About Us - Eastside Catering Services of Marietta, Georgia

Eastside Catering Services of Marietta, Georgia

About Us

It wasn't by accident that Mike Flowers found himself in the midst of the culinary arena. He's the third generation of food service professionals. Mike's father and grandfather owned and operated ten successful restaurants in North Carolina in the early 60's and 70's.

After absorbing the basics in his earlier years, Mike pursued the finer arts of cooking. While still in his 20's, he was employed by Club Corporations of America in Montgomery, Alabama, Hyatt Regency in San Francisco and Ohio's Governor's mansion.

Seeking to broaden his culinary education, Mike attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York where he graduated in 1981. Following graduation, Mike was hired as the Executive Chef at the Gatewood Country Club in Greenwood, South Carolina where he met his wife, Melanie. They moved to Atlanta in 1984 where he was employed by several metro Atlanta upscale private clubs and high-volume foodservice establishments. Once their son, Jonathan, was off to college, Mike and Melanie launched their own catering business, Eastside Catering Services, Inc. which specializes in weddings, corporate events, political fundraisers, and private parties for many northern Georgia clients.

Chef Mike is the co-author of "Cater Your Own Wedding; Easy Ways To Do It Yourself In Style." Mike is also the author of "How To Cater Your Own Rehearsal Dinner", "How To Cater Your Own Hawaiian Luau" and "Classified Recipes; Original Recipes from your Favorite Food Service Establishments."

Wedding Festivals Bridal Show - Greenville, S.C. - February 25, 2006

700+ Brides-To-Be attend South Carolina's annual 2006 Wedding Festivals Bridal Show at Greenville's Palmetto Expo Center. Chef Mike reports record show sales of his book and new dvd as couples quickly discover the huge savings, easy methods and numerous advantages of catering your own wedding. After reviewing the materials, one mother-of- the-bride was overheard saying, "Oh my gosh! Where was this book and dvd when my first daughter got married?"

Good Day Atlanta Television Appearance - June 6, 2006

Chef Michael C. Flowers, co-author of the new book and DVD, "Cater Your Own Wedding: Easy Ways to Do It Yourself in Style", was a featured guest on Good Day Atlanta on June 5, 2006. Airing every weekday morning from 6 to 9, Good Day Atlanta is the morning show on WAGA-TV, Atlanta’s FOX affiliate and one of Georgia’s top-rated news channels.

N.A.C.F.S. President-Elect Flowers Welcomes Galloping Gourmet

N.A.C.F.S. President-Elect Mike Flowers (left) and his wife Melanie (right) welcome the guest speaker, Graham Kerr (center), better known as the Galloping Gourmet, to the N.A.C.F.S. national conference in Seattle, Washington. Graham is excitedly awaiting the release of his newest series, The Gathering Place, which will air on PBS this fall. (Check your local listings for times and dates.) For more information on Graham Kerr, click on http://www.grahamkerr.com.

Planning a wedding
on a tight budget is possible

By Marjorie Hall
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

As spring fast approaches, future brides everywhere are trying to put together the perfect special day — without breaking the bank. Many people have to make heart-breaking decisions when designing their weddings, cutting guest lists to cut costs.

Chef Mike Flowers can help. The Marietta resident, executive chef and professional caterer who has been catering weddings for 25 years, has recently written a book which helps brides save money while still putting on a stylish and classy reception.

“I got tired of seeing crying brides,” Flowers said. “I thought to myself, ‘There has got to be a way for them to afford to do what they want to do.’ If you do it yourself, you can invite as many people as you want to. It will cost roughly half as much as hiring a professional caterer. ”

The idea for the book started four years ago. Flowers wrote a small pamphlet giving brides instructions on catering their own weddings and posted it on the Internet.

Author Donna Bankhead, of Boise, Idaho, who wrote the book “Last Minute Weddings,” stumbled across the Web site and was thrilled. She e-mailed Flowers, telling him they should turn the pamphlet into a book together.

After a year of communicating only through e-mail, Flowers and Ms. Bankhead completed “Cater Your Own Wedding; Easy Ways To Do It Yourself In Style.”

"Cater Your Own Wedding; Easy Ways To Do It Yourself In Style" is available at all major bookstores and www.amazon.com. Or, you may also order your copy directly from Chef Mike at www.chefmike.com.