As the year comes to a close, this week between Christmas and New Year’s has a way of slowing things down just enough to breathe.

If you’re in catering, the holiday season usually brings a strange mix of emotions.

For some, it’s one of the busiest stretches of the year. For others, it’s finally a brief pause after weeks of controlled chaos. And for most people I know in this business, even when you’re technically “off,” part of your brain is still on - thinking about orders, staff, drivers, food, and what tomorrow looks like.

That’s just the nature of this industry.

At CaterZen, we’re all about empowering restauranteurs to grow their catering businesses, and our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is your backstage pass to insights, strategies, and stories from the industry’s best. Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, each episode is designed to help you level up your catering game with actionable advice and real-world success stories.

We’re excited to announce Episode 25 of Restaurant Catering Smarts, featuring Erin Childs, Independent Restaurant Consultant & Coach!

Let me guess: You didn’t get into catering to become a spreadsheet jockey. But between writing quotes, tracking orders, and trying to remember which customer ghosted you last month... you might feel like you’re running a data company instead of a catering operation.

Well, good news. AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to rescue you.

At CaterZen, we’re on a mission to help restaurateurs grow thriving, profitable catering businesses — and our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is one of the best ways we can put real-world strategies straight into your hands. Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, each episode delivers actionable insights from leaders who are scaling off-premise, building powerhouse teams, and transforming the way restaurants grow.

Today, we’re excited to release Episode 24 of Restaurant Catering Smarts, featuring a powerhouse operator and leader in the franchising world: Phillip Scotton, President & COO of Primo Partners.

Back in the day, catering software was basically a glorified calendar with some order forms attached. Fast forward to 2026, and the demands are far more intense. Rising food costs, labor headaches, delivery complexity, and customers who expect Amazon-style convenience? That’s the new normal.

So if you're a restaurant owner or catering manager trying to grow your off-premise revenue without losing your sanity, this guide is for you. We’re diving into the top catering software platforms for 2026 - what they do well, where they fall short, and which one might be your secret weapon.

At CaterZen Catering Software, our mission is simple: give restaurateurs the tools, systems, and insights to grow their catering businesses while taking back their time. And our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is your all-access pass to strategies, stories, and straight talk from some of the best operators in the business.

Every episode, I sit down with someone who’s in the trenches—someone who knows what it really takes to grow catering in today’s world. And Episode 23 is packed with gold bars.

Today’s guest? Amanda Quinn, Director of Catering at Viva Chicken.
A powerhouse. A relationship builder. And one of the scrappiest, smartest catering leaders you’ll ever hear from.

If you’ve been in the catering business longer than a minute, you already know one thing: when things go wrong, they don’t do it politely. It’s never “Oops, my online ordering is glitchy” at 2PM on a slow Tuesday. Nope. It’s a 200-person lunch drop for a pharmaceutical client, and suddenly, your system won’t let you close an order.

That’s when support matters. And not just any support - CaterZen support.

At CaterZen, we’re all about helping restaurateurs grow thriving catering operations that bring in more sales — with less stress. Our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is your backstage pass to the strategies, systems, and stories that drive success in the catering world.

Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen Catering Software, each episode dives deep into what works in the real world — from sales and marketing to systems and leadership — all designed to help you grow your catering business smarter.

We’re thrilled to release Episode 22 of Restaurant Catering Smarts, featuring Lauren Laurent, Director of Catering Sales & Marketing at Levy Restaurants — one of the nation’s top hospitality groups serving everything from stadiums to convention centers.

Lauren oversees catering at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, where she and her team pull off events that serve thousands — yet still feel personal, intentional, and memorable.

If you’re juggling quotes, menus, BEOs, drivers, production sheets, and invoices with a heroic mix of spreadsheets and screenshots… I’ve lived that movie. Catering software is the upgrade. Think of it as your catering management system - one place to sell, produce, deliver, and grow without burning out your team.

At CaterZen Catering Software, we don’t just build software—we help restaurant owners build empires…without losing their minds in the process. And our Restaurant Catering Smarts podcast is where we pull back the curtain on what actually works to grow, lead, and scale a catering business today.

Hosted by me, Michael Attias, founder of CaterZen, every episode is designed to help you squeeze more profit out of your catering ops, lead stronger teams, and actually enjoy running your restaurant again.