming new team members, catering massive Texas events, and working with the most incredible clients.
So, turn the volume up: this is Vestals Wrapped 2025.
Our top catering menu items of 2025
While we love every recipe in our repertoire (and you do, too), a few dishes took on lives of their own this year. Crafted with fresh ingredients, intentional flavors, and a level of detail that has become our signature, these were the plates guests reached for again and again.
- Bacon-Wrapped Apricots: Sweet, savory, smoky, and impossible to serve without them disappearing instantly.
- Chicken Flautas: Crispy, seasoned to perfection, and the ultimate crowd-pleasing bite. They found their way from cocktail hours to auction nights to dance floors this year!
- Bistro Filet with Chimichurri: Tender, vibrant, and beautifully plated, this dish remains one of our most-requested entrées for a reason.
- Spice-Rubbed Chicken with Apple Compote & Charred Red Onions: Bright, seasonal, and aromatic, this one is the perfect autumn dish.
Our most-requested recipe: The Famous Ginger Molasses Cookies
In a surprise to absolutely no one, our Ginger Molasses Cookies weren’t just a fan favorite… they were everyone’s favorite. Warm, nostalgic, soft in the center with perfectly crisp edges, these little flavor bombs sparked more recipe requests than anything we’ve ever made.
We happily shared the recipe all year long, and we’ll continue to do so.
2025’s signature sip: The Ginger Molasses Cookie Espresso Martini
If cocktails had an algorithm, this one would be your top listen. Inspired by our beloved cookies, this drink blends espresso, spice, and a touch of sweetness into a craft cocktail that feels both festive and elevated. It became a staple at winter events and an instant classic within our team.
Vestals Fresh: your go-to grab-and-go favorites
This year brought an exciting expansion: Vestals Fresh, created for our Dallas community. Every item is fresh, seasonal, and designed for life on the go. And, in true Vestals style, they’re all rooted in the same farm-to-table philosophy that defines our catering menus.
Your top selections:
- The Classic Chicken Salad: Creamy, bright, and timeless.
- Green Chili Chicken Salad: A Southwest-inspired twist with just the right kick.
- Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap: Dare we say… the best chicken Caesar wrap in Dallas? Oh, yes.
Our largest event of 2025: Catering the Jewel Charity Ball
This year, we had the honor of catering several major nonprofit events across Texas—including one of Fort Worth’s most storied philanthropic traditions, the Jewel Charity Ball. With a 72-year legacy and more than $83 million raised to date, the event supports Cook Children’s and its mission to provide compassionate care for every child in the community.
The evening began with passed hors d’oeuvres — applewood bacon-wrapped apricots, shrimp and crab campechana on edible spoons, and sliced bison with avocado-horseradish crema — before guests transitioned into a seated dinner that blended refinement with warm, soulful Texas flavors.
Serving an event of this scale is a powerful reminder of why we love what we do: hospitality at its most ambitious, joyful, and communal.
Your most popular months for Texas event catering
No surprise here! Spring and holiday season remains unmatched. These months saw the highest demand for weddings, galas, corporate celebrations, and private gatherings:
- March
- April
- May
- October
- November
- December
Our Texas vendor partner of the year: Fauxcades
Every memorable event is the result of strong creative collaboration, and in 2025, Fauxcades continued to be one of our most trusted partners. Known for their extraordinary event design, fabrication, and experiential installations, they help us bring concepts to life with precision, artistry, and craftsmanship.
(Basically, they are the perfect partner.)
Their team creates everything from bars and lounges to custom backdrops and immersive environments, and they’re endlessly imaginative. Without them, executing both large-scale corporate events and high-end social galas would be a very different story.
See more Texas venues we love →
Most Instagrammed menus and tablescapes
A few of our events captured hearts and camera rolls more than any others:
- Cattle Baron’s Ball: Think: rustic elegance, warm lighting, and details that echo Texas heritage. Oh, and Post Malone.
- Jewel Charity Ball: Think: Classic, elevated, and visually spectacular from every angle.
- Compass School: Think: Thoughtful, playful touches and impeccable color palettes that made for stunning images.
Nonprofits you helped us support in 2025
Some of our most meaningful moments of the year came from supporting organizations doing transformative work in our community. We were honored to play a small role in advancing their missions:
- Nancy Lieberman Charities: Expanding access to education, mentorship, and opportunities for young people.
- Compass School: Nurturing curiosity, confidence, and community for students across Dallas.
- American Cancer Society: Advancing research, patient support, and hope through its signature fundraising events.
- Cook Children’s Hospital: Providing world-class care and comfort to children and families in moments that matter most.
- Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Delivering specialized care that transforms the lives of its patients.
New horizons at Vestals Catering
2025 was a year of thoughtful expansion! We welcomed new ideas, new partnerships, and new ways to bring Vestals quality to more people, like:
- The launch & growth of Vestals Fresh: What began as a simple idea — chef-crafted grab-and-go meals designed for busy weeks — quickly became a beloved essential for many of our Dallas foodies. Vestals Fresh allowed us to bring farm-to-table flavors beyond events and into your everyday routines.
- New venue partnerships across Texas: With each new venue we partnered with this year, we gained fresh creative possibilities, from modern industrial spaces to historic estates to open-air ranch venues. These partnerships allow us to tailor menus, layouts, and service to the unique spirit of each space.
- Stepping into sports & large-scale facilities: A new chapter for us: 2025 marked our growing presence in sports and tournament catering. From fueling athletes to feeding large crowds with precision and craft, this expansion pushed our capabilities in exciting, energizing ways. And we’re only just getting started! (Psst… curious about FIFA World Cup catering in Dallas? Click here.)
- Growing our team: We welcomed two incredible team members to our Vestals Catering family! We’re so excited to have Emery Rutherford, Sales Coordinator, and Shelby Rubatzky, Wedding Sales Manager, on board with us.
Vestals, by the numbers
Events catered: 2,793 Texas events, with 1,813 in Dallas and 960 in Austin!
Guests served: 175,000 guests
Cookies baked: 560,000 cookies
Venues added: 7 venues
Glasses clinked: 123,000 glasses
2025 is wrapped, and it was one of flavor, community, and connection.
As we look back on 2025, one thing rises above everything else: the profound joy of gathering.
From intimate dinners to grand-scale galas, from nonprofit mission work to milestone celebrations, this year reminded us of what hospitality can do. We were reminded, time and time again, about how it can comfort, celebrate, honor, connect, and bring people together, unlike anything else can.
Thank you for making 2025 a year to savor. We already can’t wait to gather with you in 2026.
