Create Catering & The Dining Studio

What Create Catering & The Dining Studio does

Create Catering & The Dining Studio is a privately held, founder-owned full-service catering and private events company founded in 2007 by Philip Dorwart (Owner/Executive Chef) and Desiree Dorwart (Owner/VP of Operations). The company operates from a 1,200 sq ft venue called The Dining Studio in the Waterbury Building in NE Minneapolis, which features an open kitchen, CorTen steel and butcher block bar, glass walls, soaring ceilings, and a covered outdoor patio accommodating 12–48 seated guests or up to 65 for cocktail receptions. Beyond the in-house venue, the company delivers off-site catering services throughout Minnesota at client-preferred locations and 12+ partner venues including the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Orchestra Hall, Bakken Museum, The Lumaire, The Fillmore, and Three Rivers Park District.

The core product is a chef-driven, scratch-made cuisine offering built on local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients sourced partly from a 35-acre organic farm the company operates in Wadena, MN. Service lines include full-service catering with a full liquor license, craft cocktail programs, curated wine and regional craft beer lists, and structured menu concepts (East Indian, Asian, Latin, Classics) priced at $200–$280 per package or $35 per guest for cocktail-style events. The technology stack is minimal: Tripleseat for private event booking, a BentoBox website, and standard social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There is no proprietary software, no app, and no disclosed data assets.

The business model is project-based event services revenue. Pricing is custom per event with pay-as-you-go billing, driven by a dedicated Event Sales Coordinator (Joan Nilsen Beyer) handling inquiries, sample menus, tastings, and estimates. Customer segments are Corporate/Enterprise (Fortune 500 clients including 3M, Target, Medtronic, Abbott, Ameriprise, BMW, PwC, Boston Scientific, University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Twins/Vikings/Timberwolves), Weddings (550+ weddings personally crafted by Joan Nilsen Beyer over 18 years), Private Dining, Happy Hour/Cocktail Parties, and Celebration of Life events. The company is bootstrapped, Minnesota-only, with no external funding and a lean team of approximately 5 core staff plus per-event chefs and service staff.

Name

Create Catering & The Dining Studio

Legal name

Create Catering and The Dining Studio

Website

https://createcaters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Create Catering & The Dining Studio is a Minneapolis-based, founder-owned full-service catering company founded in 2007, offering chef-driven scratch cuisine with full bar service for corporate events, weddings, and private dining at its 1,200 sq ft in-house venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Catering Coordination & Bar Service Management (Non-restaurant) (HSACAAAH)

Keywords

• Off-site catering services
• Private event catering
• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Craft cocktail catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Off-Site Catering Services: Full service catering for events throughout Minnesota, including fully customized menus, bar services, and cocktail services for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings.
2. The Dining Studio Private Events: Private dining room rental and event hosting at their 1,200 square foot event space in NE Minneapolis, accommodating 12-48 seated guests or up to 65 for cocktail receptions. Includes tables, chairs, glassware, flatware, china, linens, sound system, and full bar.
3. Alcohol Catering Services: Full liquor catering and cocktail services including craft cocktails, curated wine list, and regional craft beer selections for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Create Catering & The Dining Studio provides full-service off-site catering and operates The Dining Studio, a 1,200 square foot private event venue in NE Minneapolis, delivering chef-driven scratch cuisine, full bar and craft cocktail services, and event coordination for corporate events, weddings, and private celebrations throughout Minnesota. The company combines a mobile catering operation with its own proprietary venue featuring an open kitchen concept, supported by an Event Sales Coordinator, professional service staff, and equipment rental.

