How This Haute Catering Company Served The Hamptons Through The Pandemic

When Covid-19 halted entertainment, Elegant Affairs used its hospitality expertise to its advantage, taking its catering game to the next level.

Elegant Affairs, the highly rated group of planners and culinary professionals, has always mastered thinking on its feet. Especially in the middle of a pandemic, the company nimbly transformed its model to keep the party going. Its state-of-the-art collection of Party Boxes has had more demand than ever, and its makeshift grocery market was a hit. At the same time, the team also fed 10,000 hospital workers a day partnering with World Central Kitchen as a token of appreciation for their hard work.

Beach salad

Lotus cups

“What was so special about Elegant Affairs’ response is that we immediately went into survival mode and started brainstorming steps ahead,” says Andrea Correale, president and founder of Elegant Affairs. “Instead of feeling helpless that things were falling apart, we were very reactionary. We had a team that immediately met together to think out of the box, using refrigerated trucks to deliver food, a detailed website and a grocery delivery service. We looked for business in places that were not in our typical wheelhouse. We’re known as a high-end off-premise catering company, yet we looked into other food service sectors.”

With so much to celebrate this summer, entertaining is in high demand in lieu of a return to the party scene. Because the team never took a pause, Elegant Affairs’ catering game is stronger than ever. With a cafe at the Parrish Art Museum, Elegant Affairs remains the preferred caterer of the space. Its latest project brings the party to Southampton, with its first on-site event venue on Elm Street.

Andrea Correale, founder of Elegant Affairs, alongside drinks, decor and dessert all curated by Elegant Affairs

Almost 20 years ago, Correale launched a catering empire, which would later be used at some of the most beautiful estates in the Hamptons. Her commitment to delivering the best parties of all sizes, whether it be pre-, post- or during the pandemic, is an indication of her dedication to the industry.

“What I love most about what I do is the whole creative end of it,” says Correale. “Although Elegant Affairs is a catering operation, there is a whole creative element to the visual food presentation. When it comes to systems and logistics, I can look at the lay of the land and plan based on the intended guest count. My favorite thing to do is to take a customer’s concepts, use the creative process and bring it to fruition. People know that we’re the go-to party service that would coincide with the style and sophistication of their home.”