Outside The Box Catering & Events Inc. - Catering in Chicago

At Outside the Box Catering & Events Inc., we bring soulful cooking, thoughtful presentation, and organized hospitality to gatherings throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Our business launched in 2018 under founder Tameka Jones, whose hospitality career began in 2009 and includes experience in catering, hotels, corporate dining, fine dining restaurants, and event planning. We built our company around a simple goal: serve food that tastes as good as it looks while making event planning easier for our clients.

Our menu celebrates Southern American soul food, with dishes such as crispy fried chicken, creamy macaroni and cheese, slow-cooked collard greens, cornbread, honey BBQ chicken, and catfish po’boys. We also prepare fresh salads, handcrafted appetizers, hearty entrées, signature sides, sandwiches, wraps, desserts, and plant-based alternatives. Our chefs can customize menus for different occasions and accommodate dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free, and shellfish-free options.

We provide both drop-off and full-service catering. Drop-off orders work well for office breakfasts, business lunches, school programs, nonprofit gatherings, and social events. For larger celebrations, our full-service team coordinates food setup, serving equipment, professional staff, bar service, event rentals, and day-of management. We also offer wedding packages and work with clients on custom menus, tastings, timelines, and venue arrangements.

Based at 444 West Lake Street in Chicago’s West Loop, we serve neighborhoods throughout Chicago and suburbs including Oak Park, Evanston, Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Joliet, and Bolingbrook. Whether you are planning an office luncheon, wedding reception, birthday celebration, or corporate gathering, we tailor the food and service to your guests, budget, and event style.