Product overview

Create Catering & The Dining Studio operates as a dual offering catering company. Create Catering provides full-service Twin Cities catering with handcrafted, scratch-made cuisine and full liquor license for events throughout Minnesota. The Dining Studio is the company's proprietary 1,200 sq ft private event space in NE Minneapolis featuring an open kitchen layout. Together, they offer integrated catering services (hors d'oeuvres, entrees, craft cocktails, wine, beer) combined with venue rental. Additional offerings include Concept Cocktail Party themed events, Corporate Gatherings, Wedding Catering, Happy Hour services, and off-site catering at partner venues across the Twin Cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Create Catering (Off-Site Catering) Full-service Twin Cities catering company offering handcrafted, scratch-made cuisine prepared in their NE Minneapolis kitchen, with a full catering liquor license, for events throughout Minnesota.
• The Dining Studio Private Events A 1,200 square foot private dining and event space in NE Minneapolis featuring an open kitchen, soaring ceilings, glass walls, patinated CorTen steel and butcher block bar, local art, and a covered outdoor patio. Accommodates 12-48 seated guests or up to 65 for cocktail receptions, with tables, chairs, glassware, flatware, china, linens, sound system, and full bar included.
• Wedding Catering

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 550 weddings crafted over 18 years by Event Sales Coordinator Joan Nilsen Beyer
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kitchen Coalition / Second Harvest HeartlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in fighting hunger through Second Harvest Heartland's mission to ease food insecurity. Formerly known as MCK (Minneapolis Community Kitchen Coalition). Supports food security initiatives in the community.
• The LumaireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at this modern event venue in Minneapolis with 11,000+ square feet and capacity for 525 guests. Located in Marcy Holmes neighborhood near downtown.
• Bakken MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at this historic West Winds mansion venue in Minneapolis. Ideal for training sessions, recognition dinners, employee retreats, and holiday gatherings.
• Guthrie TheatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with nationally acclaimed Guthrie Theater. Venue has unparalleled views of St Anthony Falls and sweeping vistas of Minneapolis.
• MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Events team provides full-service support for elegant events at this cultural institution.
• Minnesota OrchestraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at Orchestra Hall. Venue offers various spaces for performances, conferences, weddings, business meetings, and seminars.
• The Fillmore MinneapolisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at this 36,000 square foot venue featuring signature Fillmore aesthetics and vintage concert posters.
• Three Rivers Park DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner for award-winning venues including holiday gatherings, mitzvahs, quinceañeras, weddings, memorials, graduations, and nature-focused events.
• GlasshouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern-industrial venue partner offering light-filled, open space for weddings, ceremonies, and corporate events.
• Urban Daisy Event CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at this NE Minneapolis venue with 11,500 square feet, 17-foot ceilings, and capacity for up to 270 guests.
• The WhimminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred catering partner at this Northeast Minneapolis Arts District venue with 15,000+ square feet of airy white walls and soaring timber ceilings.
• Good Morgan GranolaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artisan partner offering Good Morgan GF Granola as a featured Homestyle Add-On. Small batch, handmade granola made with organic gluten-free oats and premium ingredients.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bon Appétit Management Company: National corporate and event catering subsidiary of Compass Group, serving large corporate clients, cultural institutions, and special events. Overlaps with Create on corporate event catering for Fortune 500 clients but operates at materially greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• D'Amico Catering: Established Minneapolis-based full-service catering arm of the D'Amico restaurant group, offering off-premise corporate, wedding, and private-event catering across the Twin Cities — directly comparable in service mix, geography, and customer base to Create.
• Catering by Design: Minneapolis-area full-service off-premise caterer focused on weddings, corporate events, and private parties — directly comparable in offering, custom menus, and Twin Cities geographic footprint.
• Mintahoe Catering & Events: Long-standing Twin Cities catering and events company with off-premise catering, venue partnerships, and large-scale corporate and private-event capabilities — a close comparable in menu customization, scale, and Twin Cities venue relationships.
• Black Forest Catering: Minneapolis-based full-service caterer providing off-premise catering for corporate and private events with custom menus — comparable in service model, menu customization, and Twin Cities customer base.
• Chowgirls Catering: Minneapolis-based caterer emphasizing seasonal, locally sourced, scratch-made cuisine for weddings, corporate, and private events — directly comparable to Create's chef-driven, farm-to-table positioning in the same Twin Cities market.
• Surdyk's Catering: Twin Cities gourmet market and catering operation offering event catering, corporate and private events, and curated food/beverage services — overlaps with Create on full-service catering and premium event clientele in the Minneapolis market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CreateCaters
• Facebookfacebook.com/Create-Catering-The-Dining-Studio-121964419321
• Instagraminstagram.com/createcaters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/create-catering-the-dining-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Create Catering & The Dining Studio