Office Lunch in Chicago - "Office Catering?"

OK, so here's the problem. I work (well it's kind of work) up in an
office now, in a froup of about ten people; about 60 in the whole
office. Unlike my former location of (un)employment, there isn't a
limitless supply of people lined up to do my bidding- which was usually
somehow involved bacon or other food in general.

We're west of the river, across from Union Station and after a few
months I've run out of places to eat well. I've run through both train
station food courts, Greektown, Presidential Towers, J&C's, three
burrito joints, and now there's nothing left. The problem is pandemic
up here. Unlike the old place, which was a confluence of food
technology, this is a dead-end. First someone proposes the same old
lameness, and everybody else shoots it down. Every day, like freaking
Groundhog Day. It's a battle to come up with an idea, then get stuck
with a poor compromise after a half-hour of groupthink.

A couple of times a week we'll order up- like Shaw's or Capitol Grille
or something, but generally lunch is just "the same old crap" no matter
where it's from. This is the problem.

Here is my solution- catering. Of some kind. We'll pay up front for
somebody to think up a menu, cook, then deliver it. 3/4/5 times per
week. I think we'd all eat better and the reduction of the ambient
food-whine would dramatically improve may way of life.

So, my question- does anyone out there do this? Does anyone have any
experience in an office that's done this? What kind of place would do
this? Am I going to end up starting a company? Are there good ones?
Bad ones?

Repost from chi.eats

trent
--
"This user has a pattern of behaviour in the usenet group chi.forsale
that borders on abusive."

If you and your office mates prefer having someone else do the cooking, this won't be for you, but I saw this in Cooking Light last year and thought it was interesting:

How to Start a Lunch Club

The tasty spread clearly beats your typical office fare. But it isn't brought in from a nearby restaurant or prepared by cafeteria staff. Instead, Nechanicky's colleagues cook lunch, acting as members of the Healthy Lunch Club, a group of nearly 30 people who work at the Minneapolis-based furniture retailer Room and Board. The other 130 people who work at Room and Board's headquarters brown-bag their lunches, resort to a vending machine filled with pre-fab food like burgers, or drive to fast-food restaurants or a nearby supermarket for prepared foods.

I suggest Heaven on Seven catering. It's not limited to cajun/creole--they have several themed buffets, including mexican, bbq, and greek. The minimum is 8 people.

there are a number a gourmet/specialty food stores and caterers that will do corporate catering. a couple suggestions, but there are ton more out there:

goddess and grocer
25 East Delaware Place
P: 312.896.2600 F: 312.896.2590

cooking fools
1916 W North Ave
catering 773.276.9377

calihan catering
833 West Haines
312.587.3553
312.587.3522 fax
inquiries@calihancatering.com

fox and obel
P: 312 379 0133
F: 312 379 0143
E: ppeters@fox-obel.com

there are also a lot of personal chefs that would be thrilled to have a gig like this, but i don't know how best to screen them.

I think I'm probably missing some ineffable quality about what you are picturing happening ... but in case I'm not, here's the "office casual" of Blue Plate that we use.

Blue Plate Direct
http://www.blueplatedirect.com/direct/index.asp

We also order group catering options from Kan Zaman and Star of Siam and au bon pain. We have a house account with Star of Siam ... Kan Zaman would probably do that, too - I just never got around to asking them.

Kan Zaman
617 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 751-9600

Star of Siam
11 E Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 670-0100

trent

I feel your pain and would love to alleviate it. We, FIG Catering, that is, does just the kind of thing you are suggesting. First, we have a set office lunch menu which is along the lines of Fox & Obel - upscale salads, sandwiches, appetizers, etc. In addition to that, we love to customize menus to our clients' needs - whether it be steak dinner or a picnic in the park. I would be thrilled to talk with you about an ongoing menu (and to give you references so you don't have to take my word for it).

Molly @ FIG Catering
www.figcatering.com
(773) 793-1035
molly@figcatering.com

A friend of mine started a lunch catering company a couple of years ago, and I have recently become a very small investor in it. They do a lot of corporate stuff. The menu is very diverse, from sandwiches to steak, and pretty reasonably priced. I have liked all the things that I have tasted. It has been quite successful, so they must be doing something right. If you try them, let me know what you think.
http://www.gourmet2go.net

-Will