One of the best ways to make sure a special dinner, or a truly special event, is memorable is to hire an outstanding caterer. And in Harford County, our readers say there’s only one choice for the best caterer, Carried Away Gourmet in Bel Air.

“Carried Away Gourmet gets five stars in the service, taste and presentation categories,” says Kim Wagner of Bel Air. “They have a professional staff and complement it with servers who are excellent. The food is phenomenal!  My favorites are his basket presentations of grilled vegetables and cheeses and his beef tenderloin. The presentation is great.  I love to entertain, but I do not cook, at all.  David has all the pieces needed to make my table look fabulous.”

Catering that goes way beyond the paninis & salads found at the storefront

That kind of customer confidence is precisely what David Micozzi, the chef/owner of Carried Away Gourmet, aims for with his catering work. “First of all,” he explains, “it’s always just a party; you don’t have to do the worrying, we do. Just tell us what you like and we’ll develop a menu. Whether it’s a birthday, a shower, a corporate event, gala or a wedding – any off premises event that needs food and service, we’re there.” Catering has grown to become an ever increasing part of Carried Away Gourmet’s business over the years. They recently did the Library Gala, an event for 450 people at a site that had no cooking facilities. “That was a fun challenge,” says Micozzi. “We featured food from around the world, with costumes appropriate to the area. People really enjoyed it.”

Carried Away Gourmet is a truly full service caterer, providing everything

you need for a party, or just the food, as a client prefers. “With us, you’re really getting a catering coordinator,” Micozzi explains. “We can provide everything from tents to DJs – I usually let the client contact other vendors because it’s more personal, but we can provide the people.”

While Carried Away Gourmet has catered a spectacular nine-course dinner for four for $1,000, most events cost considerably less per person. Office parties start at around $20 per person for food; weddings typically range from $65 to $125 per person. For weddings, Micozzi always urges his brides to be flexible about the food, and to consider something different, like including a soup, to set their event apart